Bayonetta 3 | Review

Initial Release Date: October 28, 2022

Series: Bayonetta

Mode: Single-Player

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Developers: PlatinumGames, PlatinumGames Inc.

Publishers: Nintendo, Nintendo of America Inc.

Genres: Fighting Hack and Slash Action-Adventure

Introduction: Bayonetta 3 to me is Platinum’s best action game, save for Vanquish. It’s been years since I conquered Bayonetta 2 on the Nintendo Wii U back in 2014. Before that, I beaten Bayonetta on my Playstation 3 in 2009.

In my experience, each iteration of Bayonetta has improved upon the past attempts culminating into what we have now in Bayonetta 3. The reason I fell in love with Bayonetta was because she is a supermodel who could perform witch-time and summon demons! I’m kidding.

I’m not here to sexualize Bayonetta or any fictional character. I am too old for that. I am here to write about Bayonetta 3 and why I know it’s the best game platinum has ever made. Bayonetta 3 improves upon the first two iterations for a number of reasons.

Bayonetta 3 does however take a step back in it’s visuals and graphics. Like how the hell did Bayonetta 3 look worse than Bayonetta 2? Well, keep reading to find out why. As Cereza aka Miss Bayonetta says, Lets Dance!

Presentation: Bayonetta 3 is grandiose. More gameplay more mechanics, more content, action set-piece sequences etc. Story is bigger and more interesting than the previous iterations. There was less racier mature sexual content as compared to previous games but present in a few cutscenes.

There is an option to turn off sexual mature content in the settings FYI. Many games when they reach that third and final iteration usually don’t live up to the hype and scores. Bayonetta 3 really does manage to pull off it’s best Bayonetta for it’s third and “final” time.

Aside from the subpar visuals which do look like a launch Xbox 360 game it ran well performance-wise most of the time with occasional dips now and then. Bayonetta 3 presents itself as a high-octane rollarcoaster action game based around hack’ n slash gameplay mechanics and witch-time. Besides of the lackluster visuals I can’t argue with Bayonetta 3’s mission in it’s presentation of it being a great action game.

Story: *SPOILER ALERT* Bayonetta 3’s story revolves around stopping Singularity aka Dr. Midmyers Sigurd. After a Homunculi attack in New York, Manhattan Bayonetta, Enzo, Rodin and Bayonetta’s daughter Viola are thrusted into a quest to stop Singularity.

Bayonetta must find five Chaos Gears that are used to open a portal to the Alphaverse where Singularity resides. Through time and space Bayonetta tracks down the five Chaos Gears only to realize the Alphaverse was a decoy all along. Singularity’s main target is earth.

Viola’s mission (Bayonetta’s multiverse daughter) revolved around trying to rescue and contain her father Luka Redgrave who’s been corrupted into the demon beast known as Strider. Jeanne (Umbran Witch) also has her hands full with her own side missions that revolve around finding Dr Sigurd in 2D Elevator Action styled espionage games.

Bayonetta’s 3’s story relies heavily on the idea of the multi-verse that’s filled with Bayonetta variants and other characters like Jeanne and Enzo. Bayonetta runs into many forms of herself while traveling through time and space to collect the Chaos Gears. Luka Redgrave is seen throughout the story who is following a mysterious voice.

Rosa, Cereza’s “mummy” is featured in a mission in Paris where she hunt’s a Chaos Gear with variant Jeanne and Inspector Enzo on their tail. Somehow, the variants in Bayonetta and it’s multiverse worked. Each Chaos Gear is from another time and space so it makes sense I guess.

After Bayonetta collects all five Chaos Gears she soon realizes with the help of daughter Viola that Dr Midmyers Sigurd (who Jeanne rescue) is Singularity himself. Singularity’s sole purpose is to perform his “Phenomena” on planets throughout various times and dimensions.

For a Bayonetta videogame I thought this had the best story out of all of them. I found it entertaining but quite easy to follow. I mean, most people will realize who Singularity is the second they see Dr Sigurd. So yea, story helped facilitate the gameplay and action set-piece sequences in Bayonetta 3 nicely.

Gameplay: Big improvement here. Bayonetta has always predicated it’s gameplay on style points and ranks ranging from Stone to Pure Platinum. I managed to get a Stone and Pure Platinum rank in Bayonetta 3. I know I suck.

