Resolution is obviously higher, but the core artwork is stripped from a vintage 2005 game - and it shows in often murky, low-res texture maps. First of all, original textures and effects are all you're getting - there's no sign of any revamp in the assets whatsoever. There are only a couple of drawbacks to this port. In short, the basics are fully covered and it's particularly great to enjoy a classic once more, especially as a mobile experience. Performance-wise, DMC3 hits its targets exactly as it should - it's a locked 60 frames per second from start to finish, with only select cutscenes dropping to 30 (likely down to animation tick rate from the original game). Bafflingly though, there is no effective anti-aliasing on the image most of the time - not even the basic pass you'll find in the PC version of the game. While we're looking at original quality textures, we do get 1080p resolution when docked, dropping to native 720p in mobile mode.

Still, fundamentally Switch brings the same core game as the Special Edition on PS2, though clearly we've come a long way in image quality. With a burst of colour, the role of the B button changes, opening up options for even more lavish mid-air juggles. There's a new Freestyle mode, letting you change Dante's play style on the fly, available right from the start of the game - as opposed to choosing between Trickster, Royal Guard, Swordmaster and Gunslinger types between each level. Switch users also get a significant addition to the main single-player game. It's a neat arcade-style extra - one that but still, the main adventure is the big attraction. Here, you can use the Jo圜ons held sideways if needs be, plus it even lets each player use weapon loadouts from the solo adventure. There's limited two-player support via a co-op mode that has Dante and Vergil surviving waves of enemies in the Bloody Palace. However, with DMC3 there is at least extra work put into the port, where you get Switch-exclusive features. PS4, PC and Xbox One received an HD Collection back in 2018 that provided the trilogy in one purchase, while Switch users (outside of Japan at least) need to buy each conversion individually, amounting to a higher price tag overall.

There is a sticking point in terms of its value on the eShop. The good news is that with the game's recent arrival on Nintendo Switch, we do get an excellent rendition of this classic brawler, but the bad news is that it's still some way off delivering what you might call a perfect port. 15 years after its initial release on PlayStation 2, Devil May Cry 3 is still among the best action games of its kind - but getting a decent remaster for modern systems has proven elusive, with the game receiving a procession of barebones conversions over the years.

Game devil may cry 3