Bayonetta 3was announced the same year as the Switch’s launch year aka 2017. It was a cool announcement to end the year on. Then things went quiet and five years passed before the game would actually launch. Thankfully it did meet expectations as another fun, action-filled entry intheBayonettaseries.
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Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonis like a cherry on top of a cherry. TwoBayonettagames released relatively close to one another? It’s like a miracle. Now,Bayonetta 3is the superior action game, but there are thingsBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demondoes better. It doesn’t mean the prequel is superior overall, but these features do deserve highlighting. There will be no spoilers.
6The Art Style
Bayonetta 3has the solid, fluid motion one would want in an action game. The frame rate performs admirably on the Switch, but there is an issue. The game doesn’t look that good for being a 2022 release. The first twoBayonettagames were on older consoles and then ported to the Switch.Bayonetta 3looks like another port in that same realm.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, on the other hand, looks absolutely gorgeous. Usingcel-shading in gamesis helpful to make them stand the test of time better. In ten years,Bayonetta 3will look dated, butBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwill still shine in the sun. The art style makes it look like a storybook come to life.
5A Better Understanding Of The Lore
The story for the main trilogy is all over the place and is hard to follow. This seems like a series where the action comes first in the planning phase and the storyboarding is like an afterthought. The introduction of the multiverse inBayonetta 3, specifically, was a cool idea and there are plenty of jokes to laugh at.
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Bayonetta 3, overall, lacks heart despite the story trying to jam a loving relationship in there between Bayonetta and her daughter, Viola.Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demondoes have a lot of heart. It also is very clearly defined and helps fill in the gaps with the literal origin of Bayonetta, aka Cereza. It even fills in other holes in the lore like why Bayonetta needs hair to summon demons.Sometimes prequels canmuddy the waters, butBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonis a case where it is beyond helpful.
4Puzzles Done Right
Putting puzzles inpure action gamescan take some players out of the experience. There wasn’t a lot of them inBayonetta 3, butthey did indeed feel like they got in the way at times. They weren’t so much hard as they were unnecessary.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwas designed to be apuzzle action gamefrom the start, with both gameplay elements taking up equal time in the story. Actually, the puzzles are more prominent inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonthan inBayonetta 3. They are better designed too, with some real head-scratchers at times. None of them, thankfully, are as tough as other puzzle games likePortalthough.
3Meaningful Upgrades
Players can upgrade Bayonetta and Viola inBayonetta 3, although they don’t have standard skills trees likein most RPGs. Players instead invest in buying moves to help flesh out the characters' combat selection. Players can buy moves inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonas well for both Cereza and Cheshire.
However, these moves feel more meaningful and necessary for survival. There are also some good exploration upgrades like one that allows Cereza to run. It’s not like the skill trees inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost DemonblowBayonetta 3out of the water as they’re both going for different things. However, comparatively, it feels more exciting to get that next upgrade inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon.
2A Good Reason To Replay ASAP
EveryBayonettagame in the series has a wealth of unlocks to keep players interested in playing even after the campaign wraps up. There are costumes to collect, more moves to buy, and so on. BetweenBayonetta 3andBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonspecifically, the prequel gives players the best reason to start a new game right away.
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They will gain access to Jeanne once they finish. Players can then go on a separate journey with Jeanne and her own version of Cheshire. She’s a bit more powerful than Cereza in terms of her binding magic, but both primarily play the same. To get the true ending, it’s necessary to play as Jeanne. It’s not an earthshaking new campaign, but it is better than anything inBayonetta 3for unlocks.
1A World Worth Exploring
Bayonetta 3is more open than any of the other main games in the trilogy, which is great on paper. However, the problem is that there was no map in the game at launch. This made looking for secrets and keeping track of pathways frustrating.
It seems like theteam at PlatinumGamesseemingly learned from their mistakes becauseBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonhas maps and a wealth of knowledge built into them. The world in the prequel is one ever-evolving forest. It’s a lot like a Metroidvania since players will gain new power-ups for Cheshire which will then allow the pair to traverse new areas. The sense of exploration, overall, feels much more complete inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwas released on August 05, 2025 and is available on Switch.
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