Next-Gen Action
Capcom really knocked it out of the park with the release of Devil May Cry V in 2019. Now a year and some change later they are returning to the game to give it a new coat of paint for the new consoles, as well as adding in some DLC to feature the return of Vergil. It has almost become a tradition that Dante’s other half be added in after the fact, but that never changes his appeal. He is still super interesting and a ton of fun to play. The downside to this iteration is that unlike a lot of other titles during this generational transfer, this is a standalone game and not a free upgrade. That said, the additional content and visual upgrades make it worth checking out.
Rest assured the core game remains intact. Dante, Nero, and V’s main stories and content are all here, and still feel as good as they did in the original release. If you want to check out what we had to say about that original outing, you can read my original review of the game right here.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: XSX (reviewed), XSS, PS5
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
Vergil’s return is a welcome one. It is also vastly different from the original flow of the game. Instead of switching between characters like in the original, Vergil gets the entire campaign to himself. Going through the same levels would normally be boring, but Vergil’s unique playstyle and repertoire of moves really change the flow of the game. Bosses that were designed with V’s unique summon abilities feel entirely different with Vergil’s melee combat. It is also great to get yet another style to master. DMC V had some intricate combo systems. Learning all new ones with Vergil makes the game feel fresh.
The Special Edition comes with various graphics modes. The first is the 4K ray-tracing mode which limits the frame rate the most. I really enjoyed the look of this mode, but the cost of frame rate was simply too much. DMC lives and dies by a smooth experience and the trade off here is just not worth it. The 60 fps mode is the sweet spot, and the game still looks amazing. There is also a 120fps mode for those with a TV that supports it. Sadly, it is not locked on either of the new consoles, so it is hard to recommend over the buttery smooth 60fps mode.
These new consoles also deliver near instantaneous loading times. Remember those tips the game served up while waiting on the next level to load? Those are pretty much gone now. This makes jumping into ‘just one more level’ so much more appealing. This is easily the biggest highlight of this version of the game.
For those still not upgrading to the new consoles, the Vergil DLC is coming at a later date to the original game. I do wish Capcom had at least made some sort of upgrade path for original owners to this version though. While these upgrades are certainly worth picking up the game for those that never played it, some players won’t find enough here to justify another full purchase. Still, even with those caveats Devil May Cry V Special Edition is a rocking pack that really showcases the new hardware, while still remaining one of the best action games ever created.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
