Bayonetta 3 was officially teased by developers Platinum Games back in 2017, and is currently set for a vague 2022 release. Although a concrete release date has yet to be announced, the trailers released so far have given fans a lot to speculate about regarding what the story of Bayonetta 3 could be – especially after the latest 'First Look' trailer.
During the 'First Look' trailer showcased last Fall, fans of the series immediately took notice at the drastic design changes that Bayonetta's character has gone through. The previous Bayonetta games should definitely be replayed to get fans up to speed with the story of the series so far, and it would definitely help with identifying the reasons why it seems like Bayonetta 3 will feature Cereza.
Is Cereza in Bayonetta 3?
Although technically the same person, fans of the series tend to refer to Bayonetta and Cereza as two separate people. During the events of the first Bayonetta, the titular protagonist was an amnesiac and had no recollection of who she was, and had no idea that the little girl she picked up, Cereza, was actually her younger self from the past. The little Cereza was then sent back into the past and fans never see nor hear from her again. Until now, apparently, in what seems to be an alternate Bayonetta timeline.
The events of previous games added to the already vast lore of Bayonetta, confirming that alternate realities and timelines exist alongside the ability to time travel. This has led fans to speculate that the Bayonetta shown in the trailers is not the same from the first two games, and could actually be an alternate Cereza who holds the memories of what happened during the first Bayonetta game. If and how the alternate realities intertwine in Bayonetta 3 is yet to be discovered.
One of the most obvious traits that seem to suggest that Bayonetta 3 will be featuring Cereza is the hair of the character we see in the 'First Look' trailer. Bayonetta's unique and magical hair was tied into a high ponytail in Bayonetta, with her then seen sporting a short hairdo in the second game. The 'Bayonetta' that is shown in the 'First Look' trailer sports the same braided pigtails that little Cereza wore in the first Bayonetta game – down to the red ribbons that run through them – with the only difference being that her hair is much longer.
There are a few other small details that hint this Bayonetta is different, and actually is little Cereza grown up. One is the larger glasses that she wears, which are more rounded compared to the slim, rectangular ones that the gun-wielding protagonist has during the first two games. Another is her outfit, which is noticeably less sensual compared to Bayonetta's designs in the past, and seems to match the style of the child Cereza. There's even a brooch that sits at the back of her neck that looks to be in the shape of a cat – with a design similar to the Cheshire cat toy that Cereza had with her during the antics of the first Bayonetta.
Platinum Games originally revealed the third game back in 2017, so it has been in development for at least four years at this point, and it makes sense that a lot of gameplay details would have been solidified by now. Hopefully an upcoming Nintendo Direct will give fans more information regarding the story of Bayonetta 3 since it's still scheduled for a 2022 release.
Bayonetta 3 will release in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
