Bayonetta 3

About

Bayonetta 3 is an action-packed game for Nintendo Switch, where the powerful Umbra Witch, Bayonetta, battles a mysterious evil using her signature guns, time-slowing ability, and new Demon Masquerade feature. She summons demonic darlings to unleash their powers in epic battles across various locations, including Tokyo and China, meeting new characters along the way. This climax action game promises an unforgettable experience filled with exhilarating combat and captivating storytelling.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews

story13 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The combat system is refined and offers a variety of weapons and mechanics, making it engaging and fun.
The game features beautiful graphics and impressive set pieces that enhance the overall experience.
Bayonetta 3 retains the over-the-top style and charm of the previous games, providing a satisfying action-packed adventure.

The story is convoluted and lacks depth, with many players feeling disappointed by the narrative direction and character development.
Gameplay sections featuring the new character Viola are often seen as tedious and less enjoyable compared to playing as Bayonetta.
The game suffers from performance issues on the Switch, including frame drops and camera problems during intense action sequences.

story
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
71%
10%
The story of Bayonetta 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment compared to its predecessors. Critics note that the narrative feels convoluted, lacks coherence, and often detracts from the overall experience, despite some acknowledging its emotional moments and engaging action. Overall, while the gameplay remains strong, the story is seen as the weakest aspect of the game, failing to resonate with fans of the series.
- “The story is engaging, off the rails, and a total blast.”
- “Bayonetta has a fairly crazy story but it’s still enjoyable.”
- “The story starts amazingly with a lot of emotional impact and also ends with a lot of emotional impact (in my opinion).”
- “Overall, this is not a bad game by any means--I really enjoyed it--but, primarily because of the story, it was a bit of a let-down, especially when considering how great Bayonetta 2 is.”
- “The worst aspect of the game is the story, which felt much tamer yet darker than the rest of the series.”
- “This is not only the weakest story in the Bayonetta series, but maybe in any big game release Nintendo has ever done.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The gameplay in Bayonetta 3 is widely praised for its fluid controls, deep combat mechanics, and the introduction of new features like the demon slave and demon masquerade, which enhance the overall experience. While the game offers a variety of playstyles and maintains the series' signature fast-paced action, some players found the sections featuring alternate characters, particularly Viola, to be less enjoyable. Despite minor technical issues and a lackluster story, the gameplay remains a standout aspect, delivering an engaging and chaotic experience that fans of the series will appreciate.
- “The gameplay is pure perfection.”
- “The combat is extremely deep, with tons of combos and weapons, not to mention some of the new mechanics, like demon slave.”
- “Bayonetta's core gameplay is outstanding, weaving fluid controls together with incredible weapon variety and tons of fun mechanics to play around with.”
- “I dreaded her gameplay sections; I just wanted to keep playing with Bayonetta, yet they forced me to use her.”
- “On a mechanical level, the Switch just couldn't render the game in a playable way - there are frame drops, the jumping hasn't been fixed; the story was a lot of nonsense.”
- “They continue to use an open world map that isn't really alive, is very bland, and just slows down the gameplay.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the polished visuals and eye-catching artwork, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking detail, particularly in character models and environments. Many users express disappointment that the graphics do not fully utilize the potential of more powerful platforms, like PC, and note performance issues in handheld mode. Overall, while the game features impressive moments, it struggles with consistency and quality across different aspects of its graphical presentation.
- “The graphics are well polished.”
- “Amazing graphics!”
- “As for graphics and visuals, they’re total eye candy.”
- “Just wish we got a PC port to see all the beautiful artwork, scenes, and more in the way we were supposed to see rather than ported down in order for the Switch to handle it.”
- “Graphically, this looks on par with something for the PlayStation 3, the way the environments look glued together with no blending and the character models glossy but unremarkable.”
- “The graphics are definitely a bit outdated, and this may simply be a result of it being a Nintendo Switch game.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
Overall, the optimization of the game on the Nintendo Switch is a mixed bag. While many players appreciate the solid performance and impressive visuals in both docked and handheld modes, there are notable performance issues, including frame rate dips and visual strain during intense action sequences. The aging hardware contributes to uneven performance, particularly in combat and during large enemy encounters, but many still find the game enjoyable despite these hiccups.
- “I think the graphics and performance are fine.”
- “With solid performance in docked and handheld modes, impressive visuals, non-stop action, and a hugely replayable campaign that's a joy from start to finish, this really is a huge celebration of everything we love about Bayonetta, an action all-timer and one of the gaming highlights of 2022 so far, on Switch or any other platform.”
