Bayonetta

For those of you that were unaware, Bayonetta, an action beat-em-up by the director of Devil May Cry, was released on January 5th, which happened to coincide with my birthday. So, as a present to myself, I purchased the game. (I also got Darksiders, but I'm only a few hours into it, and I'm struggling. I think I need a break) I beat Bayonetta's story mode on normal earlier today, and after playing it for about 15 hours I feel like I can give it a proper review.

The Good

• Gameplay: If you've played DMC, you're familiar with the basic game play, although in this case you can activate "Witch Time" (i.e. slow motion) by dodging your enemy's attack at just the right time. Bayonetta is one of the most fluid action games of this type that I've ever played ... it really plays smoothly. From a pacing perspective, there's not a lot of wasted time. The game plunges you straight into the action, giving you a little bit of a breather before throwing something new at you. Boss battles are challenging and scattered throughout the game, and there are also a couple of rail shooter sections that help to break up the monotony. My only complaint about the gameplay is that the camera can go kind of insane, but this only happened to me a few times.
• Replayability: I jumped into Bayonetta because I assumed the game would be short. I was surprised to find that the game actually offers a lot in terms of depth and replayability, as there are a number of different weapons to find, additional moves to unlock, and items to find to increase your health and magic. The game also challenges you to play through different levels (known as chapters) so that you can get Platinum or Pure Platinum status. (Meaning you don't get hit, which is next to impossible ...) Several levels are so much fun you'll find yourself doing them over, just because they're enjoyable.
• Graphics: I played this on my 360, and the game looks beautiful, with no real difference between the in-game cutscenes and the FMV using the game's engine. Quite impressive. From a design standpoint I really like the Art Deco look that is used for the buildings and some of the characters.

The Bad

• Fast Twitch: I hadn't played a real fast-twitch action game in a long time, probably since DMC 3. So I was rusty. This game expects you to be on your toes. If you aren't it is unforgiving. You'll get frustrated a little bit because if you don't dodge immediately when starting boss battles you're likely going to get hit. It makes for an intense game, but oftentimes I found myself chucking the more complex combos out the window in favor of good old fashioned button mashing. It doesn't help that the game is incredibly difficult. If you play on Normal, you're going to die. A lot. You may make it through the first couple levels, but then things really get difficult. A puny health bar makes things even more challenging. As the game progresses, things eventually slow down, but Bayonetta has a steep learning curve. I found myself replaying levels just so that I could improve my skills.
• Story: I finished the story and I'm still not sure exactly what it was all about. The story doesn't make a lot of sense, and it seems to be designed to be confusing. But, in a game like this, are you really playing for the story? Heck no, you're playing because the main character looks hot and gets half naked all the time.

Overall Bayonetta is a very solid entry into the action category. It's got great action and gameplay, good replayability, and a number of things that will keep you coming back for more. Even the goofy Japanese soundtrack grows on you over the course of time. This is one of those games that would work as a weekend rental, or if you want to invest the time in it (like I did) a solid addition to your gaming catalog.

 

I actually liked it more than Devil May Cry, though that first DMC was one of my favorite titles on the PS2.

I'm thinking about playing through on Hard, though I don't know if I want to endure that frustration. You can't play on Hard until you beat Normal.