[Multiplatform] Devil May Cry 4

With that date announced, a US release date won't be very far behind (i.e a couple of days difference or weeks but not longer).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Ohh, nice, we finally get a date, well the Japanese do, but we can derive ours from it now! If they hold true to their simultaneous worldwide release, then the NA and Euro releases should either be on the Tuesday of the last week of January (29th) or the following week's Tuesday (Feb. 5th). Hmm, this may mean we'll seen a demo on the PSN and/or Live Marketplace in the coming months (hopefully mid Nov).

Also, according to IGN, people in Japan who purchase early get a special DVD, which apparently has two versions: Nero and/or Dante (assuming it's just the cover and not content). I think this might be available with the NA release, as I've seen SKUs for a DMC4 Collector's Edition (which I'll definitely be buying) on EB Games and Gamestop's sites.

IGN: Devil May Cry 4 Dated in Japan


The interview with Hiroyuki Kobayashi from the Play magazine.

Although Kobayashi's constantly says Vergil has no involvement with DMC4, he doesn't deny the possibility of, at least, Nelo Angelo's connection to the game (*cough* Nero's devil bringer *cough*). Oh, and straight from Kobayashi's mouth, only Nero and Dante are playable killing hopes of a playable Gloria, Trish, or Lady (heh, can't I didn't expect that, cause I did, and knew it would be the case).

Quote:

play Issue #71

Devil May Cry 4
PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, PC

Resident Evil 5 was a total no-show at the TGS, but that may be just as well, given the strides DMC4 is making every time is shown. What was looking like an on-par next-gen games at its debut last year now stands graphically with any other game I can think of, running at a locked 60 frames with elaborate self-shadowing and post-processing effects. Escaping for a moment's respite from the madness of the show floor, we sat down with producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi to talk about how Capcom made it happen.

Interview with Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Producer, Devil May Cry 4
Interview by Nick Des Barres / Transcribed by Dai Kohama / Translated by Nick Des Barres

play: First I'd like to ask about the task of porting DMC4 to 360. I know Capcom's MT Framework engine was designed to allow easy cross-platform development, but is it really that simple?
Hiroyuki Kobayashi: Actually, it was really difficult getting our MT Framework engine to run on the PS3. When our company announced DMC4 for 360, the engine had already been up and running on the system for Dead Rising and Lost Planet, so it was a very smooth transition. There weren't any major problems to speak of.

Would you say the PS3 and 360 versions are identical, then?
Yes. They both come from the original version built on PCs with the MT Framework engine, so they're both the same.

Not just feature-identical, but visually identical as well.
Completely identical.

The PS3 version will be using the DualShock 3's vibration function, right?
It will. We've got them on the show floor vibrating already (laughs). I've done so much press where the interviewer asked me "so the 360 version will rumble and the PS3 version won't?" and I've had to say, "that's right," because it was still a secret!

You've said before you want to get back to the series' roots with DMC4. Does that mean a change in tone from 3, or a return to an open-world structure?
I think DMC4 is most close to 3 in structure. This may be because it's the same team that did DMC3, although myself and a few other members did work on DMC1. The reason DMC1 had an open-wide structure was because it was originally planned to be an action-adventure like Resident Evil, so there was no need to divide the world into areas. However, we found that a pure action game became stressful to play in such a large space, so we decided to break them up with 3. It's the same with 4, you can't backtrack. It's really just a question of game design.

One thing a lot of people had problems with in DMC3 was the extremely high difficulty, especially so for the North American version. How are you approaching the difficulty to this game? Will it be the same for all regions?
Even the Japanese version of DMC3 was hard, wasn't it (laughs). This is something I acknowledge, and the team acknowledges. As you know, we made the American version even harder, and I felt that we did something a little cruel to our fans there. This time the difficulty level is the same worldwide, and there's a tutorial so people unfamiliar with the series can gradually build up their skills. With Nero as the new main character, we're able to start over with a clean state, so both DMC fans and new users can begin at the same startline. The game begins easy and gradually ramps up to a DMC3 level of difficulty, So I think players will really be able to feel the progress they've made as their skills get better.

