I have not made it a secret that I am a big fan of Bayonetta. I could wax poetic for days about the love I have for it, and over the years I have written a lot of content about Bayonetta-related things. Now with Bayonetta 3 releasing on Switch in October, Let’s go back and take a look at the port of the game that started it all.

For people who have not played the game before, Bayonetta puts you in the gun-heeled shoes of the titular heroine. Bayonetta is an Umbra Witch who has awakened after five hundred years, and must pursue her lost memories while fighting for her future and the future of the world. Don’t be fooled by the over-sexualized heroine, or the over-the-top aesthetic. Both of these things were meticulously crafted, and if you give the game a chance you’ll find a solid action game underneath.

The story, as with most games created by Hideki Kamiya (aside from Okami), is a bit out there and definitely carries on the over-the-top nature of things. Nonetheless, it does a nice job of building up a world, with supplementary lore scattered throughout each of the game’s chapters.

Many people who haven’t played Bayonetta look at it like a clone of the Devil May Cry series, and in a lot of ways the combat and progression are similar. You go through levels, fighting enemies, collecting halos from angels (as opposed to orbs), and over time collecting weapons that enhance your combat capabilities and change how you fight. Bayonetta is a combo-focused game in the same way that DMC is, but Bayonetta improves on the DMC formula in a few ways.

The main way that it improves on the standard action formula is in the concept of Witch Time. There are plenty of games that execute a “slowdown” if you dodge at the right time, but Bayonetta’s feels intuitive and allows you to deal large amounts of damage to enemies in a very short amount of time. Combining that with the versatility of being able to equip weapons to Bayonetta’s hands and feet, makes the game versatile and endlessly customizable. You should always be able to find a playstyle that works for you and take on the enemies with your own style and flair.

Flair and style are a big part of Bayonetta. I normally don’t talk all that much about the concept of “game feel” but with this particular game, I feel that it is important to express how unbelievably good Bayonetta feels when you play it. There is something about the combination of stringing combos together, dodging attacks, and doing unbelievably brutal (and sometimes lewd) assaults on enemies that feels far better than any DMC game I’ve ever played.

On top of that, Bayonetta’s soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. I am not really all that obsessed with soundtracks, but the rendition of Sinatra’s “Fly me to the Moon” that is used throughout the game (and during combat) ranks high on my list of video game music. Additionally, the lore and design of the game is so polished and memorable, while the Nintendo Switch displays the game beautifully on either the tablet screen or on a TV. Now that I have gushed over how much I adore the game, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of things that relate to this version as opposed to other platforms.

Bayonetta on Switch feels far smoother and more polished than any version of the game I’ve ever played. The controls are solid, and I found that even though I haven’t played the game in a while, it was easy for me to dive back into. With that being said, I have played through Bayonetta a dozen times on a few different platforms, so I am used to the way the game plays. Casual gamers will probably have issues with the game though. The action is difficult and designed for people who are willing to take the time to learn the mechanics and get comfortable with them.

Despite saying this, you will not have to fight the controls to get them to respond to your commands. Even players that aren’t used to action games should have the ability to learn through trial and error, and eventually get comfortable in Bayonetta’s shoes. The Nintendo Switch port (like the Wii U version before it), has touch screen capability for you to play on the tablet, tapping the screen to move, dodge, and attack. Personally, I think this is a bad idea, as the game plays quite well with the joycons. Nevertheless, if you’re someone used to touch controls you may want to give it a try.

It is important to note that there are no visual problems that I have encountered with Bayonetta on Switch, unlike the PS3 version which had a few screen-tearing issues. It looks great on the Switch, and I might be wrong, but a part of me feels like the colors and the designs are richer in the Switch version than in any previous version to date.

Also from the Wii U version are costumes based on popular Nintendo characters such as Link, Samus, Peach, and Daisy. Each costume provides unique thematic changes, such as the Link costume changing Shuraba into the Master Sword and Halos into Rupees. Other changes consist of the Peach and Daisy costumes turning Bayonetta’s wicked weave attacks into Bowser’s fists (also making halos into coins), or the Metroid costume changing her guns into Samus’ arm cannon.

The only real problem that I have with Bayonetta, is a gripe that I have had on every version I play. There are certain sequences where a Quick Time Event will appear out of nowhere, and cause you to fail if you don’t press the button in time. This causes you to lose a life, and reflects negatively on the score at the end of each level.

Other than that, I can honestly say that the Nintendo Switch version of Bayonetta is the best version I’ve ever played. It looks good, sounds good, and you can even take it on the road! If you are a fan of the series, or if you are a DMC fan that owns a Nintendo Switch, this is a must-buy. This also holds true if you are an action game fan that just wants something solid to take with you on the go.

With Bayonetta 3 coming in October, this is the perfect time to get back to the original. You could play them both before the third game releases. Admittedly, I’m curious to find out if Bayonetta 3 will have Nintendo-specific costumes as well. Either way, you should definitely check this out beforehand.

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Bayonetta

$39.99 USD

9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• Fantastic Gameplay
• Fun characters
• Nintendo Costumes in Switch version
• Great enemy designs
• Smooth controls

Cons

• Difficulty can be steep for beginners