Bayonetta Review

By Simon Parkin Published 18 November, 2009

Angel May Cry.

Version tested: Xbox 360

The best two Japanese action games of the year are diametrically opposed in approach. Demon's Souls is a brooding traipse through the corridors of purgatory, fair but relentlessly unforgiving. It teaches that modern videogames have made us weak and stupid, that our gaming muscles have atrophied through the efforts of so many mollycoddling developers. Every sword strike must be carefully considered, and button-mashers are not so much ridiculed as downright abused for their lack of sophistication. The result is a tense but ponderous experience, one that demands supreme trepidation before each step taken, careful contemplation before every input made.

In Bayonetta, meanwhile, you press a button and your television implodes.

Beloved is a celestial giant with the face of a three-year-old cherub and the body of a weightlifting Buddha, who falls from heaven to cobblestone with a squelchy thwack. Standing just 20 feet from this sudden epiphany, Bayonetta smirks to the cameraman, who's angled our viewpoint on the scene from ground level in order to fully celebrate the titular anti-heroine's ninja Barbie physique and secretary-cum-sex-worker attire. Her wink to lens is the starter pistol for interactivity.

You rotate the left analogue stick and hit the X button on cue, and Bayonetta cartwheels into a handstand, firing the twin pistols attached to her stilettos into Beloved's rolls of fat by clicking her heels in rapid succession. You break the sequence short with a triple jump through the air, esoteric purple wings momentarily sprouting from her arched back as you do so, before landing on Beloved's shoulders. The camera wheels and dives around, matching the kinetic assault of Bayonetta's body blows with dazzling movements of its own.

Finish him: an invitation to execute a Climax Attack on your wearied angelic opponent stamps onto screen. As you make the input, Bayonetta plants her feet square on the ground. Her black latex suit is absorbed into her skin, inexplicably extending the strands of her hair as it's drawn up through her body.

'Bayonetta' Screenshot 1

In between levels you play a lightgun-style arcade mini-game, in which you're given a limited set of golden bullets with which to shoot down some angelic beings. Points can be converted into cash or performance-enhancing lollipops.

Shielding what's left of her modesty with her arms, Bayonetta flings her head backwards and her new 30-foot hair extensions assume the form of a black dragon: follicular shape shifting. It bares shadowy tooth shapes before lurching forward and down onto the cherub's torso. You madly hammer X to fill a Megaton bonus-point gauge, each mash encouraging the beast to chew a little harder. Then, in the final moment of climax, it rips Beloved's torso in two, dropping a crimson waterfall onto the cobblestones below like a dead weight.

Bayonetta's hair retracts itself back into her scalp. Her clothes re-envelop her body. She pops a lollipop into her mouth and sucks twice. Lara Croft shivers. Airport massacre levels, be damned. Bayonetta eats angels with her hairdo. Let's have a discussion about that on the Today programme.

For director Hideki Kamiya, Bayonetta is the final destination of a stream of flamboyant creative endeavour he first tapped eight years ago. With Devil May Cry, Kamiya invented his own sub-genre: a scrolling beat-'em-up that combined kung-fu wire combat with near endless combo strings and wrapped it all up in a camp gothic aesthetic. Rather than attempting to merely recreate Devil May Cry's successes in Bayonetta, Kamiya's bravely stripped away all of the dead weight from his initial template, ruthlessly streamlining the form and function to deliver something at once fresh and familiar. It's also, unquestionably, the greatest game yet to spill from this niche.

Developer Platinum Games' influence is clear from the off. Bayonetta discards the dark and dry anime tone of Kamiya's earlier work for something more tongue-in-cheek and irreverent. The story is delivered in bite-size, snappy cut-scenes, with slightly ropey albeit effective cutaway stylisation and camp voice-acting that soon wins you over. The approach suits the game style well, allowing for humorous quips and wry visual gags to be interspersed with the action, revelling in the silliness of its scenario in a way Devil May Cry never quite dared.

