We reviewed Devil May Cry 5 back in 2019 when it originally launched on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and we had PLENTY of good things to say about it, including:
“With its perfect blend of exhilarating and fine-tuned combat, the intriguing narrative full of fan service, and its simply stunning presentation, Devil May Cry 5 has really managed to hit the pinnacle of the action genre. I’ll be the first to admit that I’d started to think that titles like Bayonetta were starting to outshine Capcom’s demon-hunting series a little, but this newest entry has managed to exceed anything that has come before it.”
That’s pretty high praise. We absolutely loved the game, so when it was announced that it would be launching on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as the ‘Special Edition’, we were very excited – especially with the promise of some sharp visual enhancements as well as additional content.
I don’t need to go over everything about Devil May Cry 5 here though, right? You can read our original review through this link if you want to find out our thoughts on the story and overall gameplay mechanics. In this review, we’ll be looking specifically at Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition and the improvements it brings to the newly released consoles.
One of the most significant additions brought to Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is the ability to play as the villainous Vergil, with Dante’s brother reverting from his antagonist role to star through the main story as the hero. Whilst it would have been easy for Capcom to have just made him another button-mashing super-stylish badass demon killer though, they’ve instead presented him in a manner where utilising his cool and calm persona is more rewarding.
This is thanks to his Concentration Gauge, which rewards players who minimise movement as Vergil by increasing his power and granting access to additional abilities. I’ll admit, it was a little tricky resisting running into enemies carefree and slicing and dicing away, but it plays into his character well and gives you a new way to approach the game. Besides, he has also got a warp attack that can be performed by launching his sword at enemies, so it’s certainly viable to keep movement limited.
Outside of that, he has access to three weapons (the Yanmato, the Beowulf Gauntlets and the Mirage Edge) which he can switch between freely to pull off wild and stylish combos, whilst he can even momentarily take on the role of V and perform a special attack that utilises all of his dark and deadly creatures. Of course, there’s also the Devil Gauge too, which allows Vergil to transform into a devil to dish out PLENTY of hurt upon his foes.
He just really feels like a unique character to play as, with his weaponry and abilities certainly helping him stand out amongst the other three protagonists. Plus, it’s Vergil… the undeniably COOLEST character in the Devil May Cry series (sorry, Dante)… why wouldn’t you want to play as him? He’s a lot of fun to use and he gives Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition players a fresh way to experience the story all over again from the get-go.
Outside of playing as Vergil, Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition also brings with it two additional game modes: Turbo Mode and Legendary Dark Knight Mode.
Turbo Mode bumps the speed of the game up to 1.2x, meaning you’re getting a much faster experience that suits the blissfully frantic nature of the game perfectly. The only real flaw? Going from Turbo Mode back to normal makes everything feel a little slow. That doesn’t mean that it’s not worth checking out though, especially when giving Virgil a playthrough.
Legendary Dark Knight Mode on the other hand bumps up the challenge by not only making enemies tougher but also spawning ridiculous amounts of them on the screen at once. I’m not talking one or two extra enemies either – you’re going to be completely SURROUNDED by them. This may sound a little daunting on paper (and believe me, it is tough) but it feels brilliant in-game. Each of the protagonists bring with them a myriad of attacks that are effective at clearing out large mobs of enemies and pulverising a ton of them at once never stops being satisfying. Much like Turbo Mode, it’s definitely worth trying this mode out just to see how bloody hectic Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition can really get.
Whilst having additional content to play through and a new character to slay demons as is great, one of the biggest things players care about with their new consoles is how good they can make games look. Devil May Cry 5 was already a great looking game, but the Special Edition really bumps things up by strengthening all facets of the game’s visual design. There are multiple options in place that allow you to cater the visuals to your preference too, with things such as a 4K resolution with ray tracing supporting 30fps, 1080p with ray tracing supporting 60fps, or even 1080p supporting 120fps if you prefer. There is no wrong option really, with each making the game look and feel incredible to play… it just comes down to what the player prefers.
Summary
Devil May Cry 5 was already a brilliant game, but the Special Edition’s new additions and revamped visuals manage to make it even better than before. This is the best that the series has ever felt to play, this is the best that the series has ever looked, and now it brings with it all-new slick and stylish ways to experience the game all over again… what more could you want?
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is just an awesome treat for Devil May Cry fans to dive into on their shiny new consoles – you don’t want to miss out on this one.
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S
