Turbo mode will turn-up the action to insane speeds, while Legendary Dark Knight Mode will harness advanced PC processing power and fill the screen with an unbelievable number of enemies for extra difficulty. Moreover, familiar enemies from the console versions will show-up in new locations in the PC version.

CAPCOM®'S DEVIL MAY CRY® 4 COMING TO PC THIS SUMMER Demo With System Benchmark Mode Will Be Available Before the Game's Release

SAN MATEO, Calif — April 23, 2008 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that the highly anticipated PC version of Devil May Cry® 4 is locked and loaded for release this summer. Devil May Cry 4 is already a certifiable hit in the console world, having shipped over 2 million units world wide since its release in North America in February. A demo of the game will be released for PC players before the retail version ships, allowing PC gamers to try the game ahead of time, as well as testing their system's prowess with the included benchmark mode. The PC version of Devil May Cry 4 will feature new modes, enhanced graphics options and some additional content. Devil May Cry 4 has been rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

Good things come to those who wait as PC owners will benefit from having more modes and more visual customization options to help enhance their demon-slaying action. Turbo mode will turn-up the action to insane speeds, while Legendary Dark Knight Mode will harness advanced PC processing power and fill the screen with an unbelievable number of enemies for extra difficulty. Moreover, familiar enemies from the console versions will show-up in new locations in the PC version. The high resolution screen settings allow the cut scenes of the game to run at up to 120 frames per second (up from 30 frames per second in the console version of the game). Slider options are available to manage various visual effects seen throughout the game. Devil May Cry 4 for the PC will have both DirectX® 9 and DirectX® 10 modes, and will also be compliant with the Games For Windows® program.

From the producer of the original Devil May Cry® and Resident Evil® 4 comes the next installment in the hugely successful stylized action series that has so far achieved global sales of nearly seven million units. Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man, Nero, players will unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic: the powerful "Devil Bringer" on his right arm.

But it's been 7 years since the first game's incarnation, and Dante has been subverted by a remarkably similar looking chap sporting a glowy blue arm. So how does the series hold up? Hit the jump for our Frankenreview of Devil May Cry 4—because the suspense is killing you.

GameDaily
As for presentation, it's simply jaw-dropping. The visuals are absolutely spectacular throughout Devil May Cry 4, bursting with exquisite details. Whether you're storming the rooftop of an ice castle, fighting your way through underground caverns or slashing your way through a tropical jungle, they really come alive better than any current-gen Capcom effort we've seen. Occasionally, there is some slight flicker and slowdown, but this never dwindles the quality of the graphics.

1UP
Nero offers a remarkably different style of play thanks to the Devil Bringer, his demonically enhanced right arm. Its various uses include tossing foes around, pulling off unique finishing moves, and grappling across ...Devil May Cry has always rewarded pinpoint timing, and the Red Queen reconfirms that commitment with its brilliant "Instant Rev" mechanic that dishes out maximum damage by perfectly timing a button press during a combo. It's a seemingly insubstantial, purely optional gameplay addition that deepens combat immeasurably.

VideoGamer
Getting to a boss or a mini-boss demon and seeing what happens when you grapple them is what keeps Nero's combat interesting through the first play through. We won't spoil anything for you, but Nero brutally pummels one of the bosses during a mission about half way through the game in an attack that ends with a super-slow motion punch to the face that'll have you wincing every time you see it. This is what the DMC games are all about - over-the-top, brutal, Japanese-style violence. And we love it.

Xbox World
While the mechanics of the game aren't problematic in the least, a lot of gamers may have an issue with camera placement. Capcom has kept the same detached camera system in use for many of its staple franchises - for dramatic effect. Inexplicably, however, it also sought to break the 180º rule at every turn, literally, which means that with every cut to a new camera angle, you will find your running direction reversed, causing unnecessary frustration.

Eurogamer
There are other areas where the gameplay feels old - like the way you're penned into a predetermined area to fight demons, which respawn upon your return but with no requirement to fight them other than as a means to harvest more of the game's currency. Elsewhere, the accessibility doesn't extend to keeping you informed as to what to do or where to go next, so you're left to wander around until you find an arbitrary object...When it does things like this, it just feels like a high-def re-skin of a 2001 game design.I really wasn't a fan when I tried it out at TGS. The whole thing just felt like more of the same, but evidently that's what people want.

However, without PS3 to PS3 comparisons we may be discounting the possibility that the Xbox 360 version has better disc load times than the PS3 version, so there could still be a considerable loading benefit for PS3 owners. Even for 2 second savings, I'd leave the game installing while I did something else.

