-B.(o).C-®
涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 SOS団
Wow, amazing Dante!
I have to find the time(and energy) to review ResidentEvil4.
I have to find the time(and energy) to review ResidentEvil4.
~GameChain~
- Thread starter -B.(o).C-®
- Start date
-B.(o).C-®
涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 SOS団
:kiss:>_<
:huh:^_^:lol:
Keaton
Well-known Member
Evil Nero;102379 said:well it does say in his sources where he got them from
Sorry it meant to say 'how' not 'where' lol
I've been looking for some decent reviews of Bioshock for inspiration and planning of my own and all I keep finding are forums and broken links >.<! +rep to both of you, great review and pointing out my mistakes lol
Keaton
Well-known Member
Dante Aseroth;102386 said:Thanks for the rep, Keaton!
If you want decent reviews, GameSpot and IGN are some nice sites to find some info.
Also, Wikipedia holds tons of review links.
I had tried Wiki but gone off of it after the users kept uploading false information ¬.¬ that was a year ago now though lol ^___^
Keaton
Well-known Member
Dante Aseroth;102389 said:I was referring to the links, below to the references. There, the reviews are true, not fake, and are done by affirmed game critics.
That was probably where I went wrong lol
I know your reviews were solid, but I am always edgy about Wiki, never really thought about utilizing the external info links lol +rep
Angelo Credo
Kept you waiting, huh?
The external links on Wiki are pretty reliable, most of what's on a wiki page has to be cited by sources and the links are those sources, confirmed and approved for use, so they're pretty reliable, although I must admit I understand why you're wary of Wikipedia, I take everything they say with mountainous piles of salt.
Keaton
Well-known Member
Resident Evil 4
Nintendo Gamecube (also PS2 and Nintendo Wii)
Reviewed by: Steve aka Keaton
After countless episodes of terror Capcom have again out done themselves with the release of this masterpiece. Before I start, this game is a must for any Gamecube owner and any fan will not be disappointed by this new take on the bloody series. Replacing mindless and boring zombies with parasite infected humans who think, use weapons and come in a horrific wonder of shapes and sizes, this is a terrifying new adventure with former S.T.A.R.S rookie Leon S. Kennedy in the heat of the action- this is truly not a game to miss.
The game opens with a brief explanation of the story so far, allowing even new players to the series to have a vague idea of the horrors that have gone before, this is followed by a scene where Leon is introduced in all his glory along with two police men, the main aim of the game is then explained: Rescue the Presidents Daughter. Sounds simple eh? You must be kidding. After about thirty seconds of wandering you end up neutralizing your first civilian because of his attempt to decapitate you with an axe, this death leads to an ambush where you must find a quick way out of his home and also a way to efficiently dispatch the rising ambush. This is a heart racing way to begin a game, stuck in the middle of no where with twelve shots left in your pistol , you seem to know deep down that that firearm is nowhere near big enough to annihilate the legions of enemies to come.
The graphics of Resident Evil 4 are visually magnificent and the detail to the enemies and environments is mind blowing, this swirled in with an eerie and pulse raising sound track equals one realistic horror. Everything in this game is used to intimidate or destroy you, but one thing never changes and that’s the sheer fear of getting killed. When you begin, the typical adversary’s you fight are just normal humans known as the Ganados, these are the ones that are equipped with an arsenal of simple but deadly weapons: for example pitchforks, flaming torches and even butcher knives. Ganados are pretty easy to destroy on their own but they are always in groups of five to ten, surrounding you and attacking from all directions removing any means of escape; but Leon isn’t your typical gun wielding hero. When in close proximity to the growing enemy Leon can use his small but very dangerous knife or even kick the enemy which usually results in their heads exploding, or at least in giving you a comfortable amount of breathing space. Leon can also use the shoulder buttons or an A and B combo to dodge when prompted, making the game that little bit more different and exciting when you face a pack of enemies, but don’t forget these headstrong Ganados will even use dynamite and bear traps to hinder your routes. Beware, there is one guy that is terrifying and the only way to hear him coming is the sound of his raging chainsaw, his name is Dr. Salvador and standing about eight foot high wearing a brown sack over his head this guy has a defence that can destroy all your confidence so far, because when he runs at you swinging his chainsaw and your pistol seems to do no damage to him you will panic and if he gets close to you…well I’m sure you’ll see.
