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Bayonetta 3

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Bayonetta 3
Developer(s)PlatinumGames
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Yusuke Miyata
Producer(s)Yuji Nakao
Makoto Okazaki
Genki Yokota
Toyokazu Nonaka
Designer(s)Akiteru Naka
Programmer(s)Daichi Amano
Artist(s)Yuki Suda
Writer(s)Hideki Kamiya
Yusuke Miyata
Yuya Jin
Akiteru Naka
Composer(s)Naofumi Harada
SeriesBayonetta
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseOctober 28, 2022
Genre(s)Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Bayonetta 3[a] is an action-adventure game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was directed by Yusuke Miyata and produced by Yuji Nakao, with the Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya as executive director. It was announced in December 2017, and was released on October 28, 2022.[1][2] The game follows the titular angel-hunting witch Bayonetta, who must face against man-made bioweapons called Homunculi, and an entity known as the Singularity which threatens to destroy the multiverse. She is assisted by an ensemble of characters, including a coven of alternate universe versions of herself; and a new witch-in-training named Viola.

Following its initial announcement at The Game Awards 2017, news on the game went dormant while PlatinumGames worked to release games such as Astral Chain, which was developed concurrently. The game had its first full reveal with gameplay in September 2021 during a Nintendo Direct presentation. Bayonetta's original voice actor, Hellena Taylor, was replaced by Jennifer Hale after a pay dispute that would draw media coverage. The game received positive reviews, with the combat systems, gameplay innovations and overall improvements, though the story and camera received minor criticism.

Gameplay

See also: Bayonetta (video game) § Gameplay, and Bayonetta 2 § Gameplay

Bayonetta 3, like its predecessors, is an action hack and slash game in which players control the eponymous protagonist Bayonetta as she combats various enemies using a combination of melee attacks and gunplay. Dodging enemy attacks at the last second triggers a state known as "Witch Time", during which time and enemies slow down, allowing Bayonetta to continually attack them without interruption, or traverse in real-time to solve environmental puzzles. Unique to this game are the "Demon Slave" and "Demon Masquerade" mechanics, the former of which differs from the preceding Climax Summon and Umbran Climax features in the first two titles, and instead allows players to take direct control of one of Bayonetta's Infernal Demons to perform various attacks and special abilities, some of which are advantageous to particular scenarios depending on the demon being controlled. The latter meanwhile, allows Bayonetta to directly fuse with a summoned Infernal Demon, granting her access to magic-based abilities.[3]

In addition to the game's standard presentation, a new display mode known as the "Naive Angel Mode" is introduced. This mode conceals displays of nudity during gameplay and cinematics, such as Bayonetta's various dances to summon her Wicked Weaves using her clothing as a conduit, as well as the more graphic designs of certain enemies and demons.[4]

Premise

With the help of old and new allies, including her alternate selves and a witch-in-training named Viola, Bayonetta must confront and defeat mysterious man-made threats known as "Homonculi" while travelling to the island of Thule, in order to prevent the destruction of various worlds by an evil entity known as the Singularity.[5][6][7]

Development

In July 2013, PlatinumGames executive and series creator Hideki Kamiya responded to a fan question on Twitter regarding the likelihood of a third game in the Bayonetta series in the event the then-upcoming Bayonetta 2 was a success, stating, "I hope so".[8] Bayonetta 2 director Yusuke Hashimoto was interviewed by the magazine outlet GamesMaster, during which was asked about what game sequels he would like to work on, to which he answered that he had "all kinds of ideas" in mind for Bayonetta 3 in addition to a potential spin-off title.[9][better source needed] In June 2015 following Bayonetta 2's release, Kamiya again responded to a fan inquiry regarding the character Jeanne, and what potential new hairstyles she would look good in following her appearances in the first two games. Kamiya replied, "The answer will be in Bayo 3".[10]

