Bayonetta 3 is incredible fun, with an unattractive downside
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Hello, you all know me now. I'm the Bayonetta fan. Pretty much one of the first things I said to GamesBeat staff when I got hired was that Bayonetta is my favorite game. I've been waiting for Bayonetta 3 for so long, and the others were kind enough to let me be the one to talk about it for the site.
This is not officially a "review", by the way. I didn't want to rush my reading of Bayonetta 3. First of all, I didn't get the game until after it launched, so my review would have been behind everyone else anyway. Second, I haven't played a new Bayonetta game in eight years. I wanted to enjoy the experience. But the downside is that it's a bit too late for an official score.
Also, if I were to write the review, it would be mostly praise. I love this game so much - the majority, if I'm being honest. I'm sure it's no shock. But I managed to identify a big problem I have with the game, and it led me to a handful of small complaints. So let's talk.
What to Love About Bayonetta 3 (aka Most)The essence of Bayonetta is its fast and fun action gameplay, and it's just as good in the third game as before. Bayonetta has a nice suite of new moves and weapons, some of them even wilder and wackier than the ones we've seen in previous games.
The most important new abilities are Demon Masquerade and Demon Slave. Demon Masquerade replaces Bayonetta's Wicked Weaves by directly channeling her familiar demons for a handful of new powers and combos. With Demon Slave, she draws said demons from Inferno to directly fight her enemies, the logical endpoint of her climax abilities. It adds yet another layer of spectacle and strategy to the already complex combat system.
Jeanne returns, and in a major change, her sections are not thinly veiled reskins of Bayonetta's own levels. No, she actually has her own 2D stealth action settings where she infiltrates. It reminds me of the levels from the first Space Harrier game, in that it's a fun gameplay change that feels like someone's homage to their favorite game. I only wish there were more of these levels - or heck, give Jeanne her own derivative title.
The story of Bayonetta 3Viola, the new playable character, turns out to be a much more competent and interesting character than it first appears. I was ready to fire her as Loki from this game, a new "little one" to complain to Bayonetta every time she comes in to save them. While Viola isn't above a bit of whining, she has her own skills, distinct from Bayonetta's, which were fun to play on her own. His character design also grew in me after a while.
Missed a session of GamesBeat Summit Next 2022? All sessions are now available for viewing in our on-demand library. Click here to start watching.
Hello, you all know me now. I'm the Bayonetta fan. Pretty much one of the first things I said to GamesBeat staff when I got hired was that Bayonetta is my favorite game. I've been waiting for Bayonetta 3 for so long, and the others were kind enough to let me be the one to talk about it for the site.
This is not officially a "review", by the way. I didn't want to rush my reading of Bayonetta 3. First of all, I didn't get the game until after it launched, so my review would have been behind everyone else anyway. Second, I haven't played a new Bayonetta game in eight years. I wanted to enjoy the experience. But the downside is that it's a bit too late for an official score.
Also, if I were to write the review, it would be mostly praise. I love this game so much - the majority, if I'm being honest. I'm sure it's no shock. But I managed to identify a big problem I have with the game, and it led me to a handful of small complaints. So let's talk.
What to Love About Bayonetta 3 (aka Most)The essence of Bayonetta is its fast and fun action gameplay, and it's just as good in the third game as before. Bayonetta has a nice suite of new moves and weapons, some of them even wilder and wackier than the ones we've seen in previous games.
The most important new abilities are Demon Masquerade and Demon Slave. Demon Masquerade replaces Bayonetta's Wicked Weaves by directly channeling her familiar demons for a handful of new powers and combos. With Demon Slave, she draws said demons from Inferno to directly fight her enemies, the logical endpoint of her climax abilities. It adds yet another layer of spectacle and strategy to the already complex combat system.
Jeanne returns, and in a major change, her sections are not thinly veiled reskins of Bayonetta's own levels. No, she actually has her own 2D stealth action settings where she infiltrates. It reminds me of the levels from the first Space Harrier game, in that it's a fun gameplay change that feels like someone's homage to their favorite game. I only wish there were more of these levels - or heck, give Jeanne her own derivative title.
The story of Bayonetta 3Viola, the new playable character, turns out to be a much more competent and interesting character than it first appears. I was ready to fire her as Loki from this game, a new "little one" to complain to Bayonetta every time she comes in to save them. While Viola isn't above a bit of whining, she has her own skills, distinct from Bayonetta's, which were fun to play on her own. His character design also grew in me after a while.
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