While the presentation teeters on the edge of objectification, with long, lingering shots of anatomically perplexing females, the characterisation does much to counterbalance the sexist overtones, and Bayonetta emerges as one of the strongest Japanese leads in recent memory. Discarding a grand gothic soundtrack, the game instead settles upon an incongruous but irresistible mix of J-pop and jazz. The thrill of batting away celestial bodies to a poorly enunciated lounge version of "Fly Me To the Moon" is unforgettable.

However, it's in combat that Bayonetta's splendour is fully revealed. The emphasis is on stringing together attacks, both ranged and melee, into giant, unbroken chains. Strip away the fury and spectacle and it works a little like Batman: Arkham Asylum's combo system, in that it's entirely possible for a skilled player to clear an area of opponents without taking damage or dropping the combo. Where the two games diverge is in Bayonetta's gigantic library of potential moves, the majority of which are unlocked to you right from the off. With four slots for weaponry (a piece in each hand and one tied to each foot), and separate move-lists for each type, the scope for unique play styles is dizzying.

To help you find your way through the labyrinthine move lists, Platinum delivers one of the smartest loading screens yet. While the next level's assets are loading in, you take control of the bespectacled witch in an abstract training space, free to pull off any move in her unlocked repertoire. On the right side of the screen a shopping list of Bayonetta's moves is displayed, each with a number next to it indicating how many times you have executed that move.

This plays on our natural inclination to catch 'em all, turning the very act of practicing into a mini-game. Moreover, as you string together different balletic moves, you absorb new techniques and approaches into your style. The next level automatically begins when loaded in, but by pressing the 'back' button you can choose to delay progression and simply play around in this space for a while. It's ingenious.

Bullets are the glue that links together your melee combos, every close encounter with an angel or seraphim strung together by a hail of pistol fire to keep the numbers rising. Dodge an enemy attack at the last moment and the game will temporarily slip into Witch Time, the screen doused in purple and all enemies reduced to extreme slow motion. Chain enough enemies together during the course of a battle and you earn magic points that can be used to summon forth torture equipment, such as giant chainsaws and opaque guillotines, devices that can be inserted into combos for additional points and exhibition. As fodder for YouTube showboating, few games rival Bayonetta.

'Bayonetta' Screenshot 2

The game's occasional key/lock puzzles are well-executed, requiring you to, for example, find an egg timer item in order to turn back time and restore broken down parts of the environment in order to progress.

For all this visual excitement, this is a game driven primarily by its narrative. Exploration has been reduced to a lean minimum, and puzzles are generally simple reaction-based challenges, requiring you to, for example, dodge a bolt of lightening to trigger Witch Time, in order to run through spurts of lava.

More often, each short cut-scene is followed by an encounter with multiple enemies in a locked-off area. These micro-fights are each scored and graded, the ultimate prize being a 'Pure Platinum' medal for those who manage an unbroken combo without taking a single hit. This rolling rhythm can be interrupted by trips to the Gates of Hell, Bayonetta's local bar, where she can upgrade weapons and purchase new moves, but generally every building block of the experience is sized and segued to prevent boredom and promote pace.

With two tiers of 'easy' level to play at, Bayonetta is welcoming to newcomers, who will be able to perform impressive strings of attacks simply by mixing up button inputs. Play the game at Normal difficulty or higher, however, and every move will need to be carefully timed, especially during the protracted boss fights, some of which make up entire chapters of the game. With scored leaderboards for almost every level, the firm emphasis is on competition, and at high-level play, Bayonetta demands mastery before victory.

The result is a game that exemplifies so much of what commentators claim has died in the Japanese game industry. A blast of creative brilliance, both technically accomplished, strategically deep and infused with rare imagination, Bayonetta represents the pinnacle of its chosen niche.