Bayonetta 3 was announced by Nintendo in December 2017 during that year's The Game Awards alongside Nintendo Switch versions of Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2, confirming the title as in development for the Switch in addition to Nintendo's involvement as its publisher.[11][12] Then-President and COO of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aimé remarked on the announcement as celebratory for "the fans who love what PlatinumGames does, and are thrilled to have PlatinumGames back on a Nintendo system".[13] In June 2022, Hideki Kamiya reiterated his recommendation that newcomers play the preceding two games in preparation for Bayonetta 3, as despite there being "no reason why you won't be able to follow the story and enjoy it if you start with Bayonetta 3", he felt that prior experience with the series would help players find the third game "more interesting".[14]

In April 2018, studio head Atsushi Inaba told Eurogamer at the Reboot Develop 2018 conference that Bayonetta 3 would mark a "turning point" for the developer, mentioning that the game would be a "linear core progression action game" in a similar vein to its predecessors.[15] In February 2019 during an installment of Nintendo Direct, Nintendo revealed Astral Chain (2019), another action-adventure title from PlatinumGames for the Switch that was released later that August. Despite the reveal of an additional title in development at the studio however, Nintendo Switch general producer Yoshiaki Koizumi who presented the Direct, would reassure that the game would not conflict with Bayonetta 3's development, stating that PlatinumGames were still "hard at work" on the title.[16]

Inaba was interviewed by Video Games Chronicle (VGC) in May 2019, and described the game's production as an "orthodox development process", additionally remarking that players would be able to easily observe the shifts in the studio's production mentality during gameplay, yet refusing to elaborate further.[17] Inaba was again interviewed by the publication during E3 2019, clarifying the game's status as "going quite well".[18]

Bayonetta 3 was unveiled by Nintendo during a Direct presentation in September 2021, revealing the first look at gameplay and its 2022 release window.[19] The trailer additionally confirmed Yusuke Miyata as the game's director while Hideki Kamiya will be executive director. Miyata's involvement prompted speculation that a mechanic revolving around individually controlling Bayonetta's Infernal Demon summons in combat, was in fact derived from a previously cancelled PlatinumGames project, Scalebound, an action role-playing game published by Microsoft Studios intended to release for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows, as Miyata previously served as that game's lead designer.[20] Fans additionally noted the resemblance between a new character masked in shadow during the end of the trailer, and Scalebound's intended playable protagonist, Drew.[21] A blog post on PlatinumGames' website confirmed additional staff involved in the game, including cinematic supervisors Yuji Shimomura and Masaki Suzumura, as well as artist Mari Shimazaki, all reprising their respective roles from the previous two games.[22]

A second trailer was released on July 13, 2022, confirming the game's October 28 launch date, and key story and character details, notably unveiling the new character Viola, the presence of alternate versions of Bayonetta, and the return of supporting characters Luka, Enzo, Jeanne and Rodin. In commemoration of the game's launch, Nintendo announced that a physical edition of the original Bayonetta on Nintendo Switch would be available in limited quantities on September 30, 2022 via select retailers and the My Nintendo Store. This would be the first time the game was available in a standalone physical format outside the Special Edition box set collecting the first game and its sequel, which released in 2018.[23][24][25]

Voice acting

Hellena Taylor, the voice actress for Bayonetta in previous games, was replaced by Jennifer Hale for Bayonetta 3. Miyata said this was due to "various overlapping circumstances".[26] On October 15, 2022, Taylor released a series of videos in which she said she had refused an offer of US$4,000 for the role, saying it did not reflect a living wage.[27] She urged her fans to boycott the game and instead donate to charity.[28]

