It’s been a couple of years since Devil May Cry 5 first launched but now Nintendo Switch 2 owners can finally join the hunt as well. With Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition, Capcom brings one of its best hack & slash games to Nintendo’s newest console and it’s safe to say that it works a lot better than expected. But is it still worth playing today? Let’s find out!
The demons return
The story of Devil May Cry 5 remains the same. After years of peace in Red Grave City, the demons return when a gigantic demonic tree breaks through the ground and starts taking over the city. If people are touched by the roots, their blood gets sucked out of their bodies, leaving nothing but corpses behind. Needless to say, it doesn’t take long before the city turns into a complete nightmare.
Nero starts his adventure in search of the mysterious person who stole his arm, while Dante is once again dragged into a fight against powerful demons. Newcomer V also joins the story and gives the game a slightly different feeling compared to the older entries. The story still feels very Devil May Cry, with over-the-top action, ridiculous one-liners and a lot of stylish moments. If you played the original release before, you already know what to expect. If not, you’re in for a wild ride. You can read my original review here:
Hack & Slash on the go
Devil May Cry 5 is still all about fast hack & slash action, and that didn’t change in this Devil Hunter Edition. Nero, Dante and V all play in their own way and that still is one of the biggest strengths of the game. Nero is the easiest character to get used to, thanks to his sword Red Queen, revolver Blue Rose and his Devil Breakers. Those prosthetic arms still add a lot of fun to the combat, especially since they can completely change the way you deal with enemies.
Dante is still the character with the most options. He switches between weapons and styles at an incredible rate and gives veteran players a lot to master. He might feel a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get used to his many possibilities, he becomes one of the most fun characters in the game. V, on the other hand, plays completely differently. He lets his demonic creatures do the fighting while he stays in the background, reading poetry and waiting for the right moment to finish enemies himself. It’s still a strange way to play but it adds some welcome variety to the campaign.
What makes this Switch 2 version extra interesting is the fact that you can now play this kind of action game in handheld mode without losing the feeling of speed. Devil May Cry 5 runs at 60 frames per second in both docked and handheld mode and that’s really imporant. This is a game where every dodge, jump and combo needs to feel right and luckily, the Switch 2 version delivers. In docked mode, the game looks great and plays very fluently. In handheld mode, you do lose some details and the image can look a bit softer, but the action itself remains strong. For a game like this, that’s the most important thing.
The extras
Of course, one of the biggest additions is Vergil. Fans of the franchise know how important he is and being able to play through the game with him adds a lot of replay value. Vergil is a lot faster and more precise than the other characters. His Yamato katana is extremely quick and allows you to create long combos, while weapons like Beowulf and Mirage Edge give him more power when needed. Playing as Vergil changes the way you approach the game. Since the original missions were built around Nero, Dante and V, some fights feel a little different when you play them with Vergil. That isn’t a bad thing, it simply forces you to adapt. He’s a very powerful character and once you understand his rhythm, he becomes a blast to play. Even if you already finished Devil May Cry 5 in the past, Vergil gives you a good reason to return.
The Devil Hunter Edition also comes with a lot of extra content and some of it is more fun than you might expect. The most remarkable one is probably the Mega Buster, a Devil Breaker inspired by Mega Man. It’s not the strongest weapon in the game but it’s a great little Capcom reference. It’s the kind of silly extra that fits perfectly in a game like Devil May Cry 5.
Other Devil Breakers like Gerbera GP01, Pasta Breaker and Sweet Surrender are also included and give Nero more tools to experiment with. Dante also gets Cavaliere R, a different version of his motorcycle weapon, which is just as ridiculous as it sounds. On top of that, you get extra battle tracks, alternative style rank voices, title calls, costume colors and some more fun little nods. Not every extra will be useful for every player but together, they make the package feel complete. You can ignore most of them if you want the classic experience, or you can equip the craziest weapons right from the start and just have fun with it. That freedom fits Devil May Cry 5 perfectly.
Conclusion:
Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is a great way to play one of Capcom’s best action games on Nintendo Switch 2. The game still looks impressive, the combat still feels fantastic and the included extras give returning players enough reasons to jump back in. Vergil is a great addition, the Mega Buster and other bonus weapons are fun to use and the 60fps performance makes sure the action remains fast in both docked and handheld mode. If you never played Devil May Cry 5 before, this Devil Hunter Edition is an easy recommendation.