• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

DmC Definitive Edition or DMC 4 Special Edition?

DMC4 has the best combat in the series, but the backtracking and story are not so great. DmC's combat is good, but doesn't have the complexity that DMC4's combat has, and the story also isn't that good. It has some visually cool looking areas and platforming puzzles though. If you're a fan of the older DMC's and the combat, then I'd say get 4, but if not DmC is also a great choice, and has simpler, yet satisfying, combat.
 
From a purely campaign standpoint DmC blows DMC4 out of the water. Also, Nero is a terrible character who is completely un-fun to play as making the first half of the DMC4 campaign a race to get to the much better second half.
 
The dice game isn't that bad at all when you figure out the trick to it\



I legitimately don't understand how people like DmC's story. It's a half-assed try-hard They Live ripoff with fucking horrible acting from everyone who isn't Vergil and doesn't maintain any remote sense of narrative stability. It's Prequel-Era George Lucas level bad.

DmC story is self-aware and funny. DMC4 takes itself serious, which only aggravates its stupidity.
 
DmC story is self-aware and funny. DMC4 takes itself serious, which only aggravates its stupidity.

for some people, that's charming. I find it surprising how many people had DmC's story go over their heads. It's not even really very high concept.
 
From a purely campaign standpoint DmC blows DMC4 out of the water. Also, Nero is a terrible character who is completely un-fun to play as making the first half of the DMC4 campaign a race to get to the much better second half.

I actually like Nero. His combat is simpler but can get more complex after you get the hang of using his Exceed and get the Max Act ability. I also really liked using his devil bringer. I enjoyed playing as him and Dante, but I do think Dante is much more complex and fun due to the ability to switch styles in mid-combat.
 
DmC story is self-aware and funny. DMC4 takes itself serious, which only aggravates its stupidity.

I think you've got the titles swapped around. DMC4 is pretty self aware of its stupidity (see: Dante getting Lucifer cutscene or the goddamn theater scene). DmC is the one that takes itself too seriously and doesn't seem to understand that it's schlock. If you followed any of the behind the scenes stuff it was pretty obvious Ninja Theory viewed this as a serious story too.
 
To me, comparing platforming and puzzle sections is like saying "but my lows aren't as bad as your lows!" Which I just don't find very compelling. They're bad and you're not buying either game for it. One might be more tolerable for you than the other, but that's not universal and I don't think should be the competing factor.

The highs in each game are prioritized differently, and for me, the highs in DMC4SE out class those in DmC. DmC's strengths lie in environment art direction and story, and to me both of those things are done better in a lot of other games.

DmC story is self-aware and funny. DMC4 takes itself serious, which only aggravates its stupidity.

You've got that ass backwards.

Everything Dante does in DMC4 is self aware goofy. He's the counterbalance to Nero who's trying to take things seriously, adding levity and silliness. DmC was Dawson's Creek with swords and demons, grime and saturated colors tossed in it with the plot of They Live.
 
I chose DMC4 because i beat DmC on PS3 a few years back, and i had never played DMC4 before. I think i made the wrong decision.
 
I actually like Nero. His combat is simpler but can get more complex after you get the hang of using his Exceed and get the Max Act ability. I also really liked using his devil bringer. I enjoyed playing as him and Dante, but I do think Dante is much more complex and fun due to the ability to switch styles in mid-combat.

+1
 
I'd expect no less from someone named 'dark slayer 101'
Lmfao

gif-shrug-jason-segel.gif


I love da overall gothic vibe and crisp visuals of DMC universe.

DmC story is self-aware and funny. DMC4 takes itself serious, which only aggravates its stupidity.

200_s.gif
 
Nero's only problem was that he needed more weapons

It seems like a deliberate design choice to keep Nero slim. He is seemingly simple at first glance, but there is genius in his condensed complexity. The exceed mechanic adds an entire new layer of flexibility, his DT burst with I frames and stand changes his moveset, his charge shots complement his existing moveset with delayed juggles, devil bringer, DT summon swords... there's just not a lot of waste. They tried to incorporate various levels of utility into the same move. Less horizontal expansion and more vertical. It's very streamlined and easy for new players to wrap their heads around while the additional utility moves and exceed timing allows for the advanced depth and flourish needed for stylish play.

I'm definitely not against Nero having additional weapons at all, but I do think the archetype approach they take with Nero definitely shouldn't be too reminiscent of Dante.
 
DMC4 is the most refined. Sure the campaign has some backtracking and its stupid but at least it acts like it knows it is stupid unlike DmC which thinks it is smart and edgy.

Combat is far more superior in DMC4 as well. Better enemies, better bosses, more well tuned combat that is the pinnacle of the entire series. Anyone who says the bosses in DmC are better are basically referring to this one:
dmc-articlelarge.jpg

Which was a fucking awful fight, spectacle only with no substance.

Also, classy Dante is best Dante.
 
Thanks all. I did mean level design in terms of actual gameplay, not aesthetics.

The what now ? This is an arena based beat em up.

But I guess DmC, by far.