9 / 10

This is a review of the Japanese Xbox 360 version of Bayonetta, which is out now. The PS3 version is a port, and Digital Foundry will be looking at the differences soon. Bayonetta is due out in Europe on 8th January for both formats.

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Simon.

About Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin is an author and journalist on video games. A regular contributor to Eurogamer since 2005, his work has also appeared in Edge, The Telegraph, Gamasutra and Boing Boing.

Read more articles from Simon by visiting the Simon Parkin archive page.

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Comments (103) 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • stevetuck #1 2 years ago

    its 9/10 week at eurogamer!

  • McBradders #2 2 years ago

    Cool, can't wait for the Euro release.

  • Vedfolner #3 2 years ago

    Is someone trying to kill me with all these great games!!???

  • absolutezero #4 2 years ago

    Q1 is a kind of gamers level of hell.

    So many pretties. No time and no money.

  • caligari #5 2 years ago

    /looks in wallet

    /weeps

  • tobsen #6 2 years ago

    Looks like there is finally a game to pick up where the very first Devil May Cry left off in terms of gameplay brilliance.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #7 2 years ago

    Have a got a DF comparison between the 360 and ps3 due soon?

  • Darren #8 2 years ago

    Nice score which was a bit unexpected after the demos I tried. I thought the game was OK but as the review tagline suggests it felt very derivative, like a game I'd played many times before so I crossed it off my "To Buy" list. I absolutely detest the female lead as well, she looks downright odd with those glasses, a thin stick-like body and an oversized head. Not that that is the reason for not buying it, the demo just failed to grab or impress me in any way. I loved Devil May Cry 4 though.

    Still great news for those interested in the game, although PS3 owners should try the demo first as its technically inferior to the 360 version.

  • Sonic_D #9 2 years ago

    Nice one, looking forward to this. Might actually have finshed New Game+ on Demon's Souls by the time it comes out!

  • cianchristopher #10 2 years ago

    So, 6/10 for the PS3 version?

    Nice to see all these 9/10s!

    And it's nice to be an Xbox 360 owner, too! (We get all the good games, don't we? - I mean, sure there's about 5 or 10 great exclusives on PS3, but there's a hundred or more great games on 360, thanks to the multiplatform titles not being severely gimped!)

  • lordofdeadside #11 2 years ago

    The demo at the expo was very good, probably my game of the show. I'll be getting my preorder in i think

  • Beano #12 2 years ago

    Are there two games called Bayonetta?

    I tried the PS3 demo and it seemed incridible generic and dull. Been there done that... not a 9.

  • JahB #13 2 years ago

    I love you, holiday season. Welcome back!

  • jim1975 #14 2 years ago

    @beano

    yeah, you must of been playing a differant bayonetta cos the demo i played was ANYTHING but generic and dull.

  • cianchristopher #15 2 years ago

    The best two Japanese action games of the year?

    What about Street Fighter IV? That got a 10/10 here on EG, and if the RPG Demon's Souls is an action game, then the beat 'em up SFIV is also an action game!

    10/10 > 9/10 Eurogamer....

  • Miths #16 2 years ago

    "... but there's a hundred or more great games on 360, thanks to the multiplatform titles not being severely gimped!"

    Except for that minor little fact that for the last year and a half or so, the PS3 version of most multiplatform titles haven't actually been "severely gimped", but usually only so slightly inferior to the 360 version that the only people who actually notice the minor differences are those who read comparative articles.
    But of course there are still exceptions, and I seem to recall Bayonetta being mentioned somewhere a while ago as looking and performing genuinely bad on the PS3?

  • Quint2020 #17 2 years ago

    Day 1 purchase for me.

    Man January is getting seriously busy.

  • cianchristopher #18 2 years ago

    Yeah, but if you take the top 100 multiplatform titles this generation, 99 of them look and play better on Xbox 360.

