DmC4: Special Edition covers the story of Nero and Dante; two demon-infused men with white hair beating everything around them to death with swords, guns, spectral demon arms and (occasionally) their own fists. For anyone unfamiliar with the story DmC4 isn’t particularly forgiving, as very little time is put into catching up new players to the chaotic mess that is the Devil May Cry world.
The opening menu can be even more overwhelming as it offers players the chance to choose between Nero, Dante, Virgil, Trish and Lady. These main players of the DmC world each come with their own unique movesets and combos, and do a lot to help make the experience a fun one.
If you already know who these characters are and what makes em tick then the Special Edition is a real treat. Being able to jump right into DmC4’s plethora of fighting styles means that fans can enjoy one of the best parts of the franchise without needing to wait for a new game plus or hassle around annoying DLC. For players totally new to DmC4 it means being able to hop back into the action with an entirely new playstyle once you’ve beaten the core story, which is the best part of playing any Devil May Cry title.
While the smooth action-oriented gameplay is intact, the Special Edition does have a few quirks that are worth mentioning. Any fan of slightly phoned-in voice acting is in luck the game’s English and Japanese vocals have been intact, letting players experience the corny dialogue exactly as it once was. Most frustrating is the button layout, which can thankfully be remapped for anyone uncomfortable with holding R2 in order to lock onto enemies for most fights (at least as Nero).
The visuals have been slightly upscaled but can still be a little rough, particularly in cutscenes that feature close-ups on character faces. It becomes even more noticeable given how much of DmC4’s gameplay revolves around backtracking through previous levels, putting a glaring spotlight on the aged visuals. It’s a problem carried over from the original game, which is something you would expect from any port.
Overall Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is a wonderful throwback to a time when Dante didn’t have short black hair. Whether past or present DmC has never taken itself too seriously, and as one of the best entries in the franchise this Special Edition is hard to pass up. Just be ready to do a bit of walking between fights and try not to cringe at Kyrie’s vacant doll-like expression.
Reviewed for Xbox One