In Sega and Platinum Games’ latest game Bayonetta, Hideki Kamiya has yet again created an over-the-top action title with amazing gameplay, graphics, and fun. Though riddled with strange plot and overpowering sexuality, Bayonetta proves to be a title with high re-playability and jaw-dropping moments that keeps gamers coming back for more.
Thumbs Up: Outstanding action gameplay, high replay value, boss fights
Thumbs Down: Strange plot, PS3 version’s glitches
Eh…: The overpowering sexuality (might be a Thumbs Up for some)
Right from the box-art, confusion and curiosity set in: “who is this strange women with guns on her feet!?” Bayonetta puts gamers in the place of a witch with a bit of amnesia upon waking up from a 500 year nap. Your goal is to figure out just what is going on and why angels are attacking you at every turn. The gameplay in Bayonetta is actually one the best I’ve ever gotten my hands on. Right from the prologue players can easily get involved with the huge array of combos at Bayonetta’s finger (and toe?) tips. If players have trouble getting the hang of combos, they can practice these combos during the loading screens.
Naturally, gamers will find themselves sticking with a few select combos (P,K,P for me) to devastate the angel legions, but the game rewards the player more for doing a different selection of combos each fight. A rating is given after each battle, and don’t expect an easy grading scale either. I was frequently awarded “stone awards” for just sucking that bad throughout fights. After players get the hang of it, each medal earned actually feels rewarding, and gives a sense of inspiration for each upcoming fight.
A massive amount of weapons slowly become unlocked as you play through, changing how you approach familiar combos and enemies to find what strategies do the most annihilation. Players can buy new techniques and accessories but at a heavy cost. Like past games such as Devil May Cry, new moves and items aren’t cheap. The only way to really afford the heavy price tags is to do well in each verse in the game.
The game actually keeps up a decent variety in enemy types to keep each chapter feeling different and challenging just as you get used to a single enemy type. And Bayonetta fulfills one of my favorite criteria in video games: epic boss fights. Each boss fight in Bayonetta is quite the experience with bosses the size of freighters and a new twist each health-bar. Thankfully, when you die (which you will), check-points are given throughout the fight to ease frustration and give you another fighting chance. Plus the finale or “climax” of each boss is indescribably awesome.
Throughout my play of Bayonetta, I became very nit-picky about certain aspects of the game. Firstly, the games obvious and overtly sexual theme. Mildly amusing at first, Bayonetta’s play on sexuality just becomes ridiculous and ends up taking away from the overall experience. Bayonetta’s visuals are lush and colorful, but what always stood out to me was the amount of clipping during cutscenes. Frequently, loose hangings were going inside and through characters, becoming quite a distraction during what would be intriguing cutscenes. The story can be hard to follow, and even after the prologue, a second play-through feels necessary to attempt to grip what is going on. Lastly, the music, which though finely performed and actually very fun to listen to as you fight, gets old quickly. The same couple songs get replayed over and over, and what was amazing the first listen, gets predictable the 20th time.
Currently on my third play-through of Bayonetta, I can most certainly recommend this to any gamer who loves a truly fun game, and for those of you who are completionists, Bayonetta has plenty to offer. With minor troubles throughout, Bayonetta stands as a game wrapped in flourish and style unlike any other game out there. I can easily see why Bayonetta wouldn’t be a gamers cup of tea, but I urge everyone out there to give it a shot (and the demo doesn’t do this game any justice). Pick up or rent Bayonetta today and you’ll enjoy an action-packed (notice the stress on “action”) game with many memorable moments and smooth gameplay. All you have to do is get pass the whole “suit made of hair” deal and you’re all set to enjoy Bayonetta.
Vice Verdict: BUY
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I'm a student at University of Illinois at Chicago studying graphic design and communications. When people ask what my favorite games are, I can never just pick one. I love everything.
Playing lately: Halo 3: ODST, Mass Effect, Dead Space, Viva Pinata, Call of Duty 4, 
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