Devil May Cry 4 [PC]

What's even stranger is the level design, which basically forces you to retrace your steps in the second half of the game, bringing you back to the beginning. You fight through the exact same arenas twice, which is, in addition to a painful dice game sequence near the end, what accounts for all the repeated boss encounters. Devil May Cry 4's story doesn't feel much like a quest at all in this respect; it's more like a tumultuous shopping trip.

It's also unfortunate that Nero is the focus here, as he's nowhere close to as strong a character as Dante. Whereas Dante's ego dwarfs even the most gargantuan of the demon bosses he so regularly faces, Nero seems just as likely to whine as to jeer at enemies. By the end he comes off more like a kid chasing a stolen juice box than a fearless hero in pursuit of his girlfriend. When Dante steps into the action, he's so endearingly arrogant that he even manages to soothe some of your concern regarding the challenge ahead.

While the story isn't all that thrilling (A furtive order of religious zealots has malicious intentions? No way!), it does have its moments. During one particular sequence where, after being defeated, a mad scientist boss is madly scribbling notes on a clipboard frantically asking Dante for combat tips, I couldn't help thinking of how he's mirroring players who run to game guides for advice. Yet in this case, the scientist is addressing Dante, who is, in essence, you. The game is asking the player for advice on how to better challenge you, and since it can't exactly turn to a guide itself as it's governed by the rules of its AI programming, you can't help but take pity on it, even though it's trying to kill you. Though these kinds of moments aren't common, it's an enjoyable kind of self-awareness you don't always see in action games like this.

And now onto some of the particulars of the PC version. With a game like this so focused on twitch elements, control is a primary issue. With DMC4, you basically have to use a gamepad. There's really no way around it. So while I smashed on Capcom's Resident Evil 4 for PC for not having mouse support, that's different. That game focuses on aiming and shooting, something a mouse is ideal for. Devil May Cry 4 focuses on precise button combos and not as much on accuracy, something I'd much rather control with thumbsticks and face buttons than with keys and a mouse. I was using a wired Xbox 360 controller for the play through and had no issues. It felt quite natural.

PC gamers can also use the turbo toggle to speed up the action and, once unlocked, can play on Legendary Dark Knight mode, which turns out to be pretty difficult. I'm by no means the best DMC player out there; in fact I'm nowhere close, but the sheer number of enemies spawned in this mode ensures that only the best, most dedicated players will be able to make it through. Still, it's nice to know it's there even if you're a more casual player and happen to get sucked in.

DMC4's visual presentation is also fantastic, in higher resolution on the PC and in DX9 or DX10 modes. Even on my home system, which isn't exactly a powerhouse, the game still ran wonderfully smooth with most of the graphics options turned all the way up and in 1920 x 1200 resolution. In addition to the action, you're also treated to some fantastically directed in-game cut-scenes that flesh out the story and show off slick, stylish action sequences.

For sound, you'll mostly hear grunts, item pick-up effects, gun shots and sword clangs during gameplay. Character voice-overs are generally well done, but why oh why does the battle music have to be so awful? With every fight you're assaulted with trashy electro-rock that really just needs to go away.

Closing Comments
So are you going to enjoy Devil May Cry 4? Hardcore actions junkies aren't going to care as much about the wrap-around level progression and repetitive encounters as they'll likely be busy replaying stages for the highest ratings. They're going to love the punishing Legendary Dark Knight mode on Turbo and power through the wonky platforming and puzzle sections. If you're one of those who are just looking for a one-shot action experience, though, you'll probably be more affected by these kinds of flaws.

Regardless of how much weight you put on each category, the action gameplay is accessible and possesses quite a bit of depth if you're willing to put in the time. The higher-resolution graphics on the PC shine and flow smoothly, and the fact that a gamepad is the best way to go shouldn't turn you off. This type of game couldn't really work any other way. So while it's not without flaws, it's still one of the better pure action experiences on the platform.

©2008-07-23, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved