Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition Switch 2 Review

Devil May Cry 5 was one of the highly praised installments in the franchise when it released on major platforms back in 2019. The gameplay, narrative, and fighting techniques were all well-crafted and complemented each other for the best experience. To this day, the overall game flow and fighting techniques are considered the best in the series. It was great to see that CAPCOM is looking forward to porting this great adventure to Nintendo Switch 2 under the name of Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition. However, at first I had my doubts about how well it would run and perform in both handheld and docked positions, and it surprised me in every way. This is our review of Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition on Switch 2, explaining whether it is worth it.

NOTE: The review copy of Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition was provided by the Publisher.

Story

Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition includes the original story of Devil May Cry 5, including all the major updates and DLCs. The game takes place in Red Grave City after the events of Devil May Cry 4. A demonic tree called Qliphoth appears in the city to start feeding on human blood. Nero, Dante, and the newcomer, V, fight the threat, and they encounter Urizen for the first time. Urizen is the demonic half, who has used the Yamato sword on himself. To contain the demons, Dante and Vergil descend into the underworld.

Gameplay

It follows the original gameplay mechanics of chaining combos and juggling enemies, with fast-paced and stylish combat. The rank system brings the authentic Devil May Cry experience, where precision, weapon switching, and timing boost the rank (from D to SSS). As the Devil Hunter Edition includes all the major updates and DLCs of the original Devil May Cry 5, there are four playable characters, each with a unique playstyle. You have Nero, Dante, V, and Vergil.

Nero wears the prosthetic Devil Breakers that grant him unique powers of mobility, explosive attacks, and healing. Dante has unmatched versatility, with weapon variety and style-switching. V is the newcomer that command familiars, such as Shadow, Nightmare, Griffon, etc., to fight the threat from a distance. Lastly, you have Vergil, a precision-focused character with Yamato, Beowulf, and Mirage Edge that requires more technical play than any other character.

The campaign offers story-driven missions across Red Grave City, offering the authentic Devil May Cry 5 experience with action-packed sequences and cinematic cutscenes. With the Devil Hunter Edition on Switch 2, you get all DLC content, including Vergil, Devil Breaker Arms for Nero, Costume Packs, Battle Tracks, Alternate Voices, Extra Taunts, and more. In addition to that, there are some additional features. These include the Bloody Palace Mode, Photo Mode, and Training Dimension. The Bloody Palace Mode unlocks after finishing the game. It is an endless combat gauntlet mode where you can challenge yourself with more intense fights. The Training Dimension allows you to practice combos with custom parameters.

Apart from all of these modes, there are still a few things missing, including the Turbo Mode and Legendary Dark Knight Mode. It is understandable that adding these modes might lower the game’s performance on Switch 2.

Switch 2 Performance

Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is a great definitive package, and the more impressive thing is that Nintendo Switch 2 runs it at a constant 60 FPS in both handheld and docked positions. The console’s power does the game great justice in providing sharp and clean images without any performance issues. It keeps the experience smooth even in the intense fight sequences.

The graphics are pretty neat throughout the campaign missions, and character detail in cinematics is very promising. Despite not having a ray tracing feature like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions, it still looks crisp and runs well. The sound design is great, with a dynamic soundtrack and the ability to change the tracks for battles. Moreover, the environmental sound cues are prominent and enhance immersion and tension.

Verdict 9/10

Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition is another excellent port from CAPCOM to Nintendo Switch 2. The all-in-one content of Devil May Cry 5 (2019) provides a promising experience, especially to those who haven’t played the original. The power of the Switch 2 handles the game well, running it at a constant 60FPS in both handheld and docked modes. For $40, you get the base campaign with Vergil DLC and all major updates of the game in one edition. However, for a 7-year-old title, it is still a steep price, but it is still a great port.

Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition is now available on Nintendo Switch 2.