Bayonetta 3 Is Getting Rid Of Its Most Controversial Element
Bayonetta 3 will finally remove the most controversial element of the series, but fans might not actually be too happy about it.
The eponymous heroine from the Bayonetta gaming titles is known for her unique fighting styles, long hairy, sexy moves, and sassy comebacks — the latter of which is perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the game’s dialogue. Of course, not everyone’s comfortable with Bayonetta’s sultry fighting style, which is why the game’s developer, PlatinumGames, decided to introduce a new censorship option to the upcoming Bayonetta 3 video game.
During the reveal of Bayonetta 3‘s release date, scheduled for October 28, both Nintendo and PlatinumGames revealed the upcoming game’s graphics mode that actually censors sexually graphic content in a rather inconspicuous way. Instead of pixelated filters that are usually associated with in-game censorship (best known from The Sims titles), the Naïve Angel Mode will censor the heroine’s more “liberal” fighting style by keeping her fully clothed at all times throughout the gameplay and cutscenes.
PlatinumGames even joked about gamers finally being able to enjoy a Bayonetta title in the living room without having to worry about what’s on the screen. That’s a good way to alleviate any awkwardness associated with playing somewhat controversial Japanese gaming titles filled with fan service. This makes the game less awkward for gamers who aren’t comfortable with nudity and more accessible to younger generations of gamers who can still enjoy the action-packed Bayonetta 3 without being exposed to sexually graphic content.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Bayonetta 3 would be censored at release — after all, Nintendo isn’t aiming to disappoint its fanbase. With the Naïve Angel Mode disabled, Bayonetta 3 will still feature just as much nudity and sexual expression as originally intended by the developers. However, gamers (or their parents/guardians) can now toggle the Naïve Angel Mode on or off, which effectively censors Bayonetta 3 when activated.
Needless to say, the diehard fans of the series have some very strong opinions regarding the censorship of their favorite titles. Part of the fandom states that the censorship of Bayonetta 3 is wrong because Bayonetta is known for her confidence and sexuality. Embracing the censorship is seen as counterproductive by the fans advocating against it, as it paints the picture of Bayonetta being ashamed of her nudity instead of embracing it.
Some even reacted by asking why the gore in Bayonetta 3 was being ignored, yet Bayonetta’s nudity was deemed unacceptable for some players. According to them, the game is rated M by the ERSB, so gamers objecting to nudity should already be aware of the Bayonetta 3‘s content before even purchasing the game. It would seem that the vast majority of the fan base is against censorship, which isn’t even imposed on the game.
Instead, any form of censorship of the Bayonetta 3 title is optional, and those who are comfortable with slaughtering enemies with sexual torture devices can continue to do so. Thanks to the newly added option, however, those who want to enjoy the story of the upcoming game without any overly-revealing details can do so as well. Ultimately, the added option only makes the game more accessible to broader audiences, and to those that object — live and let live, you can always turn the Naïve Angel Mode off.
Bayonetta 3 is expected to release on October 28 on Nintendo Switch, whose owners just got an important warning from Nintendo.
