Quick Review: “Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition”

"DMC4," But With Vergil, Trish, and Lady

By Bryan Smith on June 29, 2015 at 7:21pm

For those keeping track, "Devil May Cry 4" has been the last game in the main series released back in 2008. After fans have been demanding a new "Devil May Cry" game (traditional, not "DmC: Devil May Cry;" personally I believe we need more white-haired Dante and his antics), Capcom released... "DmC: Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition." But then they released "Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition," in a similar vein "Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition."

Where "DMC3: Special Edition" added more balanced difficulty settings, new modes, bosses, and most surprisingly Vergil as a playable character, "DMC4: Special Edition" adds Legendary Dark Knight mode (not Batman), which adds more enemies to the screen, better visuals, and most importantly, three new characters. Vergil, Trish, and Lady are now playable with different play styles and new intro cutscenes and endings. So is this remaster worth a look? For it's price, I think it's an absolute buy, especially for those who haven't played it. However, the same problems from the original game are still here, which may change your mileage.

Same Great Gameplay with More Characters!

The same challenging gameplay is still here for "DMC" fans, and I certainly got my butt handed to me as I'm not trained in the high skills needed to be truly stylish. However, I recognize that the mechanics to rack up the stylish meter is fun once you get the hand of keeping the rating up.

Additionally, the new characters all have a different play style to work with in the "Devil May Cry" universe. Lady is more focused on using firearms with her trademark bayonet rocket launcher gun. Trish strikes hard and fast with lightning based attacks that tends to drag enemies close to you. Vergil is extremely fast and can move in on enemies from a large option of movement possibilities. For a remastered game, I think that Capcom adding three new characters is a great plus. I don't see a whole lot of remasters that actually add something of substance other than a cheeky costume.

Backtracking... Foolishness

A while back I remember watching a friend play the game and was intrigued by Nero's segments of the game. Then we got to Dante's parts and I remember saying, "Wait a minute... haven't we been here before? Like an hour ago or something doing the exact same thing?" The biggest problem plaguing this game, which for a remaster I can't really blame, is the backtracking and retreading. Capcom is notorious for the trope Boss Rush, and bosses are re-fought so many times. Even with the new characters, they don't help the repetition. Other problems in the rather awkward platforming also lingers, which would have improved the game a bit if fixed.

Also, there are microtransactions to buy red orbs and the like. For a single player game, that just feels wrong. I found this out when I got the game running and I didn't hear a word about them prior.

Seems a little underhanded there, Capcom...

Slaying Demons Worshipped as a God Like It's No Thing

"Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition" is a game that's very easy to know if you're going to like it. If you loved the original, didn't get the chance to play the original and want to get it at a relatively good price, or want to play as the new characters, then you'll probably get the game. If you didn't like the original, hated the repetition, and don't care about the new characters, then you'll probably ignore this remaster. While still flawed in certain areas, "Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition" is a fun game for "DMC" fans and gives you three fan favorite characters to play with.

All right Capcom, now where is "Devil May Cry 5?"

Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition 7.5 / 10 Read our Review »

Release:

ESRB Rating: Mature 17+

Publisher: Capcom

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Genres: Action-Adventure, Hack and Slash

Purchase: Amazon

Full Game Details »