Bayonetta 3 is right around the corner and is one of the most anticipated games for the remainder of 2022. First revealed at The Game Awards in 2017, fans have been waiting patiently for the upcoming third installment. It's been a long time coming, but the game will finally launch on October 28, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Playing the first two Bayonetta games is a great way to prepare for the third title. However, suppose you need some more games to hold you over before the launch date. In that case, there are plenty of other titles that Bayonetta fans will enjoy.
10 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a 2013 action game developed by Platinum Games and is a spin-off from the Metal Gear series. Focusing on Raiden, you slice 'n' dice and meticulously cut through tons of enemies along with a rouges' gallery of villains.
While Metal Gear Rising is short, and the controls can be difficult to get used to at first, the game has a spectacular combat system and features some of the best bosses in all of gaming. Metal Gear Rising is still available on online retailers like Steam and the Microsoft Store and is worth a short playthrough during the wait for Bayonetta 3.
9 God Of War: Ascension
God of War: Ascension was the last game in the series to feature the traditional hack and slash gameplay before moving onto a third-person camera perspective with 2018's God of War. The combat was a revised and expanded version of what was seen in God of War III, making it the best combat of the PlayStation 3 entries.
Unfortunately, Ascension remains one of the most forgotten entries in the series. Ascension was also not ported to the PlayStation 4, meaning you must play the title via cloud streaming from PS Plus Premium or play the game on a PlayStation 3 to experience this gem.
8 Killer Is Dead
Killer Is Dead was made by Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda51, the developers of No More Heroes. While the combat is nothing deep or rich, the game is more of a return to Suda51's roots with its noir style. The dark tone and noir style make the title much more interesting than the last couple of Grasshopper games released prior.
If you're into games that prioritize style over substance, then Killer Is Dead is a play, as long as you can get past those embarrassing dating missions.
7 Ninja Gaiden II
Ninja Gaiden II is an Xbox platform exclusive only available on Xbox 360 and via backward compatibility. In the action game genre, this title is one of a kind. NG2 features some of the most hectic and fast-paced high enemy count fights in the action game space.
Keep in mind that if you are used to games like Bayonetta, it might take some time to adjust to how the game plays. While NG2 launched on the Xbox 360, you should not play this game on that device due to the poor frame rate and noticeable screen tearing. Playing Ninja Gaiden II on an Xbox Series X offers a locked 60fps at a near 4K resolution the entire time. Even last-gen Xbox consoles will offer solid performance.
6 Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry 5 is the most recent entry in Capcom's celebrated action game franchise. The game features the return of Nero and Dante, along with some other familiar faces, and introduces the new character V.
DMC5's combat is by far the best in the series, with the most tools and mechanics to play with yet. The story is gripping and satisfying for longtime fans of the series. Although the level design is incredibly linear, Devil May Cry 5, especially on the next-gen consoles, is worthy of a playthrough during the wait for Bayonetta 3.
5 God Hand
God Hand is the final game developed by Clover Studio and was directed by Shinji Mikami, Co-Creator of Resident Evil. The game is unique in that it's a third-person brawler with quasi-tank controls, but it all works together. The enemies and levels are designed around the control scheme, so the game rarely feels cheap.
However, God Hand is a difficult game and will test your skills. Humor in the game is quite dated, and the length is a bit too short, but God Hand is still worth a short playthrough. What might not be worth it though is the price, which is well over $100 for a physical PlayStation 2 copy.
4 Vanquish
Vanquish is a third-person shooter by Platinum Games and was Shinji Mikami's first and only title at the studio. You play as Sam Gideon, a former star college football player who must use his guns, powers, and advanced suit to defeat hordes of enemies and large robotic bosses.
The movement and gunplay are satisfying, and the game actively discourages the standard cover shooter play style. You're rewarded by leaving cover and taking enemies head-on. The shift in gameplay can make you puzzled at first, but upon getting into the grove of it makes it that much more rewarding. Vanquish often goes for sale on online retailers and is worth a purchase during the wait for Bayonetta 3.
3 Ninja Gaiden Black
Ninja Gaiden Black is the ultimate version of the genre-changing 2004 reboot of the series and is another Xbox platform exclusive. NGB combines the 2004 base game and the two downloadable hurricane packs to make the definitive version of the game and adds even more content on top of it.
The game is refreshing compared to most other Japanese action games in how it has a Soulslike interconnected world instead of linear levels. The combat is meticulous in how you must be careful about what attacks you perform since you can't cancel out of moves. There may be no other game that handles difficulty better than NGB, with its well-executed easy mode and higher difficulty options that will test even the most hardcore of gamers.
2 God Of War II
God of War II is a late PlayStation 2 title coming out shortly after the launch of the PlayStation 3. Despite the poor timing, God of War II is the peak of the classic era of the series. The game offers a beefy single-player campaign and delivers the richest and most rewarding combat in the classic era of God of War.
God of War II also has one of the most effective cliffhanger endings in all of gaming that made players hyped for the third entry. Unfortunately, only God of War III and the 2018 title are playable natively on a PlayStation 4 or 5. If you want to play through the entire series, you will need a PlayStation 3 for the best experience.
1 Devil May Cry 3
Devil May Cry 3 is the earliest game chronologically in the series. It features Dante in his youth tangled in a conflict with his brother Virgil that could lead to disastrous consequences for the world. While DMC3 doesn't have the best combat in the series, it delivers the best total package.
The combat is solid, the bosses are varied, and the level design is more intricate. You will want to explore these levels more than the linear hallways of something like DMC5. The story is executed very well in an anime style that makes you feel all the emotions it wants you to. The best version to get is the Nintendo Switch port which offers on-the-fly weapon and style switching along with local co-op.
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