Official Review Nintendo Switch Updated

Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (Nintendo Switch)
Official GBAtemp Review

Name: Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition
Item: Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition
Rating: 7.5
Author: Prans

Product Information:

Release Date (NA): February 20, 2020
Release Date (EU): February 20, 2020
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genres: Action, Adventure

Game Features:

Single player

Local Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Co-operative

First released as a PS2 title, Devil May Cry 3 is now back in its revamped version with some new features for the Nintendo Switch. Is this new Special Edition version the one that we’ve been waiting for?

attachFull198409

Devil May Cry 3 (DMC 3) follows the never-ending feud between Sparda’s sons: Dante and Vergil. In this opus, we are given control over a young, pizza-eating Dante in his yet-unnamed shop at a time before the events of the first game take place. Nevertheless, young Dante is as cocky as he is fit, spewing snarky remarks to whoever he comes across, be it gigantic monstrosities, evil bosses or ladies not-in-distress. In other words, it’s Dante in his pure form.

His brother Vergil on the other hand, stoic as he is evil, is hell-bent on opening the portal to the demonic world from the Temen-Ni-Gru tower and unleash mayhem in the human world. He has at his side the mysterious Arkham who is hiding more than he is letting on.

Dante has to foil their plans on his own while confronting innumerable evil creatures as he makes his way through the tower where his nemesis resides. But he is in for more than he bargained for as he comes across some twists in the antagonists’ original plans...

attachFull198413

If you’ve played any title from the series (except for DMC 2), you’ll know what to expect: fast-paced shooting and slashing with over-the-top action scenes. DMC 3 stays true to this classic DMC formula. It will have you climb to the top of a tower, only to get engulfed by a flying-eel-thing named Leviathan inside which creatures reside and its organs are the subjects of boss fights, of course. It’s filled with ludicrous moments like a boss who upon defeat turns into a guitar that allows you to conjure bats or Dante surfing on a missile. It's as over the top as Devil May Cry gets and DMC 3 delivers. The game will have you slashing and gunning down evil creatures (which are quite varied) as you make your way through the game, unlocking new weapons and even fighting styles (4 are available from the get-go while 2 styles become available much later) so that you can combo kill hordes of demons in style. It's like a nightmare that's fun to blast through.

One of the most noteworthy additions to this edition is the Freestyle Mode which allows you to swap fighting styles on the fly. In the original DMC 3, you could only do this at those shiny Divinity statues where you can buy items and upgrades but I cannot imagine playing the game in this way (although you can swap to this mode on the Switch as well). DMC has always been about fast-paced demon butt-kicking action, and styles and combos play a central part in it all, without which it wouldn’t be an authentic DMC title. DMC 3: Special Edition makes the combat system feel even more seamless thanks to the Freestyle mode, allowing you to swap between fighting styles which fit your style, when you want it.

The Special Edition also brings along the “Bloody Palace” survival mode with a new feature in the Switch version: local co-op. This allows players to control one of the two sons of Sparda in order to survive the hordes of demons as they progress through the 9,999 floors. It proves to be a fun addition, adding replay value to the title.

attachFull198424

Despite the enhancements, DMC 3 remains a 15 year old game (yes, it’s been that long). While the character sprites’ visuals have been reworked, the background and pre-rendered cutscenes are a reminder of how far we’ve come graphically. For those whose eyes might hurt from the dated graphics, you'd better stick to handheld mode on the Switch.

It still features “puzzles” requiring surgical precision to master which are more pesky than enjoyable. Mission 17 is a perfect representation of this where you’ll have to jump on moving and rotating floating cubes just in time so as to progress. Then there’s the Trial of Techniques which you’ll encounter twice and will have you zigzag in a precise way so as to avoid massive spears coming from all directions in a hallway.

attachFull198427

Those graphics were actually pretty impressive back in 2005!

Speaking of repetition, there’s also way more backtracking than I would have liked and it's made shamelessly obvious. The reused assets and re-exploring the same painfully familiar rooms of the Temen-Ni-Gru tower or even outside of it feel cheap coming from the developer’s side.

Another pain in the back is the weird camera angles. You can easily be going straight ahead only to be surprised to see the camera shift unexpectedly to view Dante from the front. This caught me off guard whenever it happened and it kept happening in every single mission from start to finish. It might have been acceptable in the PS2-era but unfortunately, it’s a painful reminder that it’s a game from yesteryear with features I never got used to.

attachFull198432

I've been here before... might as well do a pole dance while I'm at it!

Maybe I’m asking for too much from a PS2-era game because I was spoilt by Devil May Cry V, a game which I loved and which might be clouding my judgement. Nevertheless, DMC3 is a Devil May Cry game through and through but its age shows even with its welcome additions. The Nintendo Switch version is a flawless port and is definitely the version you should play if you want to get back to this decades old title. Just be prepared to face features from past decades as well.

Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition - Launch Trailer

Verdict

What We Liked ...

Freestyle mode enhances gameplay
Retains Devil May Cry formula of fast-paced fun action
Fun local co-op addition to Bloody Palace

What We Didn't Like ...

Confusing camera angles
Backtracking
Pesky puzzles
Dated pre-rendered cutscenes and background graphics

Gameplay

Despite the great Freestyle mode addition, the main game is held down by some annoying puzzles and even more annoying camera angles throughout.

Presentation

Devil May Cry 3 is one of the series' greatest but despite revamped character sprites, pre-rendered cutscenes and backgrounds remind us that it's a 15 year old game.

Lasting Appeal

Its high-octane fun hack-and-slash makes DMC 3 an easy title to come back to and the Bloody Palace’s local co-op addition will provide lasting fun.

7.5

out of 10

Overall

Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition for the Nintendo Switch offers the fun, fast-paced, over-the-top action that's characteristic of a Devil May Cry game but carries with it unwanted remnants that reminds us it's not a new game, despite its new features.

Reactions: Silent_Gunner and Meteor7

Meteor7
Mar 4, 2020

The game apparently runs at a consistent 60fps as well, in case anybody's curious. I've yet to try it myself, so I couldn't say if there's any framepacing issues or the like, but it's at least safe to expect 60fps.

Reactions: DS1, Prans and Silent_Gunner

Prans
Mar 4, 2020

Meteor7 said:
The game apparently runs at a consistent 60fps as well, in case anybody's curious. I've yet to try it myself, so I couldn't say if there's any framepacing issues or the like, but it's at least safe to expect 60fps.

no issues with the fps encountered on my side. it's a flawless port!

Reactions: Meteor7

Prans said:
no issues with the fps encountered on my side. it's a flawless port!

It's better than a port, it's the definitive edition of the game with the new additions.

Reviews

Hardware
MelGeek CYBER01 Magnetic Switch Rapid Trigger Gaming Keyboard

Today for review, we’ll be taking a look at the latest gaming keyboard from Meltek, the CYBER01 magnetic switch offering!
Hardware
GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC

Claimed to be the world's most cost-effecient i9 Mini PC, we check out the latest from Geekom.
Hardware
Kospet Tank T3 Ultra

Tough enough to navigate and conquer the rugged wilderness.
PlayStation 5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

The Turtles are back for their umpteenth game outing, but is this one worth it?
PlayStation 5
Alone in the Dark (2024)

Alone in the Dark is a Survival Horror game available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC.

More reviews

Product Information:

Game Features:

Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition - Launch Trailer

Verdict

Overall

MelGeek CYBER01 Magnetic Switch Rapid Trigger Gaming Keyboard

GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC

Kospet Tank T3 Ultra

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

Alone in the Dark (2024)