No, if DMC4 flopped it would have been the nail in the coffin for Nero cuz it be his fault. Honestly, if I knew everything I know now about DMC4, I probably wouldn't have bought it, just rented it, cus I can't even get into it when I try to play again, there's like, no replay value whatsoever. And ya know it doesn't even have to have replay value, I just can't get back into it, I personally find it boring kinda. (Don't kill me! ><)
For me DMC4 was one of those games I play, beat once, and forgot about it in the VG cabinet. The only time i've bring it back out is to play some of the cutscenes worth watching and to read info on bios and bosses to get more educated DMC-wise.
The first time I played it was incredible, but now when I try to play it again it's just... It kinda feels like another DMC3 with a different character and atmosphere. And with such a dissapointment in the storyline I don't have any inspiration to play it often.
Im sorry if it seems like im bashing the game, im not trying to offend any DMC4 or Nero lovers, but that's just how I feel about DMC4 most of the time.