The gameplay loop of playing as Bayonetta, her variants, Viola and Jeanne in her Side Missions was masterful. It all came together perfectly. Bayonetta 3 introduces Demon Slaves as “Infernal Demons” you can unleash and control in Verse gameplay sequences.

The Demons are intrinsic to the story ranging from a Kaiju Godzilla style battle to solving puzzles. Bayonetta takes the bulk of Demon Slaves for herself in-game. Some of my favorites were Madama Butterfly, Gomorrahand and Malphas. I unlocked Demon Slave Labolas at the end of the story campaign but haven’t used it yet.

The Homunculi are the main enemies you fight in game. They consist of humans mixed with demons via Singularity. Bayonetta 3 also sprinkles in various moments where you fight Angels and Demons from the previous Bayonetta games.

I enjoyed taking down the Homunculi which were varied from mega super large to very small. You have tank, support and attacker homunculi types. You fight Iridescent homunculi which is a mega large homunculi that spans the first few chapters of the campaign.

You also have grunt Homunculi such as Stratus. As you progress through Missions you will face stronger variants of each Homunculi. Maps range from all types of settings and appearances which take place through time and space. Gameplay sequences uses the “Verse” set-up like past games.

Exploring maps in missions pays off in many ways like finding challenge modes, items, keys to unlock gates that store valuable items etc. Exploring also nets you puzzles involving the Congestus homunculi that manipulates time and space turning Bayonetta into a child puzzle solver.

Skills and techniques are unlocked by acquiring seeds throughout the missions. Other currencies include Halos for buying items in Rodin’s Gates of Hell shop. You can upgrade weapons, demon slaves as well mix and match weapon combos of each.

There are many weapons and customizable features that can change Bayonetta’s look and feel. You can purchase accessories that help Bayonetta’s combat prowess in the Gates of Hell. Furthermore, you can buy items to change Bayonetta’s appearance such as hair color and her outfit.

Weapons were different mechanically and traversal abilities. You start out with Colour My World which is the typical guns set-up. Soon after you can acquire a G-Pilar which is like a heavy club that uses a different type of demon.

I personally enjoyed all of the weapons in Bayonetta 3. The Yo-Yo, Dead End Express, Ribbit Libido, Simoon and Tartarus where all great and felt very different mechanically. Bossfights were spectacular featuring action set-pieces only Platinum can think of. Bayonetta 3’s gameplay loop was perfect and never got stagnant in my opinion.

Viola is the second main you play as in Bayonetta 3. She is the new generation of the franchise after all. At first, I was getting my ass handed to me playing as Viola. The second I started going all Devil May Cry Dante with her she clicked with me. Viola aka “Riot Girl” coined by Luka Redgrave is badass once you get the hang of her combos and traversal.

Viola can air dash from enemy to enemy on the fly activating witch-time through her sword parry or other means (accessories). Viola has her own demon slave Cheshire that fights automatically when summoned. When you play Viola as Viola she is her own action protagonist. She’s young, but I can why Viola is the next “Bayonetta”.

Visuals/Graphics: Hands down the weakest part of Bayonetta 3 is it’s visuals and graphics. This is my reason why I downgraded the score. I know so superficial of me right? But it’s true, Bayonetta 3 looks like a launch Xbox 360 game if not WORSE!

I have no technical clue or know- how, but Vanquish which is a 2010 two generation ago game looks better to me. Bayonetta 3 looks like ass as if it took a hammered shit. Just saying. The art-style I did appreciate however. I loved Bayonetta’s, Jeanne’s and Viola’s look throughout. The Homunculi were also designed nicely albeit they all had the same color.

Sound/Music: I kept track of the Hellena Taylor saga prior to release. All I’ll say is that Jennifer Hale nailed Bayonetta’s voice role period. Full stop! Bayonetta 3 features plenty of dancing, music, dialogue and witch conjuring sequences.

Viola, Luka, Enzo, Rodin, Jeanne and Singularity’s voice actors did a solid job. Music choices were good and got me hyped to fight. When Viola’s punk music kicked up I was like “LET’S GO!”.

Final Verdict: Bayonetta 3 is Platinum’s best game and Nintendo Switch’s best action game to date. I am thinking perfect scores across the board if this game had stellar graphics for the Switch. Also, Bayonetta 3 is the largest game in the series with more content and replay value.

I’d say it took me a good 15 hours to complete the story on my first try. Before I forget, gameplay can be viewed @ Bayonetta 3 Video Playlist if you are interested. So to conclude this review. Buy it!