On Twitter, Kamiya said that Taylor's statements were untrue, "sad[,] and deplorable". He blocked many Twitter users who responded to his tweet, and then temporarily deactivated his personal twitter, leading to speculation that he was suspended.[29][30] Hale stated on Twitter that while she was in a non-disclosure agreement, she expressed her belief that actors should be paid well, and emphasized her past advocacy for her peers within the profession. She further urged people to keep an open mind about the amount of work that had gone into the game.[31] Hale's involvement drew responses from voice actors such as David Hayter and Steve Blum, who spoke in support of her industry work and due diligence.[32][33] PlatinumGames issued a formal response confirming that they align themselves with Hale's statement; asking people to refrain from disrespecting Hale or any of the contributors to the franchise, and stating "we give our full support to Jennifer Hale as the new Bayonetta".[34]

On October 18, Bloomberg News and Video Games Chronicle reported that Platinum had been prepared to rehire Taylor, offering her between $3,000 and $4,000 per session for five sessions, in line with SAG-AFTRA union rates. The reports said negotiations ended after Taylor requested a six-figure payment and royalties instead, and that Taylor had refused an offer to make a cameo for the fee of one session. Taylor called the report "an absolute lie, and a complete joke" made to "save [Platinum's] ass and the game", and said she wished to be done with the affair and the franchise.[35][36] Despite this, on October 24, Taylor made additional statements on Twitter, stating that her initial offer from Platinum was $10,000, and that she was later offered "an extra 5,0000 [sic]" after reaching out to Kamiya.[37][38] Taylor further stated that she did not hear from Platinum for 11 months after this, and was then given a final offer of $4,000 to "voice some lines".[39] Jason Schreier, the reporter who wrote the October 18 article for Bloomberg News, noted that these tweets from Taylor effectively corroborated the report.[40]

Release

Bayonetta 3 was released on Nintendo Switch on October 28, 2022.[41][42] Alongside the standard physical and digital releases of the game, a special edition box set known as the "Trinity Masquerade Edition" was made available at select retailers, or online through the My Nintendo Store. It features a copy of the game, accompanied by a 200-page, full color artbook with concept illustrations of the game's various demons, and alternate physical cover sleeves for the three Bayonetta games.[6]

Reception

Bayonetta 3 received "generally favourable reviews", according the review aggregator Metacritic.[43]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: ベヨネッタ3, Hepburn: Beyonetta Surī