In terms of aesthetics or stuff like platforming?

DmC win's on aesthetics but honestly it's most just big empty arena areas with some flashy paint on the walls. DMC4 will at least occasionally provide some hectic close quarters fights.

Level Design? DmC wins by a country mile. DMC4's is godawful.

DMC by a huge margin

Definitely DmC. The level design in DMC 4 is laughably bad.

DmC is just better in general.

DmC is the game with tons of unskippable walk-and-talks, and it's even more bloated with lame, shallow platforming than DMC4 is. DMC4 has a lot of lame asset reuse, but there is no universe in which DmC's levels - filled with gimmicks that hold you back from actual fighting - are better than DMC1, 3, or 4's.

Neither. I find DmC's level and visual design to be laughably overrated, and the campaign suffers a whole swat of problems, many the same as DMC4. Backtracking is the biggest difference between the two. What DmC largely does better is mission length, as there is a bigger variety of short and long levels.

Thanks all. To be honest I'll probably pass on them both for now, as I like action-combat games to have good level design. I guess I should have known what to expect from having played the original trilogy on PS2.

I like to think that they can agree that DMC2 is the worst.

No-one would disagree with that.
 
I played both in its original versions on the PS3 and I enjoyed DmC waaaaay more. I loved the different combination of attacks DmC Dante had over Nero's demon arm. DMC4 Dante was immensely fun, but
are just Nero's levels in reverse
.

I haven't play them in its updated versions, but even if they added a bunch of new characters, it doesn't fix the campaign design of DMC4.

Get DmC.
 
If you're looking for unparalleled depth in combat across five characters, go with DMC 4 SE. Be warned: the campaign mode is half finished.

If you're looking for a very solid action game with a better designed campaign and minimal backtracking, go with DmC: DE. Make sure you are buying the Definitive Edition. Vanilla DmC was highly unbalanced and extremely easy. The added modes and balance tweaks really helped.
 
my honest opinion is probably save your money for DMC5; DmC has very pretty environments and decent combat but not a ton else to recommend it; DMC4 has brilliant combat but the campaign is so, so awful that playing it multiple times in order to unlock stuff feels like an insult. It's hard to recommend either over DMC3.
 
GuardianE, you are being *VERY* reductionist with this "eh, DMC4 and DmC pretty much is the same, I mean you can live with DMC4, and then it is cool, and DmC is just...dunno, so they are even".

Bull-freaking-shit, sorry.
I jumped back to DmC campaign IMMEDIATELY, finished the whole game like 5-6 times, and I dreaded DMC4's levels even half a decade after I finished it. I was physically in pain during SE's rerun, even though the movement speed got upped.

Seriously. Reductionism. Once you get used to Nero grappling, you can get through it, but that is like saying taking a blood test and getting a quick blowjob can be pretty much the same experience if that blood test is REALLY smooth and quickly done, and the blowjob is mediocre. Nope.

Quick edit: I am talking about "platforming" and level design, obviously.
 
DMC4 SE by far the combat system is unmatched in games. While yes DmC is good for western action games that's like praising a one eyed man over a blind person, the one eye'd person is still handicapped, likewise DmC falls way too short in the combat. But I'm a systems person and not so much an exepereince person so western games often lose me, but even if I was, weak story terrible protagonist nothing but style over substance, I can't give DmC any props over they did do the best they could with the base game.
 
DMC4 SE by far the combat system is unmatched in games. While yes DmC is good for western action games that's like praising a one eyed man over a blind person, the one eye'd person is still handicapped, likewise DmC falls way too short in the combat. But I'm a systems person and not so much an exepereince person so western games often lose me, but even if I was, weak story terrible protagonist nothing but style over substance, I can't give DmC any props over they did do the best they could with the base game.

We are living in a world where it is possible to praise God of War's combat system WHILE acknowledging that it does not try to have the depth of Kamiya-games, so yeah, it is NOT like that at all.

Just because your skill ceiling is reachable in a few months, not years, that does not mean most people who diss DmC ever reached nowhere near the max potential the game had.
 
my honest opinion is probably save your money for DMC5; DmC has very pretty environments and decent combat but not a ton else to recommend it; DMC4 has brilliant combat but the campaign is so, so awful that playing it multiple times in order to unlock stuff feels like an insult. It's hard to recommend either over DMC3.

Assuming DMC5 were to get announced sometime within the next 2-3 months, with a release due later in 2017, I would definitely go along with this. Especially since the previous games would only get cheaper as time goes on.

Otherwise, if you have a means to play the HD Collection, I'd honestly say you'd get more bang for your buck, playing 1 and 3.
 
DmC: DE is probably a more complete package overall. The definitive edition offers very much improved combat (though they kept the colour-coded enemies), a...presentable...story, two characters to play, each with their own campaign and a slew of optional skins.

DMC4:SE is great if you're already invested in the series and want more balls-to-the-wall combat. But bear in mind the campaign is pretty lacklustre and the whole thing feels unfinished unfortunately.

Honestly, just look up the designs for each protagonist and you'll be able to tell which you prefer.

