Devil May Cry 4 (Capcom)

Diving back into the world of curiously white haired, sword-wielding demon-hunters, Capcom once again give us a sumptuously rendered slash and shoot extravaganza. With the land overrun with rag doll puppet creatures and monsters, it's up to our hero to stab and blast seven shades out of everything until thumbs bleed and the end credits roll.

Breaking from previous tradition, the game doesn't let you play as Dante till halfway through, instead telling the story of Nero, a hot-headed Dante wannabe with a neat trick up his sleeve: A demonic hand that can be used as a weapon, as well as a tool to propel him across vast chasms. He's also got a huge sword that can be charged up to give massive flaming attacks, and a ridiculously oversized pistol. Thrown together, this recipe makes for an obscene amount of fun as you chop your way around the pretty maps.

Other than that, it's the usual business with a cast full of clichéd game stereotypes and a plot that is no more complex than an average episode of Sesame Street. Not that it needs to be, mind you; the spectacular graphics, great gameplay and massive bosses more than make up for some lame storytelling and occasional dodgy camera angles. The only sticking point will be for DMC newbies who may struggle with the control shifts between Dante and Nero, but with 4 difficulty modes there's ample chance for everyone to practice those combos. [Graeme Strachan]