P-Vock's Music Box: The Queen is Back!

Hello and welcome back to P-Vock's Music Box. You ever have a moment that is just satisfying? A moment in which something you've been yearning for is finally delivered to you?

I got my first glimpse of that kind of moment in September of last year when, after almost four years of nothing since its announcement, we were given our first real look at Bayonetta 3.

As a big fan of the Queen and her bewitching exploits, I was stoked. It looked like it had all the potential to deliver something incredible, and I was so ready for it.

Some people were let down by this game and, not to tell anyone else how to feel about a subjective piece of media, they're just plain wrong. This game slaps. The combat is fluid and fun. All the returning characters are as great as ever and the new ones fit in extremely well. It's over-the-top and insane. Most importantly though, the music slaps.

Let's have a listen to some absolute jams from one of 2022's best, shall we?

Sometimes, I hate battle music when it's really good. It plays during such a specific moment and I sometimes just want to bask in its glory. That's exactly what this certified banger does for me.

Usually, I prefer my battle music to sort of overpower the moment and really motivate me. To be intense and driving as I lay the smackdown on a group of nameless enemies. This definitely does not capture that feeling, and that's what I love about it. It's stylish and fluid, just like the eponymous witch to which it accompanies. Bayonetta's gameplay is all about perfecting dodges and taunting your opponent as you weave through your opponents and summon giant beasts that send them flying.

It's just so Bayonetta.

But what if, I wanted something with a little more drive and intensity?

As a character, Bayonetta is all about being stylish and confident as she utterly embarrasses anyone who dares cross her.

Bayo 3 decided that we didn't have enough great characters and gave us a new playable character in Viola. Where Bayo is elegant and confident, Viola is the most punk character I've ever seen.

Viola is loud, aggressive, and incredibly crass. In other words, she rules. So, of course, her battle theme would reflect that as it's basically just an edgy punk rock song from the mid-2000s. As someone still stuck in his 2007 edgy phase, I completely approve of such a decision.

Ghost may honestly be my favourite piece of music from this entire series and while I did not like playing as Viola compared to the Queen, I had no problem engaging in her segments solely because I knew my ears were in for a damn good time. This song is so good it alone makes Bayo 3 one of my favourite games of the year.

But now, let's switch it up once more.

So Bayonetta 3 is basically just the Bayonetta version of Into the Spiderverse. Ironic that I mention it now as Try to Stop Me plays when the Queen meets another version of herself and is granted the opportunity to summon what this other Bayo usually summons instead of her usual summon in Madama Butterfly, a sexy demon butterfly woman who will stomp your face in with power and grace.

Instead, you get a high-speed kaiju moment as you ride atop a giant flaming spider and jump across crumbling buildings in a weird hell dimension.

Much like this entire outrageous series, it is frickin' rad!

I love Bayonetta, both the character and the series. It's over-the-top, flashy, and absolutely absurd as you go from sexy witches and buff gods pontificating at length to giant ass Kaiju laser fights on a whim. You never know exactly what you're getting when you turn on a Bayonetta game, but you know it will be memorable and fun. Bayonetta 3 absolutely carries this philosophy to the logical extreme and I am grateful for it as I absolutely loved the game and it was easily one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had with this stupid medium in years.

I hope your weekend is as fire as these tunes, and I'll catch you back here next time with another suggestion from my Music Box.

Stay Brutal!