Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition Review – Another Win for Capcom

Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition Review

Originally released in March 2019, this high-octane hack-and-slash adventure helped re-establish Dante as one of gaming’s premier action heroes, serving as a catalyst for the critically acclaimed Netflix anime. After successfully making the jump to current-generation consoles, Capcom has now brought its ambitious brawler to Nintendo’s hybrid platform. With fast, frantic action at the heart of Devil May Cry 5, can the Switch 2 handle the chaotic battles that have become synonymous with the series?

The blistering start sets the tone for the entire adventure. It begins at the end of the world as Urizen drains the city of humanity, taking over the area in the towering Quiphoth. Dante and Nero attempt to stop the beast, but its overwhelming power proves too much for them. While Nero narrowly escapes, Dante is left behind. Determined to set things right, the young hunter teams up with the mysterious V to search for Dante and take on Urizen together.

Are You Ready?

Although players flock to Devil May Cry for the tight, action-heavy gameplay, Capcom ensures that each cut scene is bursting with sizzle and style. Due to this, the sense of adventure increases as you witness insane sequences that prepare you for the unmatched combat that follows.

That said, gameplay is king in DMC. With three distinct characters, all of which have unique combat styles, the game maintains a frantic paces which keeps you hooked throughout. Dante can switch between Trickster, Royalguard, Gunslinger, and Swordmaster with the D-Pad. Toggling these on the fly allows you to create insane sequences, as you leap between enemies and unleash hell on each. These are not just for show; each has benefits requiring you to adapt to each. Swordmaster is a great offensive melee option, whereas Gunslinger has excellent range attacks. Trickster lets you dodge with ease, offering greater mobility, and Royalguard provides strong defensive manoeuvres. Together, these combine to deliver a deep, strategic system without losing the ferocity synonymous with the franchise.

Nero differs from Dante with the ability to equip Devil Breakers to give him a unique attack. These range from electric attacks, grapples and much more, allowing you to personalise your approach. His grapple is what truly elevates combat with Nero. This allows you to pull characters towards, launch them into the air and completely eviscerate them.

A New Way to Fight

Last but not least is V. A newcomer to the franchise, the emo differs greatly from the other two. Fighting from range rather than jumping in, he uses his demonic pets, a vulture and a panther, to fight for him. The panther delivers melee strikes, while the vulture can spit bullets. When their health depletes, you can deliver the final blow to permanently eliminate foes. While controlling V isn’t as visceral as the others, his segments add variety, keeping the pacing fresh even when the action momentarily slows.

The Devil Hunter Edition comes with the Vergil DLC. While the campaign is underwhelming and essentially a retread of the base game minus the cutscenes, playing as Vergil is a thrill. Overpowered, you can teleport on the battlefield to easily extend your combo and rack up those precious points. With the ability to summon a clone and deliver insane manoeuvres, playing as Vergil is a highlight. As each character is unique, you have to learn the nuances of each in order to attain the prestigious SSS rank. This leads to an endlessly replayable adventure where your skills grow with each character.

Locked and Loaded

The game runs incredibly well on the Nintendo Switch 2, holding a locked 60fps whether docked or handheld. It’s a remarkable technical achievement from Capcom. While newcomers can finally experience one of the greatest hack‑and‑slash titles ever made, returning players won’t find much new to draw them back in. The inclusion of a few colour packs, music options, and some behind‑the‑scenes development cutscenes feels more like small bonuses than meaningful incentives, offering little reason for veterans to revisit the adventure.

Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition is an incredible technical achievement. A masterclass in action, the landmark title works perfectly on the Switch 2, making this an essential purchase for those who have missed the adventure. Although this edition doesn’t include anything to intrigue returning players, there’s still no denying how flawlessly the core experience holds up, delivering the same razor‑sharp combat and stylish spectacle that cemented it as a modern classic.

***Nintendo Switch 2 review code provided by the publisher***