    Yes, they do play better, thanks to the all-important framerate increase/stability and controls responsiveness.

    edit: @ Miths
    Edited by 2 at 18/11/09 @ 12:40

  • rotmm #19 2 years ago

    I wish I could enjoy games such as this, Demon's Souls, Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, etc. but I just can't.

    I just know I am missing out on some great gaming experiences.

  • mingster #20 2 years ago

    Isn't this the game you can play one handed with one button only?

  • Syrette #21 2 years ago

    Anyone have any idea how long this game lasts?

  • metalmike25 #22 2 years ago

    @rotmm

    I thought the same but then i bought demon's souls and i loved every minute of it. It's a really rewarding experience. I'm rubbish at ninja gaiden but the thing about demon's souls is that you can actually think about what you're doing, so slowly you become better at it and get further and further. You should definately try it

  • FabricatedLunatic #23 2 years ago

    Though I enjoyed DMC4, my lasting impression is that it's a slightly underwhelming sequel to one of my favourite PS2 games. Bayonetta sounds like what I hoped DMC4 would be, and it'll be my first gaming purchase of the new year.

  • RobotRocker #24 2 years ago

    In Bayonetta, meanwhile, you press a button and your television implodes.

    Sold

  • spekkeh #25 2 years ago

    Wow, didn't see this one coming. I immediately dismissed the game on seeing screenshots of the protagonist as some kind of cheap prepubescent geek fantasy. May have to alter my opinion.

  • NGCes26294BIV #26 2 years ago

    Very unexpected. I thought Devil May Cry-meets-Sarah Palin was destined for a generiseven out of ten.

  • Eraysor #27 2 years ago

    As interesting as it looks, the main character looks like Sarah Palin.

    EDIT: I didn't even see the above post! Haha.
    Edited by 1 at 18/11/09 @ 12:52

  • Gregolution #28 2 years ago

    @rrotmm

    Mate, you can't put Demon's Souls in the same sentence as Bayonetta, Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden! They're not even remotely close to the same type of game. Those 3 are hack and slash and Demon's Souls is an RPG - albeit slightly action heavy. Besides the fact they're totally different genres Demon's Souls really is one of the very best games I've ever played in my 25 year gaming 'career'.

    The only reason he mentioned Demon's Souls in this article is because it's Japanese, not the same genre.

  • darkmorgado #29 2 years ago

    I've sort of kept an eye on this but I have to admit I never expected anything special. Looks like I was wrong.

    Still want another sequel to OtoGi though.

  • rotmm #30 2 years ago

    @Gregolution,

    Colour me interested now. Thanks for that :)

    However, still not out in the UK as far as I can tell, so I've got awhiles to decide on it.

  • Pac #31 2 years ago

    According to other websites the voice acting, subtitles and in game menus all appear in English. Just the game manual is in Japanese.

    Is there any reason to not import this?

  • Pac #32 2 years ago

    Actually until I have seen the DF comparrison I might wait. Especially since it is released on 8th Jan.

  • muscleblade #33 2 years ago

    Probably GOTY for me next year. The review actually reads like a 10/10 imo. Its my favourite genre so i guess its easily a 10/10 game for me personally.

  • Mayhem64 #34 2 years ago

    According to reports from people I know who've played the game, the PS3 version is the weaker of the two anyhows (and Platinum weren't responsible for porting it either). The 360 demo was lush... roll on January.

  • jamhead #35 2 years ago

    Hmm. I really couldn't get into devil May Cry 4 on the 360, but I really enjoyed God of War on the PS2 - would I like this or not?

    Oh.. and too many 9's EG. Not that I am complaining about there being so many good quality games, more that I might need some help deciding which are the best to cherry pick!

    Left 4 dead 2, CoD MW2, Super Mario Bros Wii, Batman all still on my 'to do' list.. (in fact I still haven't even got round to playing Bioshock yet!). I don't have time to do them all! :-(

  • thedaveeyres #36 2 years ago

    Saying a game is better than Devil May Cry is truly damning with faint praise.

