Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition brings the latest entry in the franchise to Nintendo’s hybrid console. After the Devil May Cry trilogy made its way to the original Switch, it was only natural to expect the rest of the series to follow. While we still haven’t received a port of Devil May Cry 4 on Switch, the fifth entry has finally arrived, thanks in part to the optimisation work done for Resident Evil and other RE Engine games on Switch 2. Is this the most feature-complete release of Devil May Cry 5 yet?
Devil May Cry 5 was originally released on PS4 and Xbox One before later being ported to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with additional features such as ray tracing, a 120 FPS mode, and Legendary Dark Knight mode. While the Switch 2 version includes almost all of the content added after the game’s original launch, it does not include Legendary Dark Knight mode, which is understandable given the processing power the mode requires. Although there is no Turbo mode and the game doesn’t render at native 4K resolution, it does, remarkably, support 120 FPS when docked, provided the Switch 2 is set to 120 Hz output.
The story in Devil May Cry 5 is one for the history books, as it brings together many of the elements that made the series so memorable. The game features multiple protagonists, including newcomer V, alongside returning characters Nero, Dante, and Vergil, who was originally added in the Special Edition for PS5 and is also included in the Switch 2 release. The story follows a heart-pounding, action-fuelled journey through Red Grave City as the heroes battle the demon king Urizen. At its core, it is a classic tale of brotherhood and family drama, with Nero and Dante joining forces to stop the growing demonic threat.
The best part of Devil May Cry 5’s story is its cutscenes, which are just as chaotic and action-packed as fans remember. The game transitions exceptionally well to Switch 2, running at a near-locked 60 FPS for most of the experience, with only occasional frame rate dips. While it doesn’t appear to render at native 4K resolution, DLSS upscaling helps deliver a clean image with noticeably better image quality than the PS4 release.
What I have always liked about Devil May Cry 5 is that it has the best character roster in the series, and its gameplay is just as strong. Every playable character has their own unique abilities and move set, making each one enjoyable to learn and master. Dante is the most balanced character in the game, with multiple combat styles that can be switched on the fly during battle. He can evade attacks with Trickster, parry with Royalguard, and overwhelm enemies using the Gunslinger and Swordmaster styles. Fans of the earlier games will recognise many of these mechanics.
Nero is better suited to newcomers. He has a solid move set that deals plenty of damage, and when combined with his Devil Breaker arm, he can pull off a wide range of stylish attacks. However, he is not the strongest character in the game. That title belongs to Vergil, whose Concentration Gauge rewards players who master his combat style. His attacks are fast, precise, and deal incredible damage, though learning to use him effectively takes practice. V, on the other hand, plays more like a summoner than a traditional fighter. He relies on familiars such as Shadow, Griffon, and Nightmare, each serving a different role in combat, whether at range or up close.
While the lack of Legendary Dark Knight mode slightly hurts the overall replay value, this is still a solid port by every measure. It looks great, performs well, and includes almost all of the content released for the game. The launch price is also reasonable, with an early bird discount available before the price increases slightly after the launch period. The stylish ranking system further boosts replay value by encouraging players to revisit missions and improve their scores. Mastering the combat system is incredibly rewarding, though it takes patience, practice, and repeated attempts at key boss fights to reach a high level of skill.
If you’re limited to Nintendo hardware and have never played Devil May Cry 5, this is an excellent version to pick up for both handheld and docked play. It delivers rock-solid performance, includes plenty of content, and makes good use of the Switch 2 hardware. While it doesn’t offer much reason to return for those who have already completed the game several times on other platforms, it remains a strong portable version. Vergil may not have a dedicated story mode, but his combat represents the peak of the game’s mechanics, even if newcomers may find him challenging to master.
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
