However to be actually fair there are some references to dmc 2 in the dmc 4 prologue, but it's more a reference for the player and a joke, it doesn't mean that 4 was set after 2 when it came out...
In the first part of the prologue dante is completely mute he dosent even talk during gameplay when you fight him as Nero, neither when he taunt you or use stinger or other moves, he only begin to talk later in the prologue and nero say something like: " i thought a cat eat your toungue"
This is all a joke and a reference to dmc 2 dante personality, since he never talk and was mostly mute during the whole game
I think some at capcom confirmed that in an interview, I'll try to find it if i can
