In 2009, Sega and PlatinumGames released the first Bayonetta as an over-the-top action game similar to Capcom's Devil May Cry franchise. The first Bayonetta earned rave reviews from critics, but unfortunately, it fell short of Sega's sales expectations. The franchise would have been dead right then, but Nintendo stepped in to help fund and publish Bayonetta 2, securing the game as a Wii U exclusive in the process. Once again, Bayonetta 2 enjoyed critical acclaim but middling sales, and so Bayonetta 3's confirmation as a Nintendo Switch exclusive at The Game Awards 2017 came as a shock to fans who were sure the titular witch's action-packed adventures were behind her. Five long years later, Bayonetta 3 is finally out on Switch, and it stands tall as yet another must-play entry in the underappreciated franchise.
Bayonetta 3 retains the same kind of extreme action gameplay that fans have come to expect, with skilled players able to effortlessly dodge enemy attacks, activating the franchise's signature time-slowing Witch Time mechanic to deal devastating combos. Along with her returning powers, Bayonetta has important new abilities in Bayonetta 3 that make her vast move-set even deeper, as she now is able to fuse with her demon summons instead of only using them for finishing moves.
By fusing with the demons she collects throughout the game, Bayonetta gains access to new traversal mechanics and attacks, with the option to purchase even more abilities through the skill tree. Every single Bayonetta/demon combo has its own skill tree, allowing players to invest in the demons they feel most comfortable with. The demons themselves are tied to specific weapons that Bayonetta uses in her default form, and those all have their own quirks, moves, and uses to keep in mind as well. Players that take the time to memorize Bayonetta's extensive suite of combos will have an absolute blast tearing through the enemies in each stage, though her abilities also have uses outside of combat.
Not only does Bayonetta 3 offer the deepest move-set in franchise history, but it also has the densest levels, all of which are filled with hidden enemy encounters (called "Verses" in the game), collectible items, puzzles, and platforming challenges to complete. Bayonetta 3's puzzles are all fairly basic and easy to solve, and the platforming can be annoying with Bayonetta's fast-paced movement, but otherwise it's nice to have some breaks from the relentless action sequences.
Variety is really the name of the game in Bayonetta 3. Not content to only have players explore stages and complete Verses like normal, Bayonetta 3 throws in jaw-dropping set-pieces and massive-scale kaiju battles for good measure. Bayonetta is able to use a new power called Demon Slave to take direct control of the massive demons she summons, all of which have their own attacks and skill trees, giving players near-endless options when it comes to combat.
Taking direct control of Bayonetta's demons leaves her open to enemy attack, so players aren't able to simply spam them and get out unscathed. There's a layer of strategy here for players who want to get the highest score possible in each Verse. Overall, Demon Slave adds a lot to the experience and gives Bayonetta 3 a distinct identity from its predecessors in terms of core gameplay, plus it's simply fun to see all the demons that can join Bayonetta's roster. The best, most outlandish ones won't be spoiled here, but early demons include a huge Godzilla-like monster, a lava spider, and the humanoid Queen Butterfly, who happens to be the size of a building.
Using her demons, guns, and combos, Bayonetta mows down endless hordes of enemies both old and new. There are a handful of scrapes with enemies pulled from the previous two Bayonetta games, but most battles are fought against the Homunculus. Homunculus are primarily made of green goo and take various forms over the course of the game, though fans may be underwhelmed by them. The creepy-looking angels of Bayonetta's Paradiso are far more interesting from a visual standpoint, and the design of the Homunculus actually telegraphs one of the story's plot twists.
In terms of gameplay, Bayonetta 3 is perhaps the best the series has ever been, but the story leaves a lot to be desired. Bayonetta 3's plot is nonsensical, even for Bayonetta standards, throwing itself head-first into the multiverse fad that's been dominating media for years now. Bayonetta 3 uses the multiverse for some cool moments, but it all gets off to a slow, plodding start with over-long cutscenes, lots of exposition, and poorly-written dialogue. Bayonetta 3's ending is also going to leave a bad taste in many fans' mouths, though others may be interested to see where it all goes from here.
Fan favorite characters from previous Bayonetta games return for Bayonetta 3, and they're fun to see again, at least. Bayonetta's longtime friend Jeanne has her own set of side-scrolling stealth missions that are plenty fun in their own right, and Rodin is once again manning the store where players can spend Bayonetta 3's various currencies to buy helpful items, accessories, and more.
Luka and Enzo are back this time, too, and they're joined by new character Viola. Multiple chapters have players take direct control of Viola, who has her own set of moves, though she's not nearly as versatile as Bayonetta. Viola throws darts instead of shooting guns, and her main weapon is a sword. Instead of dodging enemy attacks to activate Witch Time, Viola has to parry incoming hits by blocking at the last possible second.
Viola's combat is more challenging than Bayonetta's, and while some may be frustrated by it, those that manage to get in a rhythm will find that it can be incredibly rewarding. Viola may not have nearly as many attacks or abilities as Bayonetta, but she's still fleshed out enough that it would have been possible to build an entire game around her. Viola does not have access to all of Bayonetta's summons, but she does have her own summon in the form of a demonic Cheshire cat that is fully capable of wreaking havoc on enemies unlucky enough to get caught in his path.
Viola's Cheshire cat and the other demons in Bayonetta 3 all look great. The action runs at 60 frames per second and rarely dips regardless of how busy the screen is with enemies, explosions, or special effects. The game pushes the Nintendo Switch hardware to its limit, though some may still be disappointed in the graphics in some areas. Blurry textures combined with bland color choices in a few stages sell the game's visuals short, but most of Bayonetta 3'sx visual drawbacks are likely due to the increasingly-outdated Nintendo Switch hardware.
It took five years for Nintendo Switch gamers to get their hands on Bayonetta 3, and it was well worth the wait. If Nintendo decides to fund a sequel, then it seems likely that Bayonetta 4 will wind up on the next-generation Nintendo console, and perhaps that entry can address this one's sometimes-disappointing graphics and story problems. Platinum apparently has ideas for at least nine Bayonetta games, and if they're even half as good as Bayonetta 3, they should all be an incredibly fun time.
Bayonetta 3 is available now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Bayonetta 3
- Released
- October 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Bayonetta 3 is an action, hack-and-slash game developed by Platinum Games for the Nintendo Switch. Players again take on the role of the Umbra Witch Bayonetta, players explore the island of Thule to battle against man-made threats called Homonculi. New to this game are the Demon Slave and Demon Masquerade mechanics, which lets Bayonetta control and directly fuse with a summoned demon.