How to Unlock (& Play) Jeanne

The storybook adventure of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon leads players through a fantastical world that harkens to characters from the Bayonetta series, including an alternate protagonist to play as when they unlock Jeanne. The playable chapter, called “Jeanne’s Tale,” is a remarkable story with varied gameplay and additional challenges for players looking to 100% complete the game. Featuring a new companion and a different and more challenging final boss, Jeanne’s chapter gives players a character with stronger abilities for a different experience.

The only way to unlock Jeanne is for players to beat all 13 main story chapters as Cereza first. The post-game story appears in the main menu, under the “Extras” option, once the initial narrative concludes. Traveling to the game’s title screen after the credits roll remains the best way to check to see if Jeanne’s Tale has become available, as this mode adds about another hour or two of new content to explore. The genuinely good fun of Bayonetta Origins certainly applies to this side story as well, especially through the enhanced abilities offered by Jeanne’s companion.

Playing as Jeanne in Bayonetta Origins

The new companion of Jeanne’s Tale, named Red Cheshire or “Charles,” has abilities not seen in the main story that changes up gameplay significantly. Charles can change form using any of the Elemental Cores or switch between Hug and Unleashed modes throughout the chapter. While players will have to solve puzzles as usual, the Magic called Thorn Bind functions a bit differently with Red Cheshire. It has a larger area of effect but a much longer cooldown. This changes up combat, encouraging players to adjust slightly from the habits found in the main story chapters.

One thing players should note when playing as Jeanne comes from the Tir Na Nog challenges that show up when traveling through the Faerie Forest. Those trying to complete Bayonetta Origins must fully finish these challenges to get every achievement. The most important event players will find when playing as Jeanne can be found at the end of her story, a fight against the true final boss Affirmer of Phenomena, who has taken Cereza hostage. Although not as difficult as some bosses seen in Bayonetta 3‘s Climax Difficulty mode, this fight has its place as the ultimate battle in this title.

A few rewards await players who finish Jeanne’s Tale, mainly through three new outfits unlocked in the Costumes menu. Representing Jeanne, Charles, and Arch Eve Origin, these costumes change the player’s moves and mechanics to those of Jeanne and Charles, basically allowing their moveset to be used in a replay of the 13 main story missions. Once players unlock Jeanne in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, they have an entirely new way to play the game that tells the story behind the star of one of the most celebrated action series.