This game is intertwined with a deep storyline, massive twists and huge enemies, demanding new tactics and styles of play for each. In the beginning the Ganados are all you will really encounter, but after an hour of play you get to take on a vast fish-like-thing that would make Jaws tremble, forcing you to forget your shotgun and grenades and opt for harpoons while skilfully dodging large trees submerged in the water. This game pushes your every limit and forces you to think of ways to defeat the enemy even a goliath named El Gigante and yes he is as big as he sounds! Fighting this giant forces you to be as agile as you can in such a small space but also unleash enough rounds to force him to his knees and then slash at his weak point on his back, (this guy reminds me of the Brutes in Prince of Persia, Warrior Within) when you defeat this titan you feel as though you can take on anything this game could throw at you, but bear in mind this game only gets tougher as you join with the Presidents Daughter Ashley you suddenly realize that you can’t be as reckless as you have been before because its not only your life on the line, but hers now too.
This is a Resident Evil game that I truly enjoy playing over and over again, its controls are suited to the Gamecube so that it feels comfortable to walk around and aim at things without fear of sluggish or sketchy movement, this control allows for fluid gaming even when the screen is filled with enemies or explosions! They have even got rid of the loading times between rooms which makes things more enjoyable. This game is a true classic, with some of the most enjoyable moments I have ever played, it allows rookies to the series to fully understand what made Resident Evil so popular and giving the hardcore gamers something to really sink their teeth into, and even when you beat the game the list of unlockables is as long as my arm (and I do have a long arm).
A true memorable classic, thank you Capcom.
Nintendo Gamecube (also PS2 and Nintendo Wii)
Reviewed by: Steve aka Keaton
After countless episodes of terror Capcom have again out done themselves with the release of this masterpiece. Before I start, this game is a must for any Gamecube owner and any fan will not be disappointed by this new take on the bloody series. Replacing mindless and boring zombies with parasite infected humans who think, use weapons and come in a horrific wonder of shapes and sizes, this is a terrifying new adventure with former S.T.A.R.S rookie Leon S. Kennedy in the heat of the action- this is truly not a game to miss.
The game opens with a brief explanation of the story so far, allowing even new players to the series to have a vague idea of the horrors that have gone before, this is followed by a scene where Leon is introduced in all his glory along with two police men, the main aim of the game is then explained: Rescue the Presidents Daughter. Sounds simple eh? You must be kidding. After about thirty seconds of wandering you end up neutralizing your first civilian because of his attempt to decapitate you with an axe, this death leads to an ambush where you must find a quick way out of his home and also a way to efficiently dispatch the rising ambush. This is a heart racing way to begin a game, stuck in the middle of no where with twelve shots left in your pistol , you seem to know deep down that that firearm is nowhere near big enough to annihilate the legions of enemies to come.
The graphics of Resident Evil 4 are visually magnificent and the detail to the enemies and environments is mind blowing, this swirled in with an eerie and pulse raising sound track equals one realistic horror. Everything in this game is used to intimidate or destroy you, but one thing never changes and that’s the sheer fear of getting killed. When you begin, the typical adversary’s you fight are just normal humans known as the Ganados, these are the ones that are equipped with an arsenal of simple but deadly weapons: for example pitchforks, flaming torches and even butcher knives. Ganados are pretty easy to destroy on their own but they are always in groups of five to ten, surrounding you and attacking from all directions removing any means of escape; but Leon isn’t your typical gun wielding hero. When in close proximity to the growing enemy Leon can use his small but very dangerous knife or even kick the enemy which usually results in their heads exploding, or at least in giving you a comfortable amount of breathing space. Leon can also use the shoulder buttons or an A and B combo to dodge when prompted, making the game that little bit more different and exciting when you face a pack of enemies, but don’t forget these headstrong Ganados will even use dynamite and bear traps to hinder your routes. Beware, there is one guy that is terrifying and the only way to hear him coming is the sound of his raging chainsaw, his name is Dr. Salvador and standing about eight foot high wearing a brown sack over his head this guy has a defence that can destroy all your confidence so far, because when he runs at you swinging his chainsaw and your pistol seems to do no damage to him you will panic and if he gets close to you…well I’m sure you’ll see.