DmC's story was not self aware. There were moments of self-awareness, but that's all.
 
Dmc4 has the better combat and Dante. But the story mode itself is better in DMC.

DMC 4's campaign wasn't that great to begin with and they make you play it twice


If you consider the combat itself to be by far the most important part go for DMC4. Otherwise, I'd say DMC feels like the more complete package
 
GuardianE, you are being *VERY* reductionist with this "eh, DMC4 and DmC pretty much is the same, I mean you can live with DMC4, and then it is cool, and DmC is just...dunno, so they are even".

Bull-freaking-shit, sorry.
I jumped back to DmC campaign IMMEDIATELY, finished the whole game like 5-6 times, and I dreaded DMC4's levels even half a decade after I finished it. I was physically in pain during SE's rerun, even though the movement speed got upped.

Seriously. Reductionism. Once you get used to Nero grappling, you can get through it, but that is like saying taking a blood test and getting a quick blowjob can be pretty much the same experience if that blood test is REALLY smooth and quickly done, and the blowjob is mediocre. Nope.

Quick edit: I am talking about "platforming" and level design, obviously.

If I'm being reductionist, then that comparison is quite an embellishment. Your mileage may vary with the platforming and puzzles, but I don't think anyone should be comparing them to a blowjob, no matter how dry or mediocre.

DmC's platforming is inoffensive at best, annoying and overly prolonged at worst. There are people that feel the same way about DMC4'S less than stellar segments, though I'd agree that DMC4'S lows are worse in the platforming and puzzle department. The disjointed nature of the campaign is no doubt an overall weakness.

My point is that those lows aren't the driving focus of either game. They detract, but I personally don't find them to be the compelling reason to pick one game over another, or to pick up either game in general. And both games would be better served to discuss the highs that each accomplishes, because those will positively cater to people with different priorities.
 
All the dmc stories are bad.

3's is actually pretty decent, albeit cheesy.

The
Arkham is the real bad guy
reveal after the second Vergil fight is straight up more clever writing than anything DmC or DMC4 has to offer by a long shot. Also when you stop and think about what's said and implied in that scene, it's really fucking dark.
 
We are living in a world where it is possible to praise God of War's combat system WHILE acknowledging that it does not try to have the depth of Kamiya-games, so yeah, it is NOT like that at all.

Just because your skill ceiling is reachable in a few months, not years, that does not mean most people who diss DmC ever reached nowhere near the max potential the game had.

All I am saying is for me those games don't cut it, I go to a western game for different things. Not an spectacle fighter. This is all I am saying.
 
DMC 4:SE Vergil is something else. Truly a taste of what DMC5 will be like. If DMC4 didn't have a bad campaign It'd have a clear edge because the combat is sublime.

I still wish that with the SE capcom just tore out the dumb puzzles and put in some more enemy encounters, then I'd play the campaign over and over again..
 
Both you ding dong. DmC: DE and DMC4SE are the series at its pinnacle.

Where DMC4 fails in its presentation, DmC excels. Where DmC falls short in its combat, DMC4 excels. Both have an equally meaty amount of content.
Thats subjective, im not sure how DmC exceels at presenration honestly, not even compared to 4, or characters abd plot.
 
DmC has a trash story, a trash campaign, a trash combat system, trash characters, trash level design. It is a trash game tbh, I cant even comprehend how people can even say that it is better than any DMC.
 
Interesting thread. Gonna hijack it for a little question as I've been eyeing DMC4 on the ps store as well.

The most common criticism here about DMC4 seems to be its backtracking. So I ask, if I didn't mind the backtracking in, hmm, say, Skyward Sword (where backtracking also was a common complaint) will I really be strongly bothered by this?
Does the backtracking consist of you going through the same motions basically a second time or just revisiting old areas while doing new stuff in them?

Basically I'm trying to find out how terrible this backtracking actually is.
 
Interesting thread. Gonna hijack it for a little question as I've been eyeing DMC4 on the ps store as well.

The most common criticism here about DMC4 seems to be its backtracking. So I ask, if I didn't mind the backtracking in, hmm, say, Skyward Sword (where backtracking also was a common complaint) will I really be strongly bothered by this?
Does the backtracking consist of you going through the same motions basically a second time or just revisiting old areas while doing new stuff in them?

Basically I'm trying to find out how terrible this backtracking actually is.

You play through Missions 1 - 11 an Nero normally and then 12 - 17 as Dante through the same areas.
 
Interesting thread. Gonna hijack it for a little question as I've been eyeing DMC4 on the ps store as well.

The most common criticism here about DMC4 seems to be its backtracking. So I ask, if I didn't mind the backtracking in, hmm, say, Skyward Sword (where backtracking also was a common complaint) will I really be strongly bothered by this?
Does the backtracking consist of you going through the same motions basically a second time or just revisiting old areas while doing new stuff in them?

Basically I'm trying to find out how terrible this backtracking actually is.

The second half of the game is literally the first half of the game, backwards and with Dante instead of Nero.
 
Top Bottom