The reviews read like a wake. Platinum Games — the Bayonetta studio — got handed a Square Enix live-service mandate and the result is exactly what you'd expect. Outlets dwelled on the oil-painting visual filter that made everything look smeared, the ten-hour tutorial wall before crafting unlocked, and a $60 price tag stapled to free-to-play monetization. Even reviewers who found things to like couldn't quite recommend it.
Same fight, less polite. The recurring words are 'cashgrab,' 'deceptive,' and variations on 'how did a Platinum game look this ugly.' A handful of players gave the combat genuine credit. Almost none could get past the season pass plus cash shop plus paid character slots stacked on top of the box price. Server population cratered within weeks.
It's gone now. Square Enix pulled the plug less than a year after launch and the servers are dark. This was the cautionary tale studios point to when they want to push back on live-service mandates. If you somehow still own it, you can't play it anyway.
Data last updated: May 29, 2026