With the first two games in the series now available on Nintendo Switch, we can’t help but wonder what Bayonetta 3 has in store.
A standout series in the hack-and-slash genre, the adventures of the eponymous witch blasting her way through angels and demons is a sight to behold. Wielding pistols attached to all of her limbs alongside melee weapons and supernatural hair-based spells and attacks, players can lose themselves in the stylish havoc of the gameplay for hours on end, and that’s to say nothing of the ridiculously over-the-top set pieces and story moments.
With that in mind, Bayonetta 3 stands at a crossroads. On one hand, it could stick to what’s made the series great and stay the course. On the other, it could build on what’s already established and break new ground, turning its flaws into strengths. We’re hoping for the latter, and these four elements in particular are at the top of the list of things we want to see in the next installment. *Warning: Minor Spoilers for Bayonetta 1 and 2 Ahead*
A New Storyline
As fun as the gameplay may be in both the first and second entries, the overarching storyline always felt like it was trying to catch up with the chaos. True, it offered a slew of zany twists and turns from time traveling allies to amnesiac gods in disguise, but it was often left behind near the end of both games as the action started to ramp up and bust through the atmosphere.
Luckily, Bayonetta 3 finds itself in a new position. Following the end of the second game, the events of the first two titles are wrapped up to an acceptable degree and the main cast of characters have resolved most of their overarching narratives. Going into the third game, the story could then focus on new challenges for the cast to fight their way through, building on who they’ve become while moving past the events surrounding the Umbra Witches and Lumen Sages. Likewise, the game’s have only scratched the surface of what the world holds, and we can only wonder who or what else is lurking in the shadows waiting to tear the world apart.
