8.4 hours played
Written 6 days ago
Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
💬 "Stylish, satisfying, but seriously repetitive."
Hours played: Enough to beat it with multiple characters and question the level design
Recommended?: 👍 Yes, but with reservations
🎮 Gameplay & Combat
Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition delivers what the DMC series is known for—fast-paced, combo-heavy combat that rewards style and skill. Whether you're playing as Nero with his Devil Bringer or Dante with his style-switching madness, every battle feels fluid, challenging, and downright cool. Add in Vergil, Lady, and Trish, and you've got a solid roster that brings variety and replay value.
If you enjoy mastering intricate combos, juggling enemies mid-air, and looking stylish while doing it—this game has you covered.
🎥 Presentation & Story
Visually, it still holds up remarkably well for its age. The cinematics are over-the-top in the best way, with plenty of signature DMC flair. The voice acting and character designs give the game personality, and the Special Edition polish makes it feel more complete.
As for the story... well, it's serviceable. It's not bad, but the way it's executed is questionable. You play as Nero blazing through the game—then halfway through, you switch to Dante and basically walk the same path backwards, fighting the same bosses and mobs. Then Nero comes back at the end to fight them again, just harder. It becomes a bit of a chore, especially near the end.
🧭 Level Design & Navigation
Here's where the game really stumbles. The castle and forest levels are a mess. No clear direction, just a lot of "figure it out" gameplay that feels dated. It breaks the flow and makes exploration a pain instead of a thrill. Some levels are just outright confusing, with repetitive environments and backtracking galore.
⌨️ Controls (PC-specific gripe)
On PC, there's no way to rebind your keyboard controls in-game—and worse, you can't even view them. The only thing you can access is the skill list, and even that is locked out during secret missions, which is when you'd really want to reference it.
🎲 Final Stretch Fatigue
The dice mini-games? No thanks. They slow down the pace, feel out of place, and are especially annoying in the final act when you're forced to repeat enemies you've already fought—but this time, they’re harder for the sake of being harder. It's not difficulty; it's padding.
✅ Pros
- Fantastic, stylish combat across all characters
- High replay value with multiple playstyles
- Solid visual upgrade and presentation
- Classic DMC feel that fans will love
❌ Cons
- Poor level navigation, especially in the castle/forest
- Repetitive progression (backtracking galore)
- PC controls are shockingly limited
- Late-game padding and dice mini-games feel like filler
- Too many difficulty levels and required playthroughs tied to achievements — if you're a completionist, this game can feel like achievement hell
🧠 Verdict
If you're here for the combat and stylish action—you'll have a blast. If you're hoping for smart level design and a tightly structured story, prepare for some frustration. Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is a love letter to fans, but also a reminder of how far the series has come.
Still worth playing—especially for DMC fans—but don’t expect perfection.