Will you still cater to the ultra-hardcore with a vicious difficulty mode?
Oh, of course, of course (laughs). We have a pretty crazy final difficulty. I think the hardcore fans will be happy.

We've known for some time the player will get to control Dante as well as Nero. Is Dante just a bonus? Is the story mostly Nero?
Well...you start as Nero (laughs).

So you get to play as Dante during the main game.
You do. It's not as if Nero and Dante have separate storylines, or separate modes. In the very first mission, you fight Dante as Nero and learn how to use his gun, his sword and the Devil Bringer arm. From the second mission onwards, the game plays like standard Devil May Cry, and eventually, after the heroine Kyrie gets kidnapped, Nero passes the baton to Dante. It's one story with two heroes.

Are Nero and Dante the only playable characters?
Yes, those two.

While Dante had his full repertoire of weapons and styles, it seems like Nero has just three-revolver, sword and Devil Bringer.
Unlike Dante, Nero won't gather weapons and power them up as he goes. Instead, his right arm-the Devil Bringer-powers up. At first you can only throw enemies with it, but eventually you'll next be able to pull them in, then use it to move...you can really do a huge amount of things with the arm. Dante, on the other hand, has several new weapons. The Gilgamesh, the new hand-to-hand weapon, for instance, has a whole variety of martial arts moves like heel drops and jump kicks...and there's another really cool weapon for Dante, too. I can't really say too much, but when I showed our staff the plans they were really excited, saying, "I can't wait to use that!" (laughs)

We're looking forward to that. Will DMC4 solve the mystery as to whether or not Dante's brother Vergil is still alive?
Everybody loves Vergil, don't they (laughs). I didn't personally work on DMC3, but Vergil appeared in 1 as Nelo Angelo and I think he's been built up into a really interesting character. However, DMC4 is Nero's story with a supporting turn from Dante, so we decided to let Vergil sit this one out.

Speaking of Dante, Vergil and Nelo Angelo-in Japanese, "Nelo" and "Nero" are written with the same characters. Is there a connection?
I can't really say (laughs). We chose the name "Nero" for the DMC4 hero for many reasons, although we did have several other candidates. Why we went with "Nero" should become clear as you play through the story, and find out if he has any connection with Vergil/Nelo Angelo.

And Nero looks exactly like the young Dante and Vergil from DMC3...
There is a secret in that. We think a gun, a sword and a long coat is an unshakable image for a DMC hero, but we didn't make Nero look like Dante for no reason. Originally, we had a hero that looked like a mod British youth with a Beatles hairdo and fashionable tastes, but we thought he seemed too serious and grown-up to be a DMC hero. We arrived at the look, and the name Nero, after a lot of trial-and-error.

The conversation has turned into design, so I'd like to ask about Tatsuya Yoshikawa and his involvement in the project. Most people looking at Nero would be very surprised he was designed by the lead artist from the Breath of Fire series...
Yes, Yoshikawa worked on the entire Breath of Fire series and Mega Man. People know him for his anime-style designs, but he can do realistic stuff too-it was just never seen by the public. Even I hadn't seen his realistic work, but after looking over we thought he would be a great match for the world of Devil May Cry. It's both my and Itsuno's first time working with him.

They really are wonderful designs. I never would have guessed this was Yoshikawa's work.
Right? Right? You'd never know when he was the Breath of Fire guy (laughs). It was a lot of fun working with him. I think people who are familiar with his older art are going to be really impressed.

What about the background design? The series has been famous for its gothic backdrops, but the city of Fortuna in DMC4 looks like it could almost exist. Did your team go location-scouting for Fortuna's design?
Yes, we went to Italy, Turkey...a lot of Mediterranean port towns. I didn't personally go, but our background team bought an incredibly expensive digital camera and took tons of photos, which they brought back to Japan, finessed, and used as in-game textures. It's just not kind of scenery you can find in this country...you really do have to go there.

