System: Microsoft Xbox 360

Also available for: Sony PlayStation 3, Windows PC

Publisher: Capcom

Reviewer’s rating: ***

ESRB rating: Mature

Game type: Third-person action

Kind of like: The first three “Devil May Cry” games; “God of War”

Best feature: Seamless combat, epic boss battles

Worst feature: Bad camera angles, no multiplayer mode

The bottom line: The “Devil May Cry” franchise has hardly done anything to shake up its winning formula, now going into its fourth iteration. Each successive title has added a few tweaks here and there, more subtle nuances than anything truly revolutionary. But given the popularity of the stylized action franchise, Capcom’s “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy makes sense.

But fans of Dante will be surprised to see him take a back seat to series newcomer Nero, a rookie demon slayer trying to uncover a plot within his own ranks. Granted, Nero’s still a white-haired smartass with a big sword, but the handoff lets Capcom add another dimension to the gameplay with Nero’s Devil Bringer. Think of a Bionic Commando-style grappling arm… from Hell! The mechanic for the arm works well, letting players feel right at home with Nero in the air as well as on the ground. Dante does become playable for part of the game, but this is more Nero’s story than anything else.

Besides the big character switch, everything fans have come to love about “Devil May Cry” comes back — with better graphics, of course. Epic boss battles, smooth combat, and a humorous and sarcastic outlook from the heroes are all there.

Of course, some of the bad stuff carries through as well: It just wouldn’t be a Capcom action game without crappy camera angles.