History YMMV / DevilMayCry4

** Nero spends most of the game resenting his [[RedRightHand Devil Bringer]], but comes to appreciate it when it proves instrumental in the climax. In ''5'', [[spoiler:the Devil Bringer is torn off by Vergil who also takes back the Yamato sword which Dante gave to Nero as a gift.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: Just before Nero acquired his spectral Devil Trigger in Mission 6, it was mostly assumed that he was merely "unconscious" after [[spoiler:Agnus stabbed him]], due to the game framing it like he was simply closing his eyes before waking up soon enough when he hears Kyrie's voice in his head. More than a decade later, the [[PreviouslyOn "History of DMC"]] video in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' reveals Nero was actually [[spoiler:"killed" during that time, before he was revived by the Yamato itself]].

* ContestedSequel: While not considered as bad as ''2'' and the fans are forgiving of its flaws considering the [[TroubledProduction game was rushed]], ''4'' isn't held in as high regard as ''3'' or ''5'', mainly due to Nero being a ReplacementScrappy for Dante at the time (before the former came into his own in ''5'') and due to the high amounts of {{Backtracking}} and {{Recurring Boss}}es. Whether these qualities are mild annoyances that don't detract too much from the experience or bring the game down is a point of debate, especially since ''4'' is still well-regarded by the more advanced players thanks to the gameplay tech that's only found in this game.

* CharacterPerceptionEvolution: Nero's debut doomed him to the status of ReplacementScrappy due to being the game's lead rather than previous series protagonist Dante, who filled the role of {{Deuteragonist}}. While Nero's gameplay gained him some fans, it was the controversial reboot ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'' that caused most fans to feel the hatred of Nero was ill-placed, accepting that he was at least an original character rather than Dante in the reboot, whose appearance and personality was very different from the original Dante. That said, many still agree that Nero didn't truly come into his own until ''Devil May Cry 5'', which would make him even more unique and fleshed out his personality and background.

* CharacterPerceptionEvolution: Nero's debut doomed him to the status of ReplacementScrappy due to being the game's lead rather than previous series protagonist Dante, who filled the role of {{Deuteragonist}}. While Nero's gameplay gained him some fans, it was the controversial reboot ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'' that caused most fans to feel the hatred of Nero was ill-placed, accepting that he was at least an original character rather than Dante in the reboot, whose appearance and personality was very different from the original Dante.

* ContestedSequel: While not considered as bad as ''2'' and the fans are forgiving of its flaws considering the game was rushed, ''4'' isn't held in as high regard as ''3'' or ''5'', mainly due to Nero being a ReplacementScrappy for Dante at the time (before the former came into his own in ''5'') and due to the high amounts of {{Backtracking}} and {{Recurring Boss}}es. Whether these qualities are mild annoyances that don't detract too much from the experience or bring the game down is a point of debate.

** The game is usually criticized for having recycled levels on the "latter half" or "Dante's portion" of the main campaign. However, these statements are a bit imprecise considering how out of the 20 missions, only 8 missions (Missions 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) recycle the previous levels; Mission 18 can be considered a unique segment because Dante fights The Savior on floating platforms above the city. Another related misconception claims that Dante's levels make up exactly half of the game, but there's actually just 7 where you get to play as him (from Missions 12 to 18).

* CommonKnowledge: The ranged [[SwissArmyWeapon Devil Arm that transforms into different weapons]] is officially named "Pandora", yet many players still think that it's named [[PublicDomainArtifact "Pandora's Box"]]. The weapon's default briefcase form is pointed out as the source of confusion.

** "Distortion" is a technique that allows you to deal massive damage by properly timing your Devil Trigger transformation during melee attacks. For instance, carefully using Vergil's Concentration Gauge coupled with Devil Trigger and Beowulf ends The Savior within [[https://youtu.be/4SqHQXL4-6U?t=78 2 seconds]] as soon as Vergil's straight punch hits the boss's [[AttackItsWeakPoint most vulnerable spot]]. This can also be performed during some of Dante's moves.

*** Carefully using the Concentration Gauge coupled with the Devil Trigger and Beowulf makes The Savior a 2-hit job.

* {{Fanon}}: Vergil's prologue cutscene in the ''Special Edition'' shows him walking between a crowd in Fortuna. Despite his face partly being [[InTheHood concealed by his robe]], a woman dressed in red stops in her tracks and takes a short while to glance at Vergil. It has then been speculated that this "woman in red" is [[spoiler:Nero's mom]].

