Line #54 Trivia/DevilMayCry4


1	* ActingForTwo:
2	** In the Japanese version:
3	*** Kosei Hirota voices Bael and Dagon.
4	*** Kenji Sugimura voices the Bianco and Alto Angelos.
5	** As for the English version:
6	*** Laura Napoli serves as the motion capture actor for Kyrie and Lady.
7	*** Creator/DanSouthworth not only did the motion capture for Credo and Vergil, but he is also the voice actor for the latter character.
8	** Gloria and Trish are voiced by Creator/AtsukoTanaka and Danielle Burgio in both languages.
9	* ActorInspiredElement: According to scenario writer Bingo Morihashi and lead motion manager Hiroyuki Nara in the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' interviews, Agnus's [[VerbalTic stutter]] was suggested by his voice actor, T.J. Storm. The ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}''-esque performance scene between Agnus and Dante in Mission 17 was also an impromptu suggestion during a recording session.
10	* ApprovalOfGod: While Creator/HidekiKamiya primarily identifies with [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 the first game]] (the only one he actually worked on), it's worth noting that he apparently used ''[=DMC4=]'' as [[https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/445037922958323713 research material]] for ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}''.
11	* CreatorBacklash: While Creator/HidekiKamiya, who directed the first game, used this one for inspiration when working on ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', he said that the [[https://twitter.com/pg_kamiya/status/922081504053805056 "Dice thing is SHIT."]] To be fair, [[ScrappyMechanic even the game's fans agree with him on that one]].
12	* DevelopmentGag:
13	** In the epilogue, Nero's Devil Bringer arm glows gold as Kyrie touches it. A heartwarming moment, but it's also a reference to the game's early beta version wherein the arm has a completely golden color theme instead of the final version's blue.
14	** In the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Special Edition]]'', Nero's "Prototype" costume is a reference to his early prototype concept art.
15	* DuelingGames: Within the same franchise, no less! Two UpdatedReRelease games - ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry: Definitive Edition'' and ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4: Special Edition'' were both released on 2015. The latter game from the original continuity ended up selling more and had a better reception than the former.
16	* InspirationForTheWork:
17	** As Yuichiro Hiraki explains in the ''Devil May Cry 3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook, the inspiration for the Scarecrows was the villain of the ''Drunken Monkey'' film who has a pose with one raised leg.
18	** The townscapes of Fortuna Island were based on some real-world locations. According to model supervisor Jun Ikawa, a research team was even sent to Rome and the Vatican in Italy, and then Istanbul and Cappadocia in Turkey.
19	* MemeAcknowledgement: Nero is compared a lot to Ichigo of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' because they have many similarities; both are voiced by Creator/JohnnyYongBosch, they wield a {{BFS}} and a katana, they have supernatural abilities, and their love interests are both red-headed, white-clad DamselsInDistress voiced by Creator/StephanieSheh. While this meme/trend started on ''Devil May Cry 4'', Johnny Yong Bosch himself noticed the similarities and posted a [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BvVKH_9A7G_/?utm_medium=copy_link compilation]] on his Instagram account after ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' was released on 2019.
20	* NoExportForYou:
21	** Some supplementary materials were never released outside of Japan, such as the two-volume novelization, ''Deadly Fortune'', and the ''Devil May Cry 4 Devil's Material Collection'' artbook.
22	** The pachislot machines (a combination of a traditional slots machine with a pachinko machine) for ''[[http://www.enterrise.co.jp/slot/product07/index.html 4]]'', ''[[http://www.enterrise.co.jp/slot/product13/index.php Devil May Cry X: The Last Judgement]]'' (the "X" pronounced "cross"), and ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfHSWBVyRuM CR Devil May Cry 4]]'' were only available in Japan. The first two, produced by Enterrise, used the in-game assets that included additional scenes and lines not seen in either the original game's release or the ''Special Edition'', to which online comments have noted that ''DMCX'' somehow tied Vergil's story much ''tighter'' into ''4'' compared to the ''Special Edition'' release.
23	** The Special Edition for the Platform/PlayStation4 and Platform/XboxOne was only released physically in Japan, with the game being digital-only in the west, much to the chagrin of fans.
24	* TheOtherDarrin:
25	** Danielle Burgio voices Trish instead of Creator/SaraLafleur.
26	** Creator/KateHiggins voices Lady instead of Creator/KariWahlgren for the ''Special Edition''.
27	* PreOrderBonus: Trish's Gloria disguise and Lady's ''[=DMC3=]'' outfit were given free for those who pre-ordered the ''Special Edition''. Afterwards, these costumes are still made available as DownloadableContent.
