Bayonetta 3 wants you to express yourself, darling

polygon.com:

After spending 15 minutes with Bayonetta 3at this year’s PAX West, here’s what sets this new installment apart from its predecessors: openness. This Bayonetta is all about offering more options without compromising on the series’ commitment to non-stop action, extensive combos, and linear core progression.

The first thing I noticed about Bayonetta 3’s combat is that magic takes more of a back seat here. The protagonist now harnesses demonic energy to power her weapons. She also struts onto the scene with two new abilities: demon masquerade and demon slave.

The first ability allows Bayonetta to masquerade as demons and gain their abilities; for example, her old rival Madama Butterfly grants her the power of flight, and Gomorrah equips her with a vicious pair of claws. These transformations don’t last forever, though. They draw from Bayonetta’s magical supply, and once that meter runs out, gameplay returns to the classic combos that players unlock as they progress.

Based on the demo, the game felt well balanced between familiar Bayonetta staples and new demonic powers. But what about those amazing, clothes-ripping ultimates that made the heroine famous (or notorious, depending on whom you ask)? That’s whereBayonetta 3’s demon slave ability comes in — and where the demo truly shined. To tip the scales of battle in her favor, Bayonetta can now summon infernal demons to crush her enemies.

Bayonetta could summon demons in the first two games in the series, but this time, the player can actually control them in combat. Of course, these titans aren’t infallible. They can be defeated in battle, after which they need time to recharge before they can be summoned again. Protecting Bayonetta while controlling a summoned demon