Bayonetta 3 Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

by Jim Smale · Published November 15, 2022 · Updated June 25, 2023

For our Bayonetta 3 Review, we find out that it has been Eight years have passed since Bayonetta graced us with her presence. Get ready for the latest and long-awaited third installment of the non-stop climactic action experience. Mysterious life forms appearing to be neither angels nor demons are ravaging our world. Bayonetta, the omnipotent witch, is here to save our world which is on the verge of destruction.

Bayonetta 3 Review Pros:

Stunning graphics.
14.3GB download size.
Own in-game achievements and they pop up on the screen when earned.
Action gameplay.
Controller settings – four layouts and vibration.
Camera settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders, camera speed, camera distance, battle camera tracking, and camera tracking.
Japanese and English voice choice.
Bonus rewards for having Bayonetta 1 and/or Bayonetta 2 save files.
Subtitles and control hints options.
3 difficulties – Casual, standard, and expert.
Accessory to make simple combat controls is optional and can be turned on and off at any time from a menu.
Naive Angel Mode – (optional) core game is unchanged but lessens the violence and gore.
New voice actress.
Much bigger areas to play in.
In-game cutscenes.
Full photo mode with focal length, aperture, logos, filters, light position, and Hud options.
New playable character – Viola.
In between chapters you can change the difficulty and save.
The opening credits are pretty well done.
End of encounter breakdown showing combo, score, health lost, and rank.
New enemies have a cool little scroll reveal.
Summon demon slaves and control them in battle. It does leave Bayonetta vulnerable as she stands still.
Replay completed levels and choose which checkpoint to start from.
Combine summons into combos.
Witches time – dodge at the last second to get a short slowdown time effect.
Awesome-looking enemies and characters.
Memorable set pieces.
Cutscenes and gameplay are seamlessly transitioned.
The climax is like an over-the-top execution/finisher move that requires a lot of button-mashing.
Exhilarating soundtrack.
Familiar controls.
Runs at lightning speed.
You can equip up to 3 infernal demons at one time and automatically swap between them in battle and combos.
Semi-open world approach.
Craft healing and boosting concoctions from the menu.
Little courier pets will scamp around, and kill them to get extra loot.
Hells Gate is the shop to buy items, Weapons, and accessories.
Trials can be found where it has unique rules and enemies, you generally team up with an Ai character and get rewards.
Increase your health bar with witch hearts, magic bar with moon pearls, or learn new skills with orbs earned from combos and infernal demon armor breaks.
World map level select presented as a dart board in a certain respect, throw darts at your location or at the many things around the map.
Umbran tears can be earned from 3 animals carrying them in a level but it’s not easy.
The World of Bayonetta 3 is where you can view, watch and listen to items you find in the world like songs or concept art, etc.
Online ranking leaderboards.
Training mode lets you practice against any character and you have unlimited and full use of all items and gear allowing you to try them out before buying.
Practice attacks during loading screens.
Destructible parts of the environment can sometimes drop materials.
Can replay trials for unique rewards.
The game has a lot more creature/animal-based set pieces.

Bayonetta 3 Review Cons:

New voice actress.
Just throws you straight in with no idea about controls or anything.
A lot of button mashing.
Combat takes some getting used to, especially with combos.
You need Nintendo Switch online to view the rating leaderboards.
The bonuses for having previous game saves have to be bought in-game.
No way to view the achievements.
A lot of the menu stuff unlocks over time.
The camera gets a bit funky in combat.
Not all the characters are that likable.
The volumes sound off from low voice to high music making cutscenes hard to understand.

Bayonetta 3:

Official website.

Developer: Platinum Games

Publisher: Nintendo

Store Links –

Nintendo

9/10
Graphics - 9/10
8/10
Sound - 8/10
8/10
Accessibility - 8/10
8/10
Length - 8/10
8/10
Fun Factor - 8/10

8.2/10

Summary

Bayonetta 3 had controversy before it even launched! The original voice actress got offered less money and then we heard that was not true then this and then that. Anyway, I’ve covered it sorted. Bayonetta 3 is a ball to the wall Devil May Cry who? The game has upped its game tenfold. Bayonetta has always been a nonstop action game full of over-the-top combos and special moves but now they have added in vehicles and rideable creatures and so much more. Levels are bigger allowing more exploration, it gives it an almost open world feel with secrets all over the place. What I do like is that when the action kicks off it is as good if not better than before and you jump from setpiece to setpiece each time upping the ante. I appreciate that they put fewer quick-time events in and allowed me to just enjoy the bombastic story of Multiverse’s shenanigans. We get a new character Viola who as a character is kinda annoying but is still a good addition. Upgrades and secrets wise it’s business as usual and little has changed but having any sort of familiarity can only be a bonus. I found the game to run better docked than handheld but I’m also sicker for a controller over the small joycon on my OLED. I whisper this but I never really noticed the change in the voice, crazy I know but for me, Bayonetta herself just felt different in her mannerisms and had more innuendo than before and wasn’t as sassy as before but that’s not the voice that’s the writing. Overall I’m glad I played through it and I did enjoy it but later on, it got quite intense so I had to take breaks from it but with familiar controls and gameplay it’s a game you can keep coming back to.