Here at TGS the returning heroines Trish and Lady were shown for the first time. It's been a long time since DMC3 in the continuity, right?
A long time, yes. The continuity goes DMC3, DMC1, DMC4...

But Trish and Lady haven't aged a day, and seem to know each other.
They actually meet each other for the first time in the DMC anime, which takes place after DMC1 but before DMC4. As far as their looks, Trish is a demon so she doesn't age (laughs). Lady didn't have an official age in DMC3, but we thought she was in her late teens. When you see DMC4's Lady in motion, I think you'll notice she's definitely an adult, she's much sexier-in her late 20s.

Can you talk a little bit about finding the series' tone? A lot of people were disappointed with the grim mood of DMC2, and then the almost slapstick comedy of 3.
I'm fond of both styles, but we knew Nero wasn't going to be a character with the humor of Dante from the beginning. Nero's hot-blooded, he's direct. To put it in baseball terms, Nero is a fastball, and Dante is a curveball. Of course, being direct doesn't mean being serious. At the beginning of the game he's supposed to be listening to a sermon at church but he's got his headphones on, oblivious. He's also got a soft spot for the ladies-he lets Kyrie scold him like an older sister (laughs). So Nero may not be so serious, but he isn't the kind of guy who would surf on missiles or scream "YEAH!" while battling foes with a guitar. Dante, however, is still the same guy he was in DMC3-there's lots of comic relief with him. Wait until you see the scene where he's got a rose in his mouth (laughs).

Are you considering any downloadable content for DMC4?
We were considering something, but with DLC it has to already be on the game disc before you ship, and there just wasn't time to do it. There's no DLC, but we will have net features: A leaderboard at the least, so you can compare how many Style Points you have with your friends.

Our time's running out but I have to ask you if you've seen Ninja Gaiden II on Xbox 360 yet. [Ninja Gaiden Executive Producer] Mr. Itagaki is very proud of hating your games...
I did see it (laughs).

What did you think?
I think it looked a lot like Ninja Gaiden on Xbox (laughs). I get asked this so often..."What do you think of Ninja Gaiden? What do you think of God of War?"

What do you think you of God of War?
I actually met David Jaffe at an awards ceremony in America. He told me he was very fond of Capcom games, Onimusha, DMC and Resident Evil, and that he had incorporated many aspects of them into God of War. I was flattered. God of War is very popular and I think it's a great series, but it leans more towards puzzles than DMC. It's a different kind of game. Lately Western action games seem to follow its lead-games like Heavenly Sword all have the context-sensitive action button prompts. For us, however, we want you to use your own skills and techniques to do impressive-looking things. As far as Mr. Itagaki...he does what he does, and we do what we do (laughs).

I honestly prefer what you do. If you have a final word for your American fans...
I know our DMC fans really like Dante. I worked on the first DMC myself, I love him too. In 4 he's an adult, he can handle anything-he's a hero. Nero, on the other hand, is still a rookie, still young, still a bit of a boy-he's going to become a hero. We're going to do this swapping of lead characters through gameplay, and I hope our fans will enjoy that. There's that scene where Nero dropkicks Dante in the face-I think some of our fans come to enjoy Nero as much as they do Dante. DMC4 will be coming out at the very beginning of the year; please look forward to it.

How ya doing, buddy?

Really good interview, as long as they are putting more stuff for nero or dante, i dont mind trish or gloria.

Nero sounds like vergil son, or his reincarnation or something.

UPDATE:
Devil May Cry 4 pulverizes in images - Gamersyde

Now i can't wait a single bit. I want to fight this boss!
Badass and sexy every bit of DMC4.

It makes me wonder about how good will be unseen stuff in the game.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Famitsu scan

That snake/woman devil is named Echidna. And the devil that looks like the blade devil from DMC1 is called Assault. Interesting to note that L'Arc~en~Ciel is doing that game's theme song.

Assuming if the second song in the TGS trailer is indeed the theme song, then it doesn't sound like them, as Hyde's vocals got an evident japanese-english accent and the vocalist in the trailer sounds american. It's definitely not the first song in the TGS trailer (which is the same song in all the previous trailers), as that one was clearly performed by ShootieHG (the guy who did metal vocals for DMC3's songs).