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A major criticism is directed against the boss fights, or specifically, the amount of times you have to fight the same bosses. Berial, Bael/Dagon, Echidna, and Angelo Agnus are each fought three times in a single playthrough, but without any significant variations to spice up their succeeding fights (Dagon is just a [[PaletteSwap recolored]] Bael, but he fights exactly like his blue-colored counterpart). The last instances of these fights also take place on the BossRush section of Mission 19, a stage that's already considered a DisappointingLastLevel. Fighting them again on NewGamePlus playthroughs, in the other character campaigns, and in Bloody Palace can become so tiring. This criticism sometimes extends to another boss; when playing as Dante in the Bloody Palace, the final boss... is [[PaletteSwap Shadow Dante]]. There's no A.I.-controlled boss version of the other playable characters, just another Dante fight.

** Beating the game unlocks a PreviouslyOn video that summarizes the stories of the previous three games. Not only are the summaries condensed enough, the games are also previewed by release order and there's only a slight passage that mentions ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' as a prequel game. These can throw series newcomers out of the loop because the first four ''Devil May Cry'' games actually have an AnachronicOrder.

* ContinuityLockOut: Fans who are sticking with only the games' lore might be confused on why Lady and Trish are already well-acquainted with each other in this game even though they never met in the past three games. This characterization is actually a [[ContinuityNod reference]] to the 2007 [[Anime/DevilMayCryTheAnimatedSeries anime adaptation]] that depicts how Lady and Trish first met.

* UnderusedGameplayMechanic: The Chrono Slicers' time-slowing effects are mostly used in the laser hallway puzzles; there are only few rooms where you could activate a Chrono Slicer to slow down the nearby enemies and freely beat them up while the effect lasts. It doesn't help that Chrono Slicers are stationary objects found only inside the Order of the Sword HQ, and that there are [[GuideDangIt no tutorials mentioning how]] the enemies are also slowed down when a Chrono Slicer is activated. These limitations are often contrasted to the Gyro Blades - mobile structures found in the Fortuna Castle and Mitis Forest, and have segments clearly demonstrating their offensive nature against the enemies.

* PolishedPort: The original PC version, which not only runs very smoothly on a wide array of systems and has some adjustable graphics options, but puts higher-end systems to the test with ''[[IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels Legendary Dark Knight Mode]]'', which [[ZergRush fills the screen with enemies]]. Unlike the PC port of ''[=DMC3=]'', this is quite the breath of fresh air for PC gamers. It doesn't have a leaderboard though. Another criticism mentions the game not having proper keyboard and mouse support (as the user interface will display Xbox buttons instead), but it's usually dismissed as a minor issue because the game is still completely playable with only a keyboard anyway.

* ComplacentGamingSyndrome: When playing as Nero, players would mostly save up the DT gauge so that he can use a [[SuperMode Devil Buster]] instead of a normal Buster because the former deals more damage on top of having more brutal animations. This is mostly evident during boss fights. In addition to this strategy, players also have a habit of mashing the shoot button to pierce the enemy with Summoned Swords during the lengthy Devil Buster animations. After all, you can't go wrong with some additional damage.

* GoddamnedBats: The Chimera Seeds. [[BuffySpeak Blady Planty thingies]] that just love to attach to other monsters so they can hit you by surprise and interrupt your combo. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, since on higher difficulties, pretty much every {{mook}} is attached with one of these.

** Vergil in ''4:SE'' has several powerful tools that can make a quick work of certain scenarios. Carefully using the Concentration Gauge coupled with the Devil Trigger and Beowulf makes The Savior a 2-hit job. From a platforming standpoint, Vergil now also has the ability to collect orbs at a distance by hitting them with his Summoned Swords. This renders the challenge of retrieving most of the hard-to-reach orbs scattered throughout the game completely moot, due to the sheer range at which the Summoned Swords are able to travel. His [[FlashStep Air Trick]] and Lunar Phase can also turn any fight against the Alto Angelo, Bianco Angelo, and even Credo Angelo into a joke; Air Trick allows him to quickly close the distance of enemies that zip around the battlefield, while his Lunar Phase can decimate anyone who's blocking with a shield when it is spammed (as this attack doesn't stagger him that much, and it has a very fast recovery animation when it's blocked).