Review: ‘Bayonetta 3’ manages to turn up action way beyond 11

“Bayonetta” has always been a little extra. It’s a franchise that has dazzled gamers with a hypnotic blend of combat and level design, but what makes the series stand out is its distinct brand of action.

Calling it over the top would be criminal because so much more is going on. Yes, the Umbran witch rides a missile with ease, surfs tsunami waves on an ocean liner and exudes calm as she battles enemies while a temple crumbles around her. All that is impressive but her punches, kicks and gunplay are laced with an effervescent style that can’t be found in any other game. Bayonetta will pummel her foes clad in high heels while dancing with smile.

“Bayonetta 3” is a game that starts with a bang and just keeps sprinting forward as it brings in a mysterious entity called Singularity, which has been going around the multiverse destroying alternate realities and fusing them with his own world — the Alphaverse. Each time, he defeats another version of Bayonetta and takes over until one day he meets a version of the hero who gives him trouble.

INTERDIMENSIONAL TRAVEL
That’s the protagonist of this iteration, and through the campaign’s 14 chapters, players will battle Singularity as he and Bayonetta fight for five Chaos Gears scattered through other parallel realities. It’s the only way the Umbran witch can enter his dimension and presumably defeat him.

To access the alternate universes, she and a new character named Viola, a dimensional traveler, head to the island of Thule, which acts as a nexus for other realities. It’s the gateway in which players meet other Bayonettas and try to help them. It takes players to locales such as Tokyo, Paris and worlds inspired by Egypt and China.

The adventure is interspersed with side stories starring Jeanne, Bayonetta’s best friend. Jeanne has her own mission, to find Dr. Sigurd, who can use the Chaos Gears to access the Alphaverse. These missions are in 2-D and reminiscent of classics such as “Rolling Thunder,” albeit with updated stealth gameplay. The levels break up the rollicking chapters featuring Bayonetta.

A NEW ALLY IN THE FOLD
Another new addition is the playable character of Viola. She’s a novice Umbran witch and wields a katana. She’s more difficult to use compared to Bayonetta because she requires players to block attacks at the last second to activate the key Witch Time ability, which slows the surrounding world so players can safely damage adversaries.

It takes anticipation and quick-twitch timing to pull it off effectively. Viola’s attacks also have a lot of wasted animation that players will need to dash out of in order to be successful. The higher skill level required to use Viola contrasts well with the polished movements from her veteran counterpart. Unfortunately, it can also be jarring when players become used to Bayonetta’s playstyle and are transferred over to the newer character in another chapter.

MASTERFUL AND REFRESHING GAMEPLAY
As for Bayonetta herself, Platinum Games gives her plenty of new techniques and abilities that make her a joy to play. Aside from her balletic moves, she now has a Demon Slave ability, which she uses to call on creatures to do her bidding, and players control them to add another layer to combat. The one caveat is that she can’t move while players control the creature, leaving her open to attacks. They’re also used in puzzles and to augment combos.