References

  1. ^ Wales, Matt (December 8, 2017). "Bayonetta 3 is coming exclusively to Switch". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "Bayonetta 3 for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details". nintendo.com. Nintendo of America. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Miyata, Yusuke (September 24, 2021). "A Message from Bayonetta 3 Director Yusuke Miyata". PlatinumGames Official Blog. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Gach, Ethan (July 13, 2022). "Bayonetta 3 Is Out In October, And It's Got A Mode To Make The Game Less Sexy". Kotaku. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "BAYONETTA 3". PlatinumGames Inc. Official WebSite. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Robinson, Andy (July 13, 2022). "Bayonetta 3 will release in October, new trailer confirms". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  7. ^ Life, Nintendo (August 6, 2022). "Bayonetta 3 Rating Reveals New Story And Online Details". Nintendo Life. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Kamiya, Hideki [@PG_kamiya] (July 17, 2013). "I hope so. RT @Patpadi1: if Bayonetta 2 going to be a hit would you think about it to make a third part?" (Tweet). Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Bayonetta 2 director reiterates interest in continuing the franchise". Nintendo Everything. February 15, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Kamiya, Hideki [@PG_kamiya] (June 16, 2015). "The answer will be in Bayo 3 ;) RT @Landynetta: what other hairstyle do you think jeanne would look good with?" (Tweet). Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Kuchera, Ben (December 7, 2017). "Nintendo announces Bayonetta 3 as a Switch exclusive". Polygon. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Roemer, Dan (December 8, 2017). "Bayonetta 1 and 2 are heading to the Switch!". Destructoid. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
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  14. ^ Doolan, Liam (June 8, 2022). "Hideki Kamiya Really Wants You To Play Bayonetta 1 & 2 Before The Third Game". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Purchese, Robert (April 20, 2018). "Hey Nintendo, PlatinumGames wants The Wonderful 101 on Switch". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
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  20. ^ Gilbert, Fraser (September 25, 2021). "Scalebound's Lead Designer Is Now Directing Bayonetta 3 For Nintendo". Pure Xbox. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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  23. ^ McWhertor, Michael; Good, Owen S. (July 13, 2022). "Bayonetta 3 comes to Switch this October, now with more Bayonettas". Polygon. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  24. ^ Reynolds, Ollie (July 13, 2022). "Nintendo Confirms Physical Edition Of First Bayonetta, Launching This Year". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  25. ^ Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (December 8, 2017). "Bayonetta 1 And 2 Are Getting A Special Edition Bundle With All The Trimmings". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  26. ^ Stewart, Marcus (October 5, 2022). "Platinum Games Confirms Jennifer Hale As The New Voice Of Bayonetta". Game Informer. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  27. ^ Foster, George (October 15, 2022). "Hellena Taylor Is Asking Fans To Boycott Bayonetta 3". TheGamer. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  28. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (October 16, 2022). "Bayonetta Voice Actor Hellena Taylor Says She Didn't Reprise the Role in Bayonetta 3 as She Was Only Offered $4,000". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022.
  29. ^ Young, Rorie (October 15, 2022). "Bayonetta 3 Executive Director Hideki Kamiya Responds to Voice Actor's Call For Boycott". Game Rant. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  30. ^ Breslin, Richard (October 18, 2022). "Bayonetta creator deactivated then reactivated Twitter account". GAMEBYTE. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  31. ^ Colbert, Isaiah (October 18, 2022). "Jennifer Hale Speaks Out On Replacing Bayonetta's Original Voice Actor". Kotaku.
  32. ^ Steve Blum [@blumspew] (October 17, 2022). "I don't know anything about this game or the internal circumstances, but I do know that Jennifer does more due diligence than any other actor I've ever known and has always had the backs of everyone in our industry and in her life. (continued)" (Tweet). Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ David Hayter [@davidbhayter] (October 18, 2022). "Absolutely right. To put the blame on another actor is unjust. And Jennifer Hale is the absolute best of us" (Tweet). Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ Welsh, Oli (October 21, 2022). "Platinum steps in to try to calm Bayonetta voice acting debate". Polygon. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  35. ^ Schreier, Jason (October 18, 2022). "A Tense Pay Dispute Overshadows Nintendo's Upcoming Bayonetta 3". Bloomberg News. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  36. ^ Robinson, Andy (October 18, 2022). "Sources dispute Bayonetta voice actor's claims over pay offer". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  37. ^ Hellena Taylor [@hellenataylor] (October 24, 2022). "As I posted on part three of my video thread. I explained that their first offer was too low. That offer was 10,000 dollars total. Remember, this is 450 million dollar franchise, (not counting merchandise.) I then wrote in Japanese to Hideki Kamiya, asking for what I was" (Tweet). Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Twitter.
  38. ^ Hellena Taylor [@hellenataylor] (October 24, 2022). "worth. I thought that as a creative, he would understand. He replied saying how much he valued my contribution to the game and how much the fans wanted me to voice the game. I was then offered an extra 5,0000!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Hellena Taylor [@hellenataylor] (October 24, 2022). "So, I declined to voice the game. I then heard nothing from them for 11 months. They then offered me a flat fee to voice some lines for 4,000 dollars. Any other lies, such as 4,000 for 5 sessions are total fabrications" (Tweet). Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Twitter.
  40. ^ Jason Schreier [@jasonschreier] (October 24, 2022). "Former Bayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor now confirms my reporting that she was offered at least $15,000 and that the final offer was for a cameo, despite the claims in a video that went viral last week:" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Parrish, Ash (September 23, 2021). "Bayonetta 3 finally has a new trailer". The Verge. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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External links

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