Honestly there's a lot to say about this game, but I personally don't feel qualified for all the nitty gritty details, mainly since I've only played Bayo 2 a few months ago for the first time and haven't touched Bayo 1 yet. This feels like game for longtime Bayo fans, though it can disappoint them with how troubled this game is in general. Lot of plot points not amounting to a lot, lopsided focus on the less interesting parts of the story, and critical moments that didn't feel earned. But I feel because I'm not a long time fan of the franchise, these were things I could just brush aside. I've already seen hard-core Bayo fans being pretty split on this one, but to answer why exactly is not something I can do.
So I did like Bayo 2, how was 3? I think, at this moment, I like it as much as 2. Both have their highs and lows, with I think Bayo 3 having higher highs and lower lows. (EDIT: After playing 3 on and off over several more weeks, I'm thinking I like 3 more then 2, but would probably recommend 2 first to a newcomer since 3 feels like your expected to have played the other games beforehand) To get the lows outta the way, as someone who scours every inch of an area in a game for secrets, many places are too big. I feel, not just this game, but a lot of games can get exhausting to hunt for items if there's a lot to find in a huge place. I love exploration, but not when it starts to feel I'm going through the motions or worse, a chore. I feel Bayo 2 had a better balance of size and secrets for a fast paced action game.
While there wasn't any bad minigames, there is still a ton of them. A lot of them are insane in looks and in concept, plus are rarely frustrating, but I'd prefer to see them less often, mostly since I did not buy this game for this spectacle (that's what Asura's Wrath is for), I played it for the combat.
Framerate aside, I think this part of the game is much better then Bayo 2. Umbran Climax was fun to use but didn't require a lot of thought. Demon Slaves offer a lot of customization and options in battle, but your magic meter, standing in place during summoning, and the chance of your demon going into rage mode makes it a tool that you really need to think on how to use it. Won't deny that it can feel like a crutch at points, but I'm unsure how that holds up on the higher difficulties at this point. Plus it adds a lot of player expression since there's a loooooot of demons in this game to choose from, every one of which being huge and very creative. Demon Slaves are honestly the perfect addition to add to the insane spectacle during combat since it really feels like the carnage your causing is from your own doing and not from some scripted event. That's really why I'm just kind of "whatever" about scripted events in these games. Yes, you can't control literal Godzilla during normal combat, but to me manually summoning a giant spider to self-destruct itself and kill everything around it just always feel way better since that was my plan I made during the heat of battle.... and now I'm down a giant spider... oops.
The creativity also extends to the new weapons. At the cost of no longer equipping weapons to your hands and your feet individually (some weapons in the first two games being only for hands OR feet) every weapon now has an entire moveset with their own ways of shooting range attacks, mode of travel, and able to transform into these demon hybrids which can make these weapons looks amazing during a fight. I was going to describe some of them, but frankly I rather leave that as a surprise, even if there's one that I kept on through the whole game for how crazy concept it was.
Right there's the new character too. She's fine... gameplay wise. As a character she's fun, but when actually playing as her she takes a while to get the feel for. Not much to say being real.
So yeah, despite the four stars I'm giving this, I'm truthfully mixed on this game. That might come down to high expectations that were met... but only sometimes. Regardless I did have a lot of fun, even with the problems this and Bayo 2 have I'd be insane to call them boring.
So I did like Bayo 2, how was 3? I think, at this moment, I like it as much as 2. Both have their highs and lows, with I think Bayo 3 having higher highs and lower lows. (EDIT: After playing 3 on and off over several more weeks, I'm thinking I like 3 more then 2, but would probably recommend 2 first to a newcomer since 3 feels like your expected to have played the other games beforehand) To get the lows outta the way, as someone who scours every inch of an area in a game for secrets, many places are too big. I feel, not just this game, but a lot of games can get exhausting to hunt for items if there's a lot to find in a huge place. I love exploration, but not when it starts to feel I'm going through the motions or worse, a chore. I feel Bayo 2 had a better balance of size and secrets for a fast paced action game.
While there wasn't any bad minigames, there is still a ton of them. A lot of them are insane in looks and in concept, plus are rarely frustrating, but I'd prefer to see them less often, mostly since I did not buy this game for this spectacle (that's what Asura's Wrath is for), I played it for the combat.
Framerate aside, I think this part of the game is much better then Bayo 2. Umbran Climax was fun to use but didn't require a lot of thought. Demon Slaves offer a lot of customization and options in battle, but your magic meter, standing in place during summoning, and the chance of your demon going into rage mode makes it a tool that you really need to think on how to use it. Won't deny that it can feel like a crutch at points, but I'm unsure how that holds up on the higher difficulties at this point. Plus it adds a lot of player expression since there's a loooooot of demons in this game to choose from, every one of which being huge and very creative. Demon Slaves are honestly the perfect addition to add to the insane spectacle during combat since it really feels like the carnage your causing is from your own doing and not from some scripted event. That's really why I'm just kind of "whatever" about scripted events in these games. Yes, you can't control literal Godzilla during normal combat, but to me manually summoning a giant spider to self-destruct itself and kill everything around it just always feel way better since that was my plan I made during the heat of battle.... and now I'm down a giant spider... oops.
The creativity also extends to the new weapons. At the cost of no longer equipping weapons to your hands and your feet individually (some weapons in the first two games being only for hands OR feet) every weapon now has an entire moveset with their own ways of shooting range attacks, mode of travel, and able to transform into these demon hybrids which can make these weapons looks amazing during a fight. I was going to describe some of them, but frankly I rather leave that as a surprise, even if there's one that I kept on through the whole game for how crazy concept it was.
Right there's the new character too. She's fine... gameplay wise. As a character she's fun, but when actually playing as her she takes a while to get the feel for. Not much to say being real.
So yeah, despite the four stars I'm giving this, I'm truthfully mixed on this game. That might come down to high expectations that were met... but only sometimes. Regardless I did have a lot of fun, even with the problems this and Bayo 2 have I'd be insane to call them boring.