Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition still has that action-game problem I like. One fight ends, and I’m already thinking about how I could have handled it better. On Nintendo Switch 2, the combat still responds the way it needs to. That had to be true before any extra content could help.
Newcomers get a great way into Devil May Cry 5. Longtime fans are coming back for handheld play and a version that runs well, not a big content drop built around new missions.
Combat Still Pushes For Better Ranks
Devil May Cry 5 starts with Nero, V, and Dante trying to stop Urizen after Red Grave City is overrun by demons and the Qliphoth. The campaign sets up the threat quickly, then gets you back into fights. The game doesn’t waste much time before putting you back into another encounter.
The story has enough attitude and series history to keep things moving. I wasn’t playing mainly for the plot. The included recap covers the basics for newcomers without slowing things down. You don’t need every detail about Dante, Nero, Vergil, Lady, and Trish to understand why Urizen needs to be stopped.
The ranking system is what kept me locked in. Each encounter is graded, with ranks climbing toward SSS when you avoid damage, vary attacks, use the air, and keep combos moving. You can get through early fights by leaning on simple attacks. It gets much better when you start caring about the rank at the end.
What kept me coming back was how quickly one small improvement can change a fight. A launcher can send an enemy into the air, a gunshot can keep the combo going from range, and Nero’s grapple can pull him back into position before the fight slows down. The game rewards those improvements quickly without making every encounter a chore.
Nero And Dante Put The Combat In Your Hands
Nero is the easiest character to settle into, not the easiest one to master. Red Queen and Blue Rose make his basic rhythm clear. Devil Breakers are what make him stand out. His arms aren’t permanent upgrades. They break, they burn out, and the order you carry them can change how you handle a tougher encounter.
Nero works because those arms aren’t meant to sit in reserve forever. Using a Devil Breaker at the right time can keep pressure on an enemy, create space, or get him out of trouble. I liked how the game pushed me to spend those arms instead of holding them for some perfect moment that might never come.
Dante shows how demanding the combat can become once basic attacks aren’t enough. He can switch styles with the D-pad, change weapons during combat, and alter how he handles a fight without changing characters. You don’t need to master every style to have fun with him. Dante made more sense when style changes became part of the fight instead of extra commands sitting off to the side.
V Changes The Pace, Vergil Changes The Replay
V is the one character who didn’t work as well for me. He fights through Griffon, Shadow, and Nightmare, then steps in with his cane to finish weakened enemies. His stages use positioning differently because you’re keeping V safe while his familiars handle most of the attacking.
V still didn’t match Nero or Dante for me because his attacks don’t have the same direct feel. I still liked the change in pace. His stages break up the direct sword-and-gun combat, and the return to Nero or Dante plays better because the game hasn’t been using the same rhythm the whole time.
Vergil makes the replay side more interesting. He doesn’t get a full new story campaign, which is disappointing. Even so, he plays with more precision and control. His attacks reward timing, spacing, and commitment, so he stands apart without needing a brand-new campaign built around him.
The Fights Stay Fast Despite Some Visual Cuts
Devil May Cry 5 depends on timing. Dodges, launchers, grapples, and style changes need to respond when enemies and effects start stacking up. On Nintendo Switch 2, those inputs responded the way I needed them to.
The game targets 60fps and plays well during combat. I could read enemy movement, react to openings, and keep the combo system in play. The combat stayed responsive, even when fights filled the screen with enemies and effects.
Visual cutbacks are there. Hair and fine details can show artifacts, and handheld play isn’t always as crisp in smaller details. Those issues didn’t get in the way of combat for me. Handheld play is the part I can see people coming back for. Devil May Cry 5 runs well enough on Nintendo Switch 2 that portability doesn’t come at the combat’s expense.
Vergil Adds The Most, But Not A New Campaign
Vergil is the biggest addition in Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition. The other extras are smaller, including colour options, music options, and extra Devil Breakers. They’re nice to have, but they didn’t change why I kept playing.
Vergil is the one addition that changes how you play. He is fast, controlled, and fun to learn because his attacks reward timing and spacing. The catch is that he runs through the existing campaign structure without a full new story built around him. If you already spent a lot of time with Devil May Cry 5, the reused campaign structure is the limit.
I do wish Legendary Dark Knight mode made the cut. More enemies on screen would have been a great way to push this combat harder on Nintendo Switch 2. The game doesn’t fall apart without it, but longtime fans will notice it’s missing. Photo mode is another smaller weak point. It’s there, but it doesn’t do much for a game that looks better in motion. Devil May Cry 5 has animation, speed, and attack effects that lose something when the action is frozen.
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition Still Delivers Where It Counts
Devil May Cry 5 still works because there’s always another rank to chase. Better ranks, smarter Devil Breaker use, and tighter character control keep pulling the campaign forward. Nero and Dante are still the easiest parts to point to, V changes the pace, and Vergil makes replaying stages more fun even without a new story campaign.
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition gets the combat right. The fights stay fast, the controls respond well, and handheld play doesn’t come at the combat’s expense. The visual cutbacks are noticeable in fine details, and the missing Legendary Dark Knight mode stings a little for returning fans, but neither one dulls the combat.
If you missed Devil May Cry 5, this is a great place to start. If you already know it inside out, this is for handheld play and Vergil more than anything else. Either way, Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition still has the combat that makes people come back to this series.
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition
Summary
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition brings Capcom’s fast action game to Nintendo Switch 2 with Vergil, extra Devil Breakers, colour options, and music options included. The combat still makes you chase better ranks, smarter timing, and better control over Nero, Dante, V, and Vergil. The visual cutbacks, missing Legendary Dark Knight mode, and reused Vergil campaign structure stand out more if you already know the game well. If you missed Devil May Cry 5 before, this is a great place to start, and returning fans should come back for portability more than new content.
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