I like Laruku, but I dunno, this could be bad, heh. If the second song in the TGS trailer is indeed performed by Laruku, and Hyde doing the vocals, then I'm very impressed.

Hmm, I think I might have to slap me down a pre-order for the special soundtrack now.



What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

A hand full of demo scenes, the Gloria one was soo.... arrousing, me like. Heh, looks like she's got some of Chun-Li's moves too, like the Spinning Bird kick and Sen'en Shuu (or a least a variant of it).

Heh, also nice to see that Dante retained much more of his DMC1 attitude/personality. In the Echidna fight, it looks like you can actually scroll through all your weapons, like the player was switching between Rebellion, Gilgamesh, and Lucifer. Oh and Lucifer does indeed appear to act like Vergil's phantom blades, to some degree.

BTW, I wonder where the hell all this footage coming from. Are reviewers already getting their copy or something?

YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 1: Dante vs Nero
YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 2: Dante vs Nero Aftermath
YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 3: New power
YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 4: Nero's encounter with Berial
YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 5: Aftermath of Nero's fight with Berial
YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 6: Meet the Frosts
YouTube - DMC4 Demo Scene 7: "I'm new, Gloria"
YouTube - DMC4 Echidna fight
YouTube - DMC4 Jungle Fight

EDIT:
Release date and info about the collector's edition

Quote:

While most special edition games are offered at a $10 markup over the standard edition's new release price, the Devil May Cry 4 Collector's Edition is being offered for $79.99, a $20 premium over the regular version. For the extra Jackson, gamers will receive a couple extra discs, one with the first four episodes of Devil May Cry: The Animated Series (which will be sold separately for $29.99), and one for the PC that includes a "making of" feature, music from the soundtrack, concept art, wallpapers, icons, and screensavers. The Collector's Edition will also come packaged in a "steelbook" case.

Both the regular and collector's edition of Devil May Cry 4 are set to launch in North America on February 5 for the Xbox 360 and PS3. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's latest coverage.

Official NA release date is February 5th! Assuming the 4 episodes from the anime are dubbed in english. The other disc sounds alright, the only thing worth while is the making of featurette, as I've already slapped down a pre-order for the Special Soundtrack. The concept art, wallpapers, icons, and screensavers probably aren't anything special, and most likely will become available online the week of the game's release.

Heh, though, I'll still be buying a copy of the CE for memorabilia purposes.

Devil May Cry 4 goes premium - Xbox 360 News at GameSpot

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I love the interview.
Very well done.
About the music, any information when we'll learn about what tracks will be on the soundtrack CD?

I really want to get my hand on this >.<

Did they publish any informations about the minimum requirements for the PC version yet?
Seeing as I dont have any console currently, that will be choice for the game...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

It's using the same engine as Dead Rising and Lost Planet. So refer to the Lost Planet PC requirements and I'm sure that DMC4's won't be too far off in either direction.

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Damn, that means my laptop isn't good enough again. Ok, that's my reason to grab an X360 now! Woahyeah!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

X360 or PS3. Remember when choosing to ALWAYS base it on the exclusive games to make a choice that's easier to live with. ^^

I'd reccomend a PC upgrade, but you could buy both an X360($450) and a PS3($400) for what it would take to run the PC version.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Playable Demo in Early 2008 for PS3 and Xbox360.

This most likely means the first or second week of January, seeing as how the game's release is on February 5th (NA). Apparently the demo will demonstrate the game's many locations and gameplay mechanics. Hopefully it doesn't reveal too much, I do want some surprises left before I play.

There's also screens for Dante's new weapon Lucifer, which looks a lot like Vergil's phantom blades in DMC3SE. Heh and for some reason he's got a rose in his mouth when the weapon's equipped. Also they revealed a new boss, One Winged Dark Knight.