- “[a deliriously over-the-top campaign, an absolute blast from beginning to end, infernal demons and multiple protagonists elevate the series' combat to new highs, bigger levels with more open space to investigate and explore, tons of replayability through challenges, collectibles, and unlockable modes, solid performance, looks and sounds great docked or portable, Jennifer Hale nails it.]”
- “This would be 11/10 if Nintendo had a more powerful advanced system as this game hits the Switch's maximum performance, and this can be noticed when fighting big enemies.”
- “Aging Switch hardware means that the performance is uneven; however, the difficulty curve can sometimes swing a little too far toward 'punishing.' Still, if you’ve been eager to join the titular witch on her latest adventure, you probably won’t be disappointed.”
- “Some of the gimmicky battles bring the pacing down, and dreaded, but ubiquitous Switch-related performance issues remain.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as superb and an instant classic, while others feel it is a significant step down from previous installments, becoming distracting over time. Overall, many players appreciate the integration of music with gameplay, highlighting its role in enhancing the fun and immersive experience.
- “I will also mention I am loving the soundtrack and will be picking it up once released.”
- “The soundtrack is also superb.”
- “The gameplay feels amazing, every bit of music is incredible, and the game overall is just a fun new experience.”
- “The soundtrack is a huge step down from 2; the fanciful combination of jazz-influenced J-pop and the cinematic orchestration veers way off into a direction that gets distracting the more and longer you listen to it.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Bayonetta 3 is characterized by a mix of witty banter and quirky character interactions, particularly with Bayonetta and Luka. While some players find the humor engaging and a continuation of the series' charm, others feel it can become repetitive and lacks freshness. Overall, the game maintains a snarky sense of humor that complements its vibrant cast, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “Bayonetta’s character is funny and cool.”
- “If they switched all of Viola's running around with Jeanne doing the same thing, adding in some funny moments with the rest of the cast, I think this game would have been the game I was waiting for for the last 7 years.”
- “Bayonetta 3 takes what worked about the first two games and continues to refine it, from the balletic combat, to the diverse assortment of wacky characters, to the snarky sense of humor.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, featuring a vast multiverse narrative, diverse gameplay mechanics, and numerous collectibles and unlockable modes. Players can enjoy replayable chapters, epic boss battles, and extensive customization options, all enhanced by stellar voice acting and impressive visuals. Overall, it offers a thrilling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “A deliriously over-the-top campaign, an absolute blast from beginning to end, infernal demons and multiple protagonists elevate the series' combat to new highs, bigger levels with more open space to investigate and explore, tons of replayability through challenges, collectibles, and unlockable modes, solid performance, looks and sounds great docked or portable, Jennifer Hale nails it.”
- “Expansive story full of unique locations, over-the-top moments and scenes, epic boss battles, action-packed demon combat, fantastic customization and outfit options, photo mode, replayable chapters, optional collectibles, stellar voice acting, Hale does a great job as Bayonetta.”
- “With solid performance in docked and handheld modes, impressive visuals, non-stop action, and a hugely replayable campaign that's a joy from start to finish, this really is a huge celebration of everything we love about Bayonetta, an action all-timer and one of the gaming highlights of 2022 so far, on Switch or any other platform.”
- “The expansive story is full of unique locations, over-the-top moments and scenes, epic boss battles, action-packed demon combat, fantastic customization and outfit options, photo mode, replayable chapters, optional collectibles, and stellar voice acting.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspects of the game tedious, particularly during chapters featuring Viola, whose less responsive controls and challenging mechanics detract from the experience. The overall gameplay is marred by repetitive boss battles and a lackluster villain, making the grind feel more laborious compared to playing as Bayonetta.
- “Additionally, the chapters where Viola is the playable character are somewhat tedious, as she doesn't control as well as Bayonetta, and triggering Witch Time is much more difficult.”
- “It's a game that revels in its spirited excess, yet suffers from a tedious villain and new characters that simply do not measure up to Bayonetta.”
- “[Visual performance issues, tedious kaiju boss battles]”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its strong emotional resonance, featuring a captivating story that begins and concludes with significant emotional impact. Players appreciate the blend of engaging gameplay mechanics and a narrative that is both epic and absurd, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- “The story starts amazingly with a lot of emotional impact and also ends with a lot of emotional impact, in my opinion.”
- “The gameplay features perfectly tuned melee combat, new tactical demon-summoning skills, and an epic, absurd, and emotional story.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is praised for its outstanding set pieces and consistent design that evolves through different eras, maintaining the style of the previous games while incorporating thoughtful adjustments.
- “The set pieces are outstanding, and the character design maintains the style of the past two games while incorporating adjustments for the different eras you experience throughout the game.”