28	* ProductionNickname:
29	** From the ''3142 Graphic Arts'', illustrator Tatsuya Yoshikawa says the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen early prototype]] designs of ''[=DMC4=]'' Dante seen in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ-ajWP1FSY E3 2005 teaser]] and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRaG7GUC1E Tokyo Game Show 2005 teaser]] were nicknamed "Snowy Mountain Dante" and "Back Alley Dante", respectively.
30	** According to the scenario writer, "Noble Nero" was the nickname for Nero's [[WhatCouldHaveBeen early prototype]] version which was likened to ''Literature/SherlockHolmes''.
31	* RefittedForSequel: As mentioned in page 223 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook, Director Hideaki Itsuno wanted to include ordinary human [=NPCs=] in ''[=DMC3=]'', but wasn't able to do so due to hardware constraints; the [=PS2=] lacked the necessary processing power to render many of them at once. ''[=DMC4=]'' is the first game in the series to have several human [=NPCs=] on-screen (mostly during cutscenes) because it's primarily developed for the next-generation consoles like the [=PS3=].
32	* RoleReprise: Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa, Creator/AtsukoTanaka and Creator/FumikoOrikasa return from the [[Anime/DevilMayCryTheAnimatedSeries anime]] as Dante, Trish, and Lady in the Special Edition.
33	* TroubledProduction: Not to the same degree as ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'', but this game was [[https://youtu.be/XcYWxnDJcho?t=1353 underfunded]] (reportedly, it had the same budget as the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening third game]], which was on a previous generation console), as well as [[ChristmasRushed pressed to be released by a deadline]], which is why Dante's levels and boss fights are [[{{Backtracking}} retreads]] of Nero's. And this is on top of the Playstation 3 being notoriously difficult to program for.
34	-->'''Hideaki Itsuno:''' And sure, there were some aspects that dissatisfied the players, the fact that you had to traverse back over previous levels during the latter half of the game. Well, it turns out the budget was similar to what we had on Devil May Cry 3, creating the game in the same way would have meant we would have run out of budget, and also we wouldn't have been able to ship in time.
35	* UncreditedRole: Creator/MaryElizabethMcGlynn provided the uncredited voice of Echidna in the English version.
36	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
37	** Dante's final design in the game is quite different from what was initially shown in 2005. His design in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ-ajWP1FSY E3 2005 teaser]] seemed to lean towards roughly ''3'' if the coat and hair was anything to go by. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRaG7GUC1E Tokyo Game Show 2005 teaser]] had him with the hair and facial design resembling more of ''2'' while the character's attitude was that of his ''3'' incarnation (what with him shooting and then slicing a camera). The oval belt buckle remained, whereas the longcoat was changed into the duster. Neither teaser showed him with any type of gloves.
38	** Speaking of Dante, he was going to have completely original levels with original bosses after the reveal of a GreaterScopeVillain, but [[TroubledProduction time and budget constraints]] caused this to be thrown out and Dante’s levels became retreads of Nero's. This would explain why the weapons Dante gets have nothing to do with the demons he kills to get them, which is a change from ''3'' where the Devil Arms were related to the demons Dante fought.
39	** There were concept designs for a "Perfect Devil Trigger" form for Dante, which was originally intended to play a large role in this game's story. In page 221 of the ''3-1-4-2 Graphic Arts'' artbook, [[https://i.redd.it/7lgj0idzt7241.jpg Hideaki Itsuno also mentioned it]] as a "Double Devil Trigger" that would give Dante another transformation stage. The 2008 artbook, ''Devil May Cry 4 Devil's Material Collection'', also described it as a form that surpasses Sparda's power, but would drive Dante insane. Sadly, there wasn't enough time to implement that in this game, so it was scrapped.
40	** Nero was originally going to be named Rodin, after the famed French sculptor who once created [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gates_of_Hell a motif of a]] {{Hellgate}} mentioned in ''Literature/TheDivineComedy''. He was additionally intended to be given [[http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm236/jt4mtb/Artbooks/2009-03-26/IMG_0317.jpg a more complete Devil Trigger,]] as a counterbalance to the aforementioned [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Perfect Devil Trigger]] [[http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm236/jt4mtb/Artbooks/2009-03-26/IMG_0321.jpg conceived for Dante.]]
41	** Nero's Devil Bringer arm and all abilities associated with it are colored gold in the early stages of development, in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBolcmvRbX4 TGS 2006 trailer]], and in the 2008 trial demo of the game. His Snatch ability also produced a large flame-like effect around the entire arm, but mostly prominent on the elbow. Footage from the TGS 2006 trailer alone shows even more aspects [[NeverTrustATrailer that were different from the final build]], such as a different HUD and different Stylish Ranks. Nero is also shown fighting a crowd of Scarecrows near a staircase, but in the final build, that staircase area from Mission 2 is devoid of any battle.
42	** Nero was originally intended to wear a white Order of the Sword uniform, and it would've took the slot of his [[DevelopmentGag "Prototype"]] costume in the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Special Edition]]'' (the inclusion of the Prototype costume was a personal choice of Director Hideaki Itsuno).