Quote:

DEMO FOR CAPCOM®'S DEVIL MAY CRY® 4 COMING TO PLAYSTATION®3 SYSTEM AND XBOX LIVE® ONLINE SERVICES EARLY 2008
Gamers Will Have the Opportunity to Experience the Power of the "Devil Bringer" Before Purchasing the Game
Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today confirmed that owners of Sony Computer Entertainment's PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will be able to experience Devil May Cry® 4 early, thanks to the release of a playable demo. A free downloadable demo of the game will be available on the PLAYSTATION®Store and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace in early 2008. Devil May Cry 4 has been rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

The demo introduces gamers to the gothic-inspired supernatural world of Devil May Cry 4, new protagonist Nero and the awesome power of his Devil Bringer. The demo consists of a sampling of sections from the full game, chosen to showcase Devil May Cry 4's varied locales and allows gamers to familiarize themselves with Nero's unique abilities. Players will receive instruction on the various new actions that the Devil Bringer bestows, such as the ability to slam creatures to the ground, cover great distances in a single bound or even grab enemies while on the ground or in the air and pull them towards Nero to continue the attack combo. The Exceed system allows Nero to "rev up" his sword as if it were a motorcycle throttle and unleash devastating attacks. Players will need to master all these techniques before the end of demo showdown with the mighty Berial.

Fully demonstrating the power of the next generation of consoles, the Devil May Cry 4 demo brings to life the coastal city of Fortuna and its surroundings, such as the port and snow-capped mountain ranges in exquisite detail. Devil May Cry 4 delivers its intense action at a constant 60 frames per second at 720P resolution on HD monitors, ensuring seamless and breathtaking gameplay all in stunning high definition.

Devil Demo: Devil May Cry 4 Demo In Early 08
Devil May Cry 4 images - Gamersyde

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

DMC4 Developer interview
Gametrailers.com - Devil May Cry 4 - Cutscenes and Accessibility Interview HD

I was speaking idiomatically.

Here's a piece of information that I'm sure Breakable will appreciate the most.

Tracklist to the special soundtrack that's being released on the 19th this month.

Heh, I had a feeling that "Shall Never Surrender" would be the name of that song (from the TGS trailer) and that it'd be the credits song too. Kinda surprised that they didn't include the Laruku song, whatever that'll be. Also curious to hear "Lock and Load (Blackened Angel mix)", I wonder if it sound anything like the DMC1 version of "Lock and Load".

Heh, they really amped up the number vocal songs, and different artists too. Though, I kinda wish they had waited till at least the game's release to release a soundtrack (normally game soundtracks are week to month after the game's release..), doesn't seem right to know the game's cues before you get to experience em first hand.

Anyway, can't wait till my copy ships, and if I'm interperating the description correctly it sounds like the DVD the soundtrack comes with has some scenes from the game, including trailers.

Quote:

1. Out of Darkness (Prologue)/AUBREY ASHBURN
2. The Time Has Come/JASON "SHYBOY" ARNOLD OF HYPNOGAJA
3. The Hell Gate
4. Stage I
5. Sworn Through Swords/SHOOTIE HG OF HOSTILE GROOVE
6. STAGE II
7. Temptation
8. Awaken
9. The Viper
10. The idol of the “Time and Space”
11. Swipe of Sword
12. Stage III
13. Lock and Load(Blackened Angel mix)/ SHOOTIE HG OF HOSTILE GROOVE
14. The Gate is Opened
15. Shall Never Surrender(End Roll)/JASON "SHYBOY" ARNOLD OF HYPNOGAJA

Amazon.co.jpF DEVIL MAY CRY4 SPECIAL SOUND TRACK: ‰¹Šy: ƒQ[ƒ€Eƒ~ƒ…[ƒWƒbƒN

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Hantei

Here's a piece of information that I'm sure Breakable will appreciate the most.

Tracklist to the special soundtrack that's being released on the 19th this month.

Heh, I had a feeling that "Shall Never Surrender" would be the name of that song (from the TGS trailer) and that it'd be the credits song too. Kinda surprised that they didn't include the Laruku song, whatever that'll be. Also curious to hear "Lock and Load (Blackened Angel mix)", I wonder if it sound anything like the DMC1 version of "Lock and Load".

