Capcom Producer talks revitalizing DMC4
In case you missed it, Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is now a thing. Following up on their release of the excellent DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition (seriously, it’s great), Capcom are readying their second hit of glorious DMC action with an enhanced re-release of 2008’s Devil May Cry 4. As the largest DMC game to date, featuring five playable characters and numerous unlockables, this Special Edition aims to offer the most variety that the series has ever had in a single title.
I had a good amount of time playing the upcoming re-release last month for my article, and I was incredibly impressed with what’s in store for fans. The new characters really help to liven up the experience, which was somewhat half-baked in its first outing, and each of the playable characters have their own unique skills and styles that make each playthrough feel unique. The folks at Capcom really went all out to exceed expectations on this one.
With its release approaching next month on the 23rd, I had to opportunity to hear from producer Takashi Fujii about the making of this Special Edition, and what fans can expect from the series that put ‘Stylish-Action’ on the map.
Now this isn’t the first time that the original DMC series has received the Special Edition treatment. A year following the release of 2005’s Devil May Cry 3, Capcom released an enhanced version that made a number additions and tweaks — most notably the inclusion of a playable Vergil with his own moves and levels to play through. Now with the release Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition coming, nearly eight years after the original, the creative minds at Capcom sought to rekindle the same enthusiasm found in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition for this supped up re-release. And much like the recent Definitive Edition for DmC, they looked their well-received PC release as the base.
“There was content in the PC version of the original DMC4 that was not possible for consoles at the time due to hardware limitations. We have always wanted to provide these features to more DMC fans, most notably Legendary Dark Knight Mode,” said DMC producer Takashi Fujii. “We wanted to provide a good action game that really gives the player a lot to sink their teeth into. With the features I’ve mentioned previously, and the addition of three new playable characters we’ve designed, I think fans will be very happy with all the content we’re offering in DMC4 Special Edition. With the hardware capabilities introduced in the new console generation, it proved this was the right time to revisit DMC4 and provide all of these features that we had been thinking about.”
Back when Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition was revealed last year, we all got a nice tease showing that Vergil was going to be making a return. But who would’ve thought that DMC‘s leading ladies, Trish and Lady, were going to get in on the action as well? While the ladies were already present in the core DMC4 story, Vergil’s campaign in the Special Edition features his own unique story taking place many years before the events of DMC3 and 4.
In addition to these new characters are several tweaks and upgrades made to the core game. Such as higher texture and graphical quality, auto-saves, rebalanced orb and proud soul economy, official trophy support across all platforms (take that early generation seven architecture!), and also some tweaks to puzzles — such as the infamous dice game. It’s a pretty meaty package. You might as well call it “Super Devil May Cry 4.” The larger cast was a way for Capcom to offer variety in a convincing and fun way that stayed true to its combat heritage.
“Everyone plays Devil May Cry games a bit differently, and so with Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition in particular, it was important to us to give players more ways to enjoy the gameplay experience,” explained the producer. “It was important that these characters each had distinctive combat styles, so fighting a boss you may have fought as Nero, for example, will feel very different from doing so with Lady or Vergil.”
In the two hours I spent with the game last month, it was quite clear that a lot of work went into the new characters. Though of course they’re still going through the same areas and fighting the same bosses from the original game, that didn’t really bother me all that much after getting settled with the new characters. Any fan will tell you that the combat is the crux of the series, and the new characters offered a lot depth and complexity that are totally unique to them — which really set themselves apart from both Dante and Nero.
And yes, for those who’ve gotten really comfortable with Dante and Nero over the last seven and half years, you’ll be please to know that they’re largely untouched (aside from general gameplay tweaks). “No changes have been made to Nero or Dante,” said the producer rather bluntly and with the utmost clarity. So please, use high-level tricks such as guard flying and intertia to your heart’s content. And with the sharing functionality on PS4 and Xbox One, showing off your high-flying antics and finger acrobatics will be much easier than before.
For those who read my long preview last month, you could tell that I was quite smitten with this title. Devil May Cry is easily my favorite Capcom IP, and seeing it return this year with two really cool titles was a total joy for me. Checking out the new characters in DMC4SE was a complete blast, and I can’t wait to dive back in from the beginning. I’m telling you guys, Trish and Lady are not to be messed with. Vergil’s got some serious moves, and his concentration mechanic is a total game-changer, but these ladies are total bad-asses. I cannot wait to see some high-level exhibitionist videos later once people get them in their hands.
With the release next month just after E3, you’ll have the opportunity to get some quality time with the gang again. We all remember that tease at the end of DMC4 with Dante, Lady, and Trish teaming up to battle more demons, so it’s definitely exciting to see that it’s finally coming to fruition. So don’t let this slip past you. If you’ve been screaming for a chance to return to these wonderfully goofy characters in this over the top world, you finally got it.
And by the way, be sure to check out Capcom’s weekly twitch livestream on Wednesdays for sessions with DMC4: Special Edition by Capcom staff.