This game is intertwined with a deep storyline, massive twists and huge enemies, demanding new tactics and styles of play for each. In the beginning the Ganados are all you will really encounter, but after an hour of play you get to take on a vast fish-like-thing that would make Jaws tremble, forcing you to forget your shotgun and grenades and opt for harpoons while skilfully dodging large trees submerged in the water. This game pushes your every limit and forces you to think of ways to defeat the enemy even a goliath named El Gigante and yes he is as big as he sounds! Fighting this giant forces you to be as agile as you can in such a small space but also unleash enough rounds to force him to his knees and then slash at his weak point on his back, (this guy reminds me of the Brutes in Prince of Persia, Warrior Within) when you defeat this titan you feel as though you can take on anything this game could throw at you, but bear in mind this game only gets tougher as you join with the Presidents Daughter Ashley you suddenly realize that you can’t be as reckless as you have been before because its not only your life on the line, but hers now too.
This is a Resident Evil game that I truly enjoy playing over and over again, its controls are suited to the Gamecube so that it feels comfortable to walk around and aim at things without fear of sluggish or sketchy movement, this control allows for fluid gaming even when the screen is filled with enemies or explosions! They have even got rid of the loading times between rooms which makes things more enjoyable. This game is a true classic, with some of the most enjoyable moments I have ever played, it allows rookies to the series to fully understand what made Resident Evil so popular and giving the hardcore gamers something to really sink their teeth into, and even when you beat the game the list of unlockables is as long as my arm (and I do have a long arm).
A true memorable classic, thank you Capcom.
-B.(o).C-®
涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 SOS団
Crap, Keaton beat me too it!
Sparda™
New Member
Here's the review of the century...
- DEVIL MAY CRY 4 -
You'll probably remember Devil May Cry 3 for the Playstation 2 as being an unfairly difficult game, yet one that rewarded your patience with a slew of high-quality action. If playing it gave you tears of frustration, you'll be happy to learn that although this sequel is a challenge, it's by no means an extreme one. In fact, you're given an excellent number of gameplay choices that help you tailor the challenge to your preferences. You can initially choose one of two difficulties (and if you want to cry like a little girl, you can unlock several more), and you can even choose whether you want the game to perform some combos for you automatically. No, you aren't apt to find Devil May Cry 4 to be excessively tough on your first play-through, though it is no walk in the park either. However, it is generally excessive--not that that's a bad thing. Stylish action, terrific boss fights, and beautiful, melodramatic cutscenes will inspire you to push forward, and they serve as an appropriate reward for a well-played sequence of demon slaying.
It isn't surprising that a game featuring the charmingly insane Dante would be so over the top, though the series' famed antihero is not the real star this time around. Don't worry; you'll still get to play as Dante, and he brings with him a good selection of weapons and fighting styles, just as Devil May Cry fans would expect. But you'll spend the majority of the game as newcomer Nero, who has a selection of impressive and elegant moves of his own. Nero is an excellent character, capable of delivering a few wisecracks, a brooding glance, and a heartfelt plea of love to his beloved Kyrie in a few moments' time. He's clearly cut from the same cloth as Dante, though it's a bit disappointing that the game doesn't explore this connection in more detail. Nevertheless, you'll want to follow Nero's exploits as he struggles to learn the truth about his own religious organization, The Order of the Sword, and Dante's apparent murder of its leader.
The story doesn't offer up a whole lot of surprises, but it embraces a certain attitude of self-indulgence. Cutscenes are overwrought, visually stunning affairs, and are among the best you are likely to have seen in any game in recent years. The theatrical dialogue, impossibly athletic animations, and swooping camera work make for quite the spectacle, but somehow, it's a spectacle that manages to stay on just the right side of cheesy. Devil May Cry 4 takes itself seriously, but not too seriously, so for every shocking, bloody cutaway, there's an equally funny quip that helps keep the narrative in check. There are a couple of cringeworthy exceptions, such as one scene where Dante decides he's a tango dancer (don't quit your day job!), but overall, you're apt to find the scenes to be gorgeous, thought-provoking, and emotionally stirring.