I love you, in the totally safe kind of way (safe word, that is...).
Now we have a name for the song, at last.
Hm, still 4 days off, wednesday.
I cant wait for this soundtrack <3

Thanks for the Information, Hantei, its appreciated ^^

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WTF?
soundtrack before game release?

anyways that locknload theme remix is in jungle video(dante) gamevidoes.com.

Alos do upload the if you are getting it.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

An interesting trailer just showed up at gamersyde, I don't know if this is an official one, the editing gets a bit suspicious towards the end. And I would label a lot of scenes in there as spoilers for those who'd rather have a clean experience when playing the game.

Final (?) trailer of DMC4 - Gamersyde

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I am speechless, no other game comes close.
Definatley better than DMC1.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Also up on Game Trailers. Pretty sure the official one will be available on the game's site on Friday, as that's supposed to be when it gets its next update.

Gametrailers.com - Devil May Cry 4 - Final Japanese Trailer 2007

Exciting as it is, I do agree that they revealed a bit too much with that trailer.

Spoiler:

Such as the Vergil's Yamato making an appearance. Nero's desire for power and wielding of the Yamato, screams a Vergil/Nelo Angelo relation. And that huge colossus, no doubt one of the last bosses (if not the last), looking somewhat like Vergil (or Dante, the same face).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I've never considered DMC4 to be a technical showpiece before. Like sure it looked great, always did. But after seeing the GTHD videos of the opening tutorial, I'd have to say that this is definately a top runner for game with the best graphics to date.

It manages to combine realism, artstyle and colour all in one. Where most games these days seems to be missing one or more of thoes traits.

Sure the gameplay looks great and the story, but thoes are things that I've come to expect from true DMC games. However not so much graphics. Though, thinking back I do remember DMC looking pretty spetacular when it came out too.

Well, I'm just happy about all the attention DMC4 is getting in the industry. It's about time peope outside the niche started paying attention to this great franchise.

How ya doing, buddy?

Was DMC4 really built from the ground up on PS3?

How ya doing, buddy?

No. It's foundation is that of the DeadRising/Lost Planet engine. So while the tech is based off of the 360 code, the source build of DMC's assets are coded for the PS3 architecture. Which is then reworked for the 360 build. Which isn't hard because they've already got the 360 code built from the earlier mentioned games, they just have to copy the content for the most part.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

They seemed to imply that was why it got pushed back so far was they started 360 development long after the PS3s.

FELIPE NO

yeah if I remember correctly they announced the 360 version mid way into the ps3 version development.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

This is very true. The DMC does tend to point that out in what seems to be every interview. However in the odd interview when the expand on it saying that it's not hard to get it to work on the 360 (due to earlier mentioned reasons) however it does take extra time.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

So what are supposed to be the heavy spoilers...?

Spoiler:

I mean yeah, it kind of looks like Nero turns into something that looks like Nelo Angelo from DMC1 (with the glowing red eyes and all), but I'm not sure if this has anything to do with that, because doesn't this game take place after the first game?

Is it some kind of fucked up connection with Vergil that I don't quite understand yet because of the Katana he's holding?

I would think it has to do something with Vergil - didn't the director say in an interview that there was a reason that Nero looked so much like Dante?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I can't believe Capcom did a trailer that revealed so much plot twist >.> iot kind of killed the hype for me :\

and for BlueBomber

Spoiler:

well if you get the extra scene at the end of dmc3 you see Vergil running toward Mundus and we all know that he became Nelo Angelo in DMC1 but even that we don't really have a proof that Dante really killed him in DMC1. I remember that Nelo Angelo "die" in a big "explosion" of blue flame and what we saw in that trailer is Nero surround by a Blue Aura that could very well reassemble to Nelo Angelo. They even showed a broken katana being kind of repaired. If all that was just coincidences than I really don't know what too think XD and I wonder if that huge statue is not in fact Mundus again.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.