4 Things We Want to See in Bayonetta 3

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.

Interactive Environments

Amid the frantic fire fights and hair stilettos crushing enemies into dust, one couldn’t be blamed for missing the beauty of both Bayonetta 1 and 2’s settings. From modern cityscapes to holy temples of old to the infernos of hell, each location is a marvel in its own right. Throw in the depth offered by the game’s Trinity of Realities mythos and the amount of potential worlds to explore literally triples.

And yet when all is said and done, each location can feel a bit static when all they do is serve as a backdrop to the action. The player enters an area, fights their way out and then moves onto the next stage without any real impact or interaction. To this end, it would be incredible if the third game could offer worlds and stages which feel like the player is interacting with. This could mean anything from allowing players to warp into different realities at will, to making stages destructible to better show the impact of climax spells and attacks. Who wouldn’t want to leave a zone laid to rubble following a particularly powerful climax spell?

A Bigger Arsenal

As much fun as Bayonetta’s trademark pistols are to use, being able to experiment with the rest of her weapons to see how they impact one’s combos makes the game’s combat that much more fun. Peppering an enemy with gunfire before slicing them to ribbons with a katana, or blowing them away with a shotgun blast before triggering a torture attack, is exhilarating and keeps the gameplay varied enough that it doesn’t feel stale.

Moving forward though, it would be even more fun if the third game boasted the largest selection of potential weapons yet. Not only would it help the game stand apart from the entries that came before it, but it could help the game stay that much more varied for players who want to experience everything the game has to offer.

New Climax Attacks

One of the series’ main attractions, the climax attacks are the hair magic-fueled overkill which make the game’s combat a joy to see. Nothing can compare to the feeling of topping off a perfect combo with an otherworldly fist launching an enemy into the wall, shattering them into a shower of halos.

With that in mind, a good selection of new climax attacks could elevate the game to further heights. Plus, considering that there’s already been climax attacks where Bayonetta’s hair turns into a bomber plane, the possibilities are endless: A herd of hair buffalo? Sure! A chainsaw cage? Why not? Imagination is the limit, and we hope Platinum Games lets theirs run wild while they’re designing the third game’s new offerings.

What are some things you want to see in Bayonetta 3? Let us know in the comments section below. For more on the Bayonetta series, check out our feature on why you should buy the first two games’ rereleases on Nintendo Switch.