Nero's claim to fame is his demonic arm, better known as the Devil Bringer. With it, you can grab onto distant enemies and pull them in, pick them up, and slam them around for some excellent combos, plus deliver a few other surprises. These mechanics are easy to pull off, and they represent a general shift from the defensive gameplay of Devil May Cry 3 to a more aggressive approach. As you play, you can pull off some incredibly satisfying moves, both in the air and on the ground--the most violent of which are accompanied by slick, bloody animations and appropriately gory-sounding thwacks and slashes. Timing these various moves can be tricky, but like in the previous games, eventually the subtleties of your combos click, and in time you'll be pulling enemies toward you, slashing them into bite-size pieces, and smashing them into one another with glee.
The Devil Bringer moves go a long way, which is probably a good thing, since Nero has neither as varied an arsenal as Dante nor access to multiple fighting styles. However, he does have his standard sword, red queen, and a revolver known as blue rose, and later on he earns another weapon that franchise fans will enjoy seeing in action. As you progress, you will earn proud souls based on your performance in any given mission, and with them, you can purchase new combos and upgrade existing ones. And you'll need them, too, since you'll need to handle droves of demons that get progressively tougher--and they're awesome to look at, to boot. You can choose these new moves individually, or you can let the game auto-select them for you based on how varied you want your array of attacks to be. It's worth noting that you can't really make a mistake here; if you don't like the move, or if there is a more powerful upgrade available to you, you can unlearn what you have purchased for a full refund and use the souls for something else.
You'll also encounter a number of secret missions scattered about, and you'll no doubt find them the most challenging aspect of the game. In some cases, you have to execute a certain move a set number of times in a row, or dispatch every demon within the allotted time. While those missions are challenging, others require you to have purchased a particular move before you can manage it. If at first it seems that some of these missions are simply unbeatable, have faith and return to it later. There's a good chance you were simply just missing a piece of the puzzle. You aren't required to do these missions, but the orb fragment you earn is a perfectly fine reward, and accomplishing these difficult tasks is incredibly gratifying.
About halfway through the game, you'll take control of Dante, and you'll likely go through a period of adjustment while you get used to the change in gameplay techniques. Frankly, the Devil Bringer is a great mechanic, and losing it is a bit of a disappointment, since it's likely to be the center of your fighting style. Instead, you'll have a new set of actions and combos to get used to, new weapons, and four (eventually five) fighting styles. Yet once your arsenal of melee weapons and guns expands (Pandora's Box is a favorite), you'll enjoy the cheerful boldness of them. There's just a lot more variety here than with Nero, and it's a lot of fun to switch styles and weapons on the fly, just to find more interesting and flashy ways of crushing demons to a pulp.
------------------
Continuing.....
- DEVIL MAY CRY 4 -
You'll probably remember Devil May Cry 3 for the Playstation 2 as being an unfairly difficult game, yet one that rewarded your patience with a slew of high-quality action. If playing it gave you tears of frustration, you'll be happy to learn that although this sequel is a challenge, it's by no means an extreme one. In fact, you're given an excellent number of gameplay choices that help you tailor the challenge to your preferences. You can initially choose one of two difficulties (and if you want to cry like a little girl, you can unlock several more), and you can even choose whether you want the game to perform some combos for you automatically. No, you aren't apt to find Devil May Cry 4 to be excessively tough on your first play-through, though it is no walk in the park either. However, it is generally excessive--not that that's a bad thing. Stylish action, terrific boss fights, and beautiful, melodramatic cutscenes will inspire you to push forward, and they serve as an appropriate reward for a well-played sequence of demon slaying.
It isn't surprising that a game featuring the charmingly insane Dante would be so over the top, though the series' famed antihero is not the real star this time around. Don't worry; you'll still get to play as Dante, and he brings with him a good selection of weapons and fighting styles, just as Devil May Cry fans would expect. But you'll spend the majority of the game as newcomer Nero, who has a selection of impressive and elegant moves of his own. Nero is an excellent character, capable of delivering a few wisecracks, a brooding glance, and a heartfelt plea of love to his beloved Kyrie in a few moments' time. He's clearly cut from the same cloth as Dante, though it's a bit disappointing that the game doesn't explore this connection in more detail. Nevertheless, you'll want to follow Nero's exploits as he struggles to learn the truth about his own religious organization, The Order of the Sword, and Dante's apparent murder of its leader.