PS3 Devil will make you CRY with 20 min install time [CVG]

The sharp eyes over at IGN have spotted what may be a juicy bit of news over on the Devil May Cry 4 fansite. If you click on the option to download a DMC4 widget, the site loads up an example picture which shows that the demo for the game will be hitting the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on January 31.

Of course, as IGN also points out, this could just be bad placeholder text for the widget example. But with the game hitting just a week into February it doesn't seem like too far a stretch for that demo date to be right.

DMC4 Demo Dated? [IGN]

Most games these days tend to hold your hand all the way through," says PSM3, adding "Devil May Cry is not like that. It'll throw a million demons at you because it wants to, put in half a dozen arbitrary fights in a 30-foot stretch of map, force you to survive for ages on a tiny sliver of health... and then give you a D at the end of the level because you weren't doing enough combos... Weirdest of all, the difficulty curve seems to peak in the middle of the game... There are bits in DMC4 that you'll absolutely love, and bits that you'll hate.

No, there isn't some super cool Power Glove-esque Devil Bringer controller pack-in, nor is there a sweet limited Nero action figure bonus. Capcom couldn't even be bothered to throw in a t-shirt. It's just the console and the game. I suppose the custom cardboard box will appeal to some, but for 37,800 yen, I'd have expected at the very least a huggable Trish pillow.

Devil May Cry 4 Xbox 360 Premium Package [Game Watch]

It [the engine] is not a 360 engine. It's not an engine for the 360. It's the internal engine that we use at Capcom for next generation machines called the MT Framework [note: MT stands for multi-target]. That actually runs on PC. As you know, we did originally plan to have this title just on PS3, but actually the development was done on a PC, not on a particular console. So because it's all done on the PC... it makes it very easy to move it put it on the 360 and use the power of that machine, or to put it on the PS3 and use the power of that machine, each in different ways. It's really pretty easy to do it, developing it from this PC base.

The actual contents are exactly the same, but having said that, the feel of the controller may cause a slight difference.

Devil May Cry 4 [Capcom via Talk Xbox]

Capcom how dare you! Why, you should've kept Devil May Cry 4 on the PS3. That way, Sony would sell more consoles. And if Sony sells more consoles, Sony makes more money. And if Sony makes more money, that's good for Capcom. Yup, that's the logic behind a petition lambasting the third party developer for deciding to make Devil May Cry 4 a cross platform title. From the petition (which over 2,000 people have signed):

To: Capcom

We (The people that have signed this petition) feel very left out in your decision to make Devil May Cry 4 a Multi-Platform title, and hereby agree to boycott your sale of Capcom affiliated games. This is due to your decision to turn your back on your most faithful gaming company. For years we have enjoyed games, we have reaped the benefits of your committment to Sony. We find it absolutely demoralizing for not only the gamers, but also Sony itself. We want you to know that will not, and should not stand for your actions, and therefore withold our option of buying your product.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Oh, so Capcom's commitment to Sony lead to fun games. Silly me, I thought that it was Capcom's commitment to Capcom. Not doing charity work here, folks. Brian Ashcraft

Protest DMC4 Cross Platform [Petition Online, Thanks Alexander!]

I rather like the flamboyance of the Devil May Cry series in theory. Seriously, take demons, then throw in a pallid, asexual boy toy with a long, gossamer mane prancing around without a shirt on and in a flaming red leather trenchcoat, wielding a sword larger than most tractor trailer axles? Unfortunately, I played Devil May Cry 3 after God of War and found it to be not only brutally hard, but a little less interesting than that latter game's superlative combat system. I'm hoping that I'll like Devil May Cry 4 a bit better when it finally gets released. Florian Eckhardt

As an anti-fan of the first, I didn't really give the series much of a chance. Maybe it was the gay subtext and annoying platforming that finally did me in. I can see now that I was wrong and that dual-pistol wielding, marionette slashing hardcore ass kicking really is for me.

Now, there are some of you out there who may squawk "That game doesn't look like the trailer they showed us at E3 last year!". To you, I say "Shut up already. Haven't you learned your lesson yet?". The game looks hott (extra T for emphasis).

For DMC fans, note that Hiroyuki Kobayashi, producer of the original Devil May Cry, who also worked on Viewtiful Joe and Resident Evil 4, is helming this entry in the series. Have faith! Michael McWhertor

First Devil May Cry 4 Screenshots And Details [Game Informer]
Producer and Director Video Interview [Famitsu]
Official DMC4 Japanese Site