Devil May Cry 4

Developer: Capcom
Format: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Genre: Arcade

Dante returns and this time he's brought a friend



The Devil May Cry games have long been considered to be at the very cutting edge of action adventure titles. Slick animation and super smooth control always brings home just how much fun these titles are to play. The latest instalment, imaginatively titled Devil May Cry 4, isn't due in the shops until at least February 2008, but such is the hype surrounding the game we just had to take a closer look.

Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with series mainstay Dante. As new leading man Nero players will be able to unleash powerful and stylish attacks and non-stop combos using a combination of the Devil Bringer arm and the Exceed system, both of which are new gameplay mechanics for the series. Fans of Dante won't be disappointed as he too will be playable during the course of the game.

With players taking control of Nero, the immense power of the Devil Bringer begins to be revealed as a fierce confrontation against Dante ensues and consequently (and what looks to make the game even more fun) the lines between good and evil are constantly blurred. Taking full advantage of the advanced graphical and processing power of the next-gen systems it draws gamers into the rich and highly detailed world of Fortuna and its surrounds with more enemies than ever before and some of the most breath-taking bosses ever conceived.

Combat, as ever is where the real heart of this game lies. The Exceed system allows Nero to easily charge up his sword with a throttle effect, revving up to three levels with powerful and varied attack options. The developers have also worked on implementing a new Deep Combo system that rewards the stylish dispatching of enemies - further enhanced by the unique "Devil Bringer" arm which apparently opens up a range of never seen before combo options.

A heady mix of guns, swordplay and supernatural abilities - what better way to shake the February blues away!