Bayonetta proves to be a fierce Sega release
Phil Stever
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: A&E
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Bayonetta is a game that doesn't quite fit in with my "manly" video game collection. It is a third-person action game similar to Sega's other titles such as God of War or Devil May Cry in terms of game play and target audience, but unlike those other testosterone-fueled titles, you listen to a house-techno remix of "Fly me to the Moon" and beat down enemies with lipstick bullets. Bayonetta proved to be just as bad-ass as any other hero. I've played as Kratos, for example, and her debut is amazing. It indulges every excess of sex and violence, but not in a way you'd be ashamed to admit. It is tastefully tasteless and overwhelmingly fun.
For starters, players play as a witch named Bayonetta who straps massive demonic revolvers to all four limbs and fights angels by summoning demons with her hair. That's just the premise. I know what you're thinking: "it sounds like the story of that game will make every bit of sense." Well, you're wrong; it makes no sense whatsoever. However, at the cost of coherence Bayonetta provides an endless supply of surprising "wow" game play moments. Players can control bullets in slow motion, fight a boss in the middle of a maelstrom, surf over lava, and kill angels on pieces of falling buildings, just to name a few.
Although the game is quite pretty in terms of graphics, the real beauty of Bayonetta is in its gameplay. The action is incredibly excessive and satisfying. The enemies are varied and there are dozens of glitzy combos to slay them with. The boss fights are also epic, although repeated several times. Bayonetta has the unique feature of "witch-time" that allows you a brief window where enemies are in slow motion if you time your dodge perfectly. There are also various torture attacks that are fairly amusing. Rack up enough combos and you'll be prompted for button-pressing action that kicks your enemy into a guillotine or iron maiden for an entertainingly gory finish.
All of these combat features and the varied enemy types combine for a nice paced combat that won't leave the player bored. Thankfully, Bayonetta is designed for multiple playthroughs so players don't have to stop and all previously acquired gear conveniently carries over as well.
There are only a few problems I have with Bayonetta. Some of the cut-scenes are clearly low-budget and there are those pesky quick-time events placed arbitrarily throughout. The upgrade system is slow, so getting everything will take a lot of time, and the camera doesn't follow Bayonetta as well during the more cinematic sections. These are all very minor criticisms for what is an excellent game.
If you're someone who loves a good story-driven game, Bayonetta probably isn't for you. However, if you're a fan of anything in the realm of awesome, Bayonetta won't disappoint. The glorious combat more than justifies the price of admission. Bayonetta is something you simply can't miss.
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