The story doesn't offer up a whole lot of surprises, but it embraces a certain attitude of self-indulgence. Cutscenes are overwrought, visually stunning affairs, and are among the best you are likely to have seen in any game in recent years. The theatrical dialogue, impossibly athletic animations, and swooping camera work make for quite the spectacle, but somehow, it's a spectacle that manages to stay on just the right side of cheesy. Devil May Cry 4 takes itself seriously, but not too seriously, so for every shocking, bloody cutaway, there's an equally funny quip that helps keep the narrative in check. There are a couple of cringeworthy exceptions, such as one scene where Dante decides he's a tango dancer (don't quit your day job!), but overall, you're apt to find the scenes to be gorgeous, thought-provoking, and emotionally stirring.
Nero's claim to fame is his demonic arm, better known as the Devil Bringer. With it, you can grab onto distant enemies and pull them in, pick them up, and slam them around for some excellent combos, plus deliver a few other surprises. These mechanics are easy to pull off, and they represent a general shift from the defensive gameplay of Devil May Cry 3 to a more aggressive approach. As you play, you can pull off some incredibly satisfying moves, both in the air and on the ground--the most violent of which are accompanied by slick, bloody animations and appropriately gory-sounding thwacks and slashes. Timing these various moves can be tricky, but like in the previous games, eventually the subtleties of your combos click, and in time you'll be pulling enemies toward you, slashing them into bite-size pieces, and smashing them into one another with glee.
The Devil Bringer moves go a long way, which is probably a good thing, since Nero has neither as varied an arsenal as Dante nor access to multiple fighting styles. However, he does have his standard sword, red queen, and a revolver known as blue rose, and later on he earns another weapon that franchise fans will enjoy seeing in action. As you progress, you will earn proud souls based on your performance in any given mission, and with them, you can purchase new combos and upgrade existing ones. And you'll need them, too, since you'll need to handle droves of demons that get progressively tougher--and they're awesome to look at, to boot. You can choose these new moves individually, or you can let the game auto-select them for you based on how varied you want your array of attacks to be. It's worth noting that you can't really make a mistake here; if you don't like the move, or if there is a more powerful upgrade available to you, you can unlearn what you have purchased for a full refund and use the souls for something else.
You'll also encounter a number of secret missions scattered about, and you'll no doubt find them the most challenging aspect of the game. In some cases, you have to execute a certain move a set number of times in a row, or dispatch every demon within the allotted time. While those missions are challenging, others require you to have purchased a particular move before you can manage it. If at first it seems that some of these missions are simply unbeatable, have faith and return to it later. There's a good chance you were simply just missing a piece of the puzzle. You aren't required to do these missions, but the orb fragment you earn is a perfectly fine reward, and accomplishing these difficult tasks is incredibly gratifying.
About halfway through the game, you'll take control of Dante, and you'll likely go through a period of adjustment while you get used to the change in gameplay techniques. Frankly, the Devil Bringer is a great mechanic, and losing it is a bit of a disappointment, since it's likely to be the center of your fighting style. Instead, you'll have a new set of actions and combos to get used to, new weapons, and four (eventually five) fighting styles. Yet once your arsenal of melee weapons and guns expands (Pandora's Box is a favorite), you'll enjoy the cheerful boldness of them. There's just a lot more variety here than with Nero, and it's a lot of fun to switch styles and weapons on the fly, just to find more interesting and flashy ways of crushing demons to a pulp.
------------------
Continuing.....
Sparda™
New Member
Continuing.....
-----------------
In addition to the dazzling action, you'll work your way through some light puzzles and platforming sequences. The puzzles aren't tough, but they do require you to roam about a bit from time to time, bashing on some switches, using a special device to slow down time, and accomplishing some other odds and ends. They help break up the pace, but all too often these breaks result in lulls that last a bit too long, making you long for another crazy demon attack. Some of the platform sequences are fine, requiring you to use the devil bringer as a grappling hook to fling yourself around, while some of the more standard sequences suffer from bad camera angles and an annoying tendency for the camera to change positions mid-jump.
Don't let the variety of weaponry and special moves lull you into believing that the rest of Devil May Cry 4's design is similarly diverse. In fact, the many different ways of killing enemies is quite a stark contrast to the repetition at the heart of the experience. While backtracking and repeated environments have been a problem in past games in the series, the newest entry takes these issues to an even higher level of monotony. Many successive levels take place in the same castle hallways and forest meadows, and when you switch to Dante, you visit them all over again. Granted, most of these areas are easy on the eyes, packed with gorgeous architecture and grand outdoor vistas. Yet when you see them over and over again, and when some of the light puzzles have you traipsing back and forth, you will wish for more to see. It has the effect of making a seemingly grand adventure feel oddly limited.
