Devil May Cry 4: Hands-On Preview

In-depth look at the second full sequel in Capcom's luscious horror-action series.

Getting the most out of a game when you're drowning in the din that is TGS can be hard, but Capcom took the time to ensure that everyone demoing Devil May Cry 4 on the PS3 got the best possible experience, with comfortable chairs and head-hugging earphones, in a booth that looked more like a stage production than a demo area. Good thing, then, that the quality of the game justifies the preparations.

At its core, Devil May Cry 4 plays very much like the previous games in the series, and in that regard it doesn't appear to visibly show off how those vaunted horsepower reserves are being used. But play it for a few minutes and you'll appreciate the impeccable looks and rock-solid performance that accompany the sheer exhilaration of dispatching enemies as stylishly as possible.

Like the previous games in Capcom's well-regarded series, your immediate goal in Devil May Cry 4 is still to see off baddies in as attractive a manner as possible - something the control scheme has been well tailored for. Scooping enemies up is simple and plugging them full of lead - or flames, thanks to Dante's new flame-hand - are satisfying and easy. That's not to say that the game is a cakewalk, and even in this 5-or-so-minute demo you'll need to spend more than a few blasts to bring enemies down.

Your attacking style is mapped onto the analog stick, making pulling off just the moves you want a cinch. There's every chance, in games such as this, for finesse to devolve into troglodytic button mashing, but the care taken in the controls means you'll be pumping up the style meter in no time.

One of my favourite parts of the previous games is the attention given to the world, and it's here that the PS3 excels. The Gothic styled architecture is back, but it's a damn sight prettier. Unfortunately, the amount of the world you can interact with is much less than you'd imagine. For the most part you can look but not touch, as there are only certain interactive elements in the world - and even then they're merely of the exploding barrel variety. Lazy design such as this doesn't detract from the overall experience, but they do make you wonder whether Capcom is trying hard enough.

Another quibble I have with the game is the increasing disjoint between its animation and its realism. Dante still jumps with a similar animation to that used in previous games, but it just looks so out of place here in this fantastically detailed and realized world. And the whole thing where you're forced to slink along seductively when you're locked on is something I wouldn't mind seeing disappear.

But probably my biggest problem with the TGS demo is that it ended way too early. The lines were so long that you were only going to get one chance at this game and there wasn't nearly enough of it. At the end of the demo, you're taunted with the introductory video clip of a gigantic flaming beasty for what will no doubt be an epic struggle to the death. But I'll have to wait until next year to see how that goes.

Stay tuned for lots more on Devil May Cry 4 in the coming months - the game could see release as early as late March in Japan.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo