Let’s start with a little disclaimer: I’m a Final Fantasy Fangirl and action-based games have never really been my thing, but after spending some time with Nero in Devil May Cry 4, it looks like I have another video game series to fangirl about! 

For those wondering how a Final Fantasy Fangirl decided to play Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition, the answer is simple: I hated the new anime series so badly, not even my own “What if I’m just really bad at it?” thoughts could stop me from picking up the game for the first time. The only regret? Not playing this game years ago. But it’s time to throw out those insecurities like Nero throws around demons in this game!

So if you’re like me… this guide is for you!

Why Start with Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition?

Just in case a bad anime series and my fangirlin’ aren’t enough for you to hit the ‘add to cart’ button, let’s start with a few more reasons to start Devil May Cry 4:

  • It’s a great entry point into the series.
  • You get to play as Nero, who throws around sassy comments with the same ease he throws around demons. 
  • The combat is way too much fun!
  • The soundtrack! I love the soundtrack!
  • And let’s be real… throwing demons around is better than therapy!

New Game

Let’s get started! You can only have one save file in Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition and you can’t change the difficulty level during your gameplay, so make sure to choose wisely! 

You can select the following difficulties: 

  • Human – A Final Fantasy Fangirl-friendly mode that is perfect for having fun and enjoying the story as a first-time player. 
  • Devil Hunter – The recommended difficulty for anyone who didn’t wait way too long to play a Devil May Cry game. 
  • Legendary Dark Knight – A lot of fun to try, but honestly… not very Final Fantasy Fangirl-friendly!

Yes, I’m taking it easy this time around. I love the story and this difficulty actually makes it a lot easier to try out new skills and combos. No need to worry about making a wrong move or failing to dodge every once in a while (or even a little more often). 

The Basics

Let’s cover the basics real quick!

The In-Game Currencies

Let’s break down the different in-game currencies you can use to obtain new skills and items. 

Red Orbs

You can find Red Orbs pretty much anywhere in the game – inside whatever item you can break, after defeating enemies and hidden throughout the different locations. The best tip? Break everything! Nero is not here to respect property laws.

You can use Red Orbs to buy: 

    • Vital Stars (healing items)
    • Gold Orbs (revives)
    • Blue Orbs (to increase your health)

Proud Souls

Proud Souls are awarded at the end of each mission and are basically your skill points in this game. You can use Proud Souls at the start of a new mission or at one of the … statues to obtain new abilities and upgrade your skills. You can spend (and refund!) your Proud Souls to experiment with different skills and abilities, but trust me… upgrade your Devil Bringer to start throwing around demons and don’t look back! 

Blue Orb Fragments

You can collect four Blue Orb Fragments to boost your health bar, which gives you a little more room for error. You can find Blue Orb Fragments hidden in different locations or you can obtain them by completing Secret Missions. 

Gold Orbs

Gold Orbs are basically revives and are pretty hard to find, so use those Red Orbs wisely and make to buy some before you get in trouble. You can thank me later.

Your Weapons

You start the game with the following weapons: 

  • Red Queen – The Red Queen of combos! Lots of upgrades available and you can use Exceed to add some fire damage. 
  • Blue Rose – A double-barreled handgun. Perfect for keeping your distance, not the best if you want to do some real damage. You can upgrade the Blue Rose with Charge Shot, but who needs that when you can throw around demons? 
  • Devil Bringer – Nero’s demonic arm and my favourite weapon in the game. Fun fact: you can use the Devil Bringer to quickly close the distance on your target. Not as fun as throwing around your enemies, but it’s effective. 

Tips for New Devil May Cry Fangirls (No Spoilers!)

Now that we’ve got the basics covered, let me give you some spoiler-free tips & tricks.

Explore Everything (Yes, Everything)

Looking for a fun and rewarding way to get used to the game? Explore everything! The game is packed with hidden paths, orb clusters and Secret Missions. The Secret Missions are actually a really fun way to level up your skills, as they often come with little challenges that let you practice specific skills and combos. And you get a Blue Orb Fragment and as a bonus! 

And don’t forget to backtrack when you get new abilities — sometimes it opens up areas you missed before!

A little room for error

If you made it this far, chances are you’re like me. Nothin’ wrong with a little room for error, because you can’t have fun throwing around demons while dealing with your own (I’m talking to you, pesty perfectionist!). A little extra health makes up for the occasional error, so use those Red Orbs to your advantage. 

Practice doesn’t have to make perfect!

Practice doesn’t have to make perfect, but you do get bonus points for making it look stylish! Feel free to try different styles, weapons and combos – it’s a lot of fun! You’ll not only find new ways to beat your enemies, but more likely than not… you’ll soon discover there’s a myriad of ways to throw around demons. 

Devil May Cry 4: Final Thoughts

I have been having one hell (pun intended!) of a good time playing Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition! Final Fantasy Fangirl May Cry? I’m either gonna have to come up with a new catchy name for the next stream or I’m gonna have to add ‘tears of joy’ to it. Just enjoy the chaos, break stuff, explore everything, throw around some demons, and remember: have fun! ^_^