That repetition even makes its way into the admittedly spectacular boss fights. These battles are easily the shining star of Devil May Cry 4, and each boss is wildly different from the last, requiring some split-second timing and good control over your reflexes. From a giant toad to a hulking stone behemoth, these bosses are cleverly designed and a good deal of fun. Yet in the second half of the game, you'll face all of the same bosses as Dante that you fought as Nero. While the game could have benefited from some new blood during these missions, the differences in styles between the two at least lend some diversity to the repeated bosses and test the newest additions to your arsenal. Yet amazingly (and irritatingly), Capcom brings most of them out for a third time in the game's padded and plodding penultimate mission. Yes, these fights are fun, but forcing most of them on the player three times is overkill.
Regardless of which platform you play Devil May Cry 4 on, this game is a looker. Both Nero and Dante are fluid in motion, showcasing a good deal of flair and subtlety in their movements. The more damage a move does, the more astonishing it looks onscreen, and few games can approach the pure razzle-dazzle of Nero jumping into the air, his cape flying and the glowing devil bringer tossing lumbering demons around with matchless grace. From a design standpoint, the visuals can be gorgeous to behold, and moments like your first glimpse of Gran Album bridge are bound to take your breath away. What's more, all of this visual prowess is smoothly rendered on both platforms, and broken up only by the occasional loading time. This can be noticeably reduced if you are playing on the Playstation 3, since some files will be installed to the hard drive, though the loading times aren't excessive by any stretch. The downside for PS3 owners is that the installation takes around 20 minutes to finish.
The sound design, like the storytelling, is merrily over the top. The vibrant brutality of your most impressive moves is accompanied by equally squeamish and powerful sound effects. Fortunately, the talented voice cast never hams it up, even when delivering the most melodramatic lines. As Nero, Johnny Yong Bosch can be both remarkably sincere and sneeringly sarcastic, and his superb acting makes for one of the most appealing new game characters to be introduced in some time. But you may not find the music as universally appealing. This is the one area where Devil May Cry 4 feels too clichéd, relying on the standard heavy metal grinds that accompany most demon-inspired games and films, and replaying the same couple of tunes during combat add nausea. Luckily, it never gets in the way, so while it may not stand out, it doesn't stick out, either.
Online leaderboards, challenging achievements on both platforms, and a host of unlockables (including an action-only survival mode) will keep stalwart fans coming back for more, in spite of all the repetition. Recycled content and some pacing inconsistencies aside, Devil May Cry 4 is a great game, and it delivers a lot of quality action that will please fans without alienating those new to the series. If you liked previous entries, you'll find what you're looking for here; and if you were turned off by Devil May Cry 3's insane challenge, you'll feel a lot more comfortable this time around.
------------
Rankings
1UP.com - A-
Edge Magazine - 8/10
Eurogamer - 7/10
Famitsu - 35/40
Game Informer - 9/10
GamePro - 4.5/5
GameSpot - 8/10
GameSpy - 4/5
GameTrailers - 8.6/10
GameZone - 9/10
IGN - 8.7/10
Official Xbox Magazine - 7.5/10
Play Magazine - 8/10
PSM - 4.5/5
----------------
Review Compilation
Metacritic - 84%
Game Rankings - 85.3%
----------------
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Extraordinary action sequences highlighted by smooth controls and slick animations
- Nero is a great new character with some terrific new moves
- Beautiful visuals and incredible cutscenes will constantly amaze you
- Boss characters are designed well and fun to fight.
CONS
- Environments and boss fights are repeated far too often
- Puzzles and platforming aren't much fun and chop up the pace too much.
------------------
Sources
-----------------
In addition to the dazzling action, you'll work your way through some light puzzles and platforming sequences. The puzzles aren't tough, but they do require you to roam about a bit from time to time, bashing on some switches, using a special device to slow down time, and accomplishing some other odds and ends. They help break up the pace, but all too often these breaks result in lulls that last a bit too long, making you long for another crazy demon attack. Some of the platform sequences are fine, requiring you to use the devil bringer as a grappling hook to fling yourself around, while some of the more standard sequences suffer from bad camera angles and an annoying tendency for the camera to change positions mid-jump.
