Bayonetta 3

After an extended development cycle and recent controversy surrounding voice actor pay, Bayonetta 3 finally launches on the Nintendo Switch

Bayonetta 3 feels like a gambler going all in - it's everything that was good about the last two games, except dialled up even further. This is an all-singing, all-dancing return for the bullet witch.

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. Aging Switch hardware means that the performance is uneven, however, and 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.

Platinum Games has long been looked at as a leader in the character action genre, and Bayonetta 3 is a prime example of why. It’s fast, reflex intensive, and features challenging combat that allows for a ton of creativity and expression when it comes to the ways in which you’re able to dispatch your enemies. Both its story and its performance on the Switch are less than ideal, but neither are issues that are substantial enough to get in the way of its top-tier combat, out-of-this-world weapon variety, and inimitable style. This is a far more ambitious sequel than its more iterative predecessor, and that ambition more than pays off. The new Demon Slave summoning system and several other changes to how weapons work help reinvigorate what remains one of the best combat systems throughout all of video games.

Endlessly satisfying combat, tons of weapons and combos, bags of collectibles and a firm-but-fair ranking system make Bayonetta 3 highly replayable. Sadly, the Nintendo Switch struggles to keep up, often taking the shine out of the game’s more ambitious moments.

Bayonetta 3 is the third instalment of the series, featuring new playable characters and a wide array of beautifully designed monsters. The ability to control Demon Slaves is endlessly fun and running around as Bayonetta feels very fulfilling. While this game does have its flaws, I think it’s a hack-and-slash that almost anyone can play.