Nero’s style of play is arguably the most engaging and skill-based in the entire franchise.
This is a series that prioritizes gameplay first, and the only way Nero was truly going to win over fans was by proving his worth from a combat sense. With a clear personality and arc backed by a script that goes to lengths to ensure Nero is treated how he should be in the context of the DMC universe, Devil May Cry 4 molds a main character who can more than make up for the loss of Dante.Īll that said, Devil May Cry is not a series that fans come to for the story. When he finally comes to terms with it at the end of the game, it makes sense because audiences have seen Nero struggle with the demonic on an internal and external level for the majority of Devil May Cry 4.
Specifically, the struggle to accept his demonic heritage framed through the physical manifestation of his Devil Bringer. Both through the gameplay and narrative, Nero proves himself a potentially worthy successor to Dante without ever showing him up. This is an important distinction since it’s easier to warm up to a new character when they have to earn their keep. He struggles throughout the whole game in a way that Dante never has. These “failings” keep Nero a grounded character while preserving Dante’s legacy.
Nero loses both their fights, fails to finish off a single boss properly, doesn’t gain a single boss weapon, and can’t maintain a full Devil Trigger. To the script’s credit, Nero is never portrayed as “better” than Dante. He’s aesthetically similar to Dante, but the two couldn’t be better foils if Nero was Vergil himself. He isn’t watered down, though, or even edgy. On a conceptual level, Nero is a long-time fan’s worst fan: a watered-down, almost edgy, replacement for a well-liked protagonist. He has white hair, they have similar builds, and his quips wouldn’t feel out of place coming out of DMC3 Dante’s mouth. It really is easy to overlook just how well crafted Nero is due to how much he resembles Dante at first glance. While Reuben Langdon consistently delivers a great performance as Dante, Bosch is on another level entirely, giving Nero a range of emotional depth other characters in the series struggle to attain. It certainly helps that Johnny Yong Bosch is easily the best voice actor in all of Devil May Cry. He’s so far away from being charming that it swings all the way back around and makes it endearing. Nero is all of Dante’s dorkiness without the appropriate bravado to back it up. The premise is pushed even further when Nero pretends to ignore Kyrie by listening to music after he gives her a necklace at the end of the performance. It’s a goofy premise, but it’s one that can easily endear an audience to a character. Nero spends the entirety of the opening cutscene rushing through the streets of Fortuna, mowing down all enemies in his path, just so he can get to his girlfriend’s recital in time. As Nero’s last few missions will have him directly trying to rescue Kyrie, it’s important to establish their connection early. While Devil May Cry 4 is just as corny as Devil May Cry 3 when it comes to dialogue, it nails its more down to earth moments with greater consistency than its predecessor in large part thanks to Nero’s preestablished relationship with Kyrie.Ī romance plot played straight in Devil May Cry almost feels blasphemous with how out of place it feels with the rest of the series’ aesthetic, but the level of care put into Nero’s and Kyrie’s dynamic does quite a bit of good for the game’s narrative. There’s also a noticeable spike in the writing quality coming from the previous game. Nero’s pull and grab playstyle gives the series maneuverability that simply wasn’t present in previous titles missions are noticeably more complex with an emphasis on platforming and puzzle solving and the story takes a more active, layered role with clear cut arcs and themes. Not because it’s a bad game, but because it very easily could have been the greatest entry in the series.įor its first eleven missions, Devil May Cry 4 is a well paced, well designed, and surprisingly well-written evolution of Devil May Cry 3.
Devil May Cry 4 will forever be a reminder of the dangers of rushing a product for release. On a conceptual level, Devil May Cry 4 could not fail.
Hideaki Itsuno had saved Devil May Cry and Capcom was now in possession of a legitimate powerhouse franchise with a competent team at the helm.
Although Devil May Cry 3 wasn’t nearly as much of a commercial success as the original or even Devil May Cry 2 for that matter, it still managed to repair the series’ image completely, if not actually bolster it.