Don't let the variety of weaponry and special moves lull you into believing that the rest of Devil May Cry 4's design is similarly diverse. In fact, the many different ways of killing enemies is quite a stark contrast to the repetition at the heart of the experience. While backtracking and repeated environments have been a problem in past games in the series, the newest entry takes these issues to an even higher level of monotony. Many successive levels take place in the same castle hallways and forest meadows, and when you switch to Dante, you visit them all over again. Granted, most of these areas are easy on the eyes, packed with gorgeous architecture and grand outdoor vistas. Yet when you see them over and over again, and when some of the light puzzles have you traipsing back and forth, you will wish for more to see. It has the effect of making a seemingly grand adventure feel oddly limited.
That repetition even makes its way into the admittedly spectacular boss fights. These battles are easily the shining star of Devil May Cry 4, and each boss is wildly different from the last, requiring some split-second timing and good control over your reflexes. From a giant toad to a hulking stone behemoth, these bosses are cleverly designed and a good deal of fun. Yet in the second half of the game, you'll face all of the same bosses as Dante that you fought as Nero. While the game could have benefited from some new blood during these missions, the differences in styles between the two at least lend some diversity to the repeated bosses and test the newest additions to your arsenal. Yet amazingly (and irritatingly), Capcom brings most of them out for a third time in the game's padded and plodding penultimate mission. Yes, these fights are fun, but forcing most of them on the player three times is overkill.
Regardless of which platform you play Devil May Cry 4 on, this game is a looker. Both Nero and Dante are fluid in motion, showcasing a good deal of flair and subtlety in their movements. The more damage a move does, the more astonishing it looks onscreen, and few games can approach the pure razzle-dazzle of Nero jumping into the air, his cape flying and the glowing devil bringer tossing lumbering demons around with matchless grace. From a design standpoint, the visuals can be gorgeous to behold, and moments like your first glimpse of Gran Album bridge are bound to take your breath away. What's more, all of this visual prowess is smoothly rendered on both platforms, and broken up only by the occasional loading time. This can be noticeably reduced if you are playing on the Playstation 3, since some files will be installed to the hard drive, though the loading times aren't excessive by any stretch. The downside for PS3 owners is that the installation takes around 20 minutes to finish.
The sound design, like the storytelling, is merrily over the top. The vibrant brutality of your most impressive moves is accompanied by equally squeamish and powerful sound effects. Fortunately, the talented voice cast never hams it up, even when delivering the most melodramatic lines. As Nero, Johnny Yong Bosch can be both remarkably sincere and sneeringly sarcastic, and his superb acting makes for one of the most appealing new game characters to be introduced in some time. But you may not find the music as universally appealing. This is the one area where Devil May Cry 4 feels too clichéd, relying on the standard heavy metal grinds that accompany most demon-inspired games and films, and replaying the same couple of tunes during combat add nausea. Luckily, it never gets in the way, so while it may not stand out, it doesn't stick out, either.
Online leaderboards, challenging achievements on both platforms, and a host of unlockables (including an action-only survival mode) will keep stalwart fans coming back for more, in spite of all the repetition. Recycled content and some pacing inconsistencies aside, Devil May Cry 4 is a great game, and it delivers a lot of quality action that will please fans without alienating those new to the series. If you liked previous entries, you'll find what you're looking for here; and if you were turned off by Devil May Cry 3's insane challenge, you'll feel a lot more comfortable this time around.
------------
Rankings
1UP.com - A-
Edge Magazine - 8/10
Eurogamer - 7/10
Famitsu - 35/40
Game Informer - 9/10
GamePro - 4.5/5
GameSpot - 8/10
GameSpy - 4/5
GameTrailers - 8.6/10
GameZone - 9/10
IGN - 8.7/10
Official Xbox Magazine - 7.5/10
Play Magazine - 8/10
PSM - 4.5/5
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Review Compilation
Metacritic - 84%
Game Rankings - 85.3%
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Pros & Cons
PROS
- Extraordinary action sequences highlighted by smooth controls and slick animations
- Nero is a great new character with some terrific new moves
- Beautiful visuals and incredible cutscenes will constantly amaze you
- Boss characters are designed well and fun to fight.
CONS
- Environments and boss fights are repeated far too often
- Puzzles and platforming aren't much fun and chop up the pace too much.
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Sources