43	** As shown by early concept designs from the ''Devil May Cry 4 Devil's Material Collection'' artbook, Angelo Credo's shield was originally white-themed just like his body, and it went through changes in shape and size. Some of the scrapped designs made it look like a huge straightforward WingShield that mostly covers his entire left side.
44	** Commentary from the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook also mentions how the Scarecrows would've [[ShoutOut referenced]] ''Anime/MyNeighborTotoro'' by having "soot sprites" filling them from the inside (which would leak out if they're cut open). This idea didn't get a lot of support.
45	** As detailed by Scenario Writer Bingo Morihashi, page 210 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook also reveals a lot of significant production changes for the Order of the Sword members:
46	*** Nero originally started out as a ''Literature/SherlockHolmes''-esque character who would sip tea as he fought off demons. Bingo called this prototype version as "Noble Nero".
47	*** Credo would've been the game's FinalBoss, but it would've affected Kyrie a lot and make her resent Nero in the end. This idea never went through because it ruins the established relationship between Nero and Kyrie, aside from rehashing the "family betrayal" theme that was already used in ''[=DMC3=]''. It also justifies why the finalized version of Credo is a HeroAntagonist instead of an all-out villain.
48	*** Gloria wasn't actually meant to be [[spoiler:Trish in disguise]]. Initially, Gloria would've been her own character ([[spoiler:separate from Trish]]) and a straight-up villain working for the Order, but "it created a number of problems".
49	*** The Vicar Sanctus was originally named "Benedict", but they quickly had to drop that idea when coincidentally, Pope Benedict was elected in real-life.
50	** One of the early concept designs for Nero depicted him wearing a hood, as mentioned and shown in page 214 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook.
51	** One of Sanctus' early concept designs showed him having cybernetic attachments, and even the Art Director Tatsuya Yoshikawa found it funny, as noted in page 214 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook.
52	** In page 216 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook interviews, Motion Artist Yuichiro Hiraki and Model Supervisor Jun Ikawa confirmed that the songstress role in the prologue cutscene was originally given to a different character and not Kyrie, but that idea was scrapped due to time constraints.
53	** According to page 218 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook interviews, someone suggested Credo utilizing the Angelos while fighting Nero in Mission 8, but several members of the team, notably Credo's motion artists, objected to that idea because it would've depicted Credo using cowardly tactics, which strays far from his characterization.
54	* WordOfGod: Even though the characters in the franchise have VagueAge at best, [[https://www.gameinformer.com/gamescom-2018/2018/08/24/capcoms-hideaki-itsuno-on-ninja-theory-nico-and-the-difference-between an interview with Hideaki Itsuno]] on 2018 reveals that Nero is a teenager during the events of ''[=DMC4=]''.
55	* WordOfSaintPaul:
56	** Before ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'', the question of whether or not Nero was [[spoiler:Vergil]]'s son was a matter of much debate. Prior to that game, this had been [[AllThereInTheManual confirmed by an official artbook]] (''3142 Graphic Arts''), the official ''Deadly Fortune'' novelization by the lead writer of ''[=DMC4=]'', and a statement by a translator, but [[{{Foreshadowing}} only strongly implied]] in-game. Because the ''Deadly Fortune'' novel deviates from the plot of ''[=DMC4=]'' at multiple points, it was treated semi-canon at best, and [[BrokenBase a part of the fanbase]] vehemently opposed the idea until ''[=DMC5=]'' [[TheReveal settled the matter permanently]]. Though, not all aspects are confirmed--such as exactly who [[ImpliedLoveInterest Nero's mother]] was.
57	** Just how important is Kyrie to Nero? In page 216 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook, Motion Artist Yuichiro Hiraki talked about the relationship between the two. He bets that "without Kyrie, Nero would have followed a path similar to Vergil's". Additionally, Kyrie and Credo are the only reasons why Nero puts up with the Order of the Sword. Hiraki then brings up a hilarious WhatIf scenario to justify it – If Kyrie wasn't in the Mission 1 cutscene, Nero wouldn't have to [[DynamicEntry drop-kick Dante in the face]], and would just have wandered off instead because it's "not [his] problem". Worst case, if Kyrie were to die, Hiraki bets Nero would likely go to the demon world in search for power, just like Vergil.
58	** In page 217 of the ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook, character illustrator Tatsuya Yoshikawa revealed some additional aspects regarding Dante and Lady:
59	*** Dante is around 40 years old by the events of ''[=DMC4=]''. This is yet another answer to the VagueAge of the ''DMC'' characters which left fans wondering for a long time.
60	*** Lady wears sunglasses in this game, but they're not just for fashion; they're also meant to practically hide her heterochromia.

Context Trivia / DevilMayCry4