  • mcmonkeyplc #37 2 years ago

    Oh for fucks sake! MY WALLET! Think of my wallet and my wrists!

    How the hell am I supposed to use my wrists for wanking with so many games to play?!
    Edited by 1 at 18/11/09 @ 13:30

  • barat #38 2 years ago

    Q1 is just crazy now: Bayonetta, Heavy Rain, Splinter Cell Conviction, Silent Hill Shattered Memories, No More Heroes 2, Red Steel 2, Command & Conquer 4, Aliens Vs Predator, MAG...

  • Duke100 #39 2 years ago

    @ rotmm and Gregolution
    Demon's Souls is indeed a superlative game, I agree that it is really not anything like DMC or Ninja G - get it if you have the chance.

  • JonFE #40 2 years ago

    Will you take it easy with all those 9's, ehh? My wallet can't take any more violations :{|

  • lambtron #41 2 years ago

    I always thought this would be shit. Glad to be proved wrong.

  • Thalanos #42 2 years ago

    Wow. I was not paying attention to this game.

    Seeing the heroine I mentally categorised this as 'like Bullet Witch'. How wrong I was.

  • Zebula77 #43 2 years ago

    The review does make me want to at least try this, but I grew tired of the DMCs and Ninja Gaidens a good while back. Had DMC4 for a while, played a good four levels and just got thoroughly bored with it.

    Think this game will change my mind?

    Oh, and one thing which wasn't mentioned in the review, does it follow the same style as DMC with the fixed camera angles? I was kinda annoyed at not being able to change the angles manually.

  • zhurah #44 2 years ago

    Article@In Bayonetta, meanwhile, you press a button and your television implodes.

    This is cool ))

  • hardtech #45 2 years ago

    ...Anyone willing to buy some plasma so I can actually start to afford all of these games?

  • jim1975 #46 2 years ago

    by the time im finished with DAO, U2, BL, F3 and AC2 bayonetta should be down to £20

  • Moonprince #47 2 years ago

    cianchristopher = the new donnie? One dies, another cunt comes to take his place...

  • jonbwfc #48 2 years ago

    Some sort of comment on whether it's 'english friendly' enough to import on PS3 would be welcome. if it really is a 9/10 game it needs to be played now..

    ...

    OK, maybe after MW2. And Uncharted 2. And AC 2... [whimpering sound from wallet]
    Edited by 2 at 18/11/09 @ 14:04

  • Stomp224 #49 2 years ago

    I got a Pure Platinum medal on the demo at the EG Expo.

    Jus' sayin'..... >__>

    Anyway, I really enjoyed the demo, and will be grabbing this on 360 rather than PS3, unless some kind of miracale happens and Sega sorts itself out in the next 8 weeks..

  • dr_faulk #50 2 years ago

    /looks at wife

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #51 2 years ago

    Lovely review. Lovely game!

  • Widge #52 2 years ago

    Jingle Jangle Jewelery
    Lovely Lovely Lovely
    http://www.rathergood .com/jimmy

  • madgerald #53 2 years ago

    / also looks at dr_faulks wife

  • udat #54 2 years ago

    Oversized head? Her head is tiny! It's smaller than her chebs.

  • midnight_walker #55 2 years ago

    Dragon Age gets 6/10 and this gets 9? Sorry, what? I played the Jap demo. It's OK. It's NOT a 9/10 game.

  • OllyJ #56 2 years ago

    but but....it looks rubbish!

    as soon as I heard all the shite one liners it seemed embarassing, I can't believe there's a 9/10 game here!!

  • udat #57 2 years ago

    For the entire development cycle of this game, since it was announced, I've been working under the assumption that it was going to suck. The art style especially made me think that. Now, I really want to get it.

    I don't have time for all the games out/coming out right now. :(

  • andywilkie35 #58 2 years ago

    Sold! I loved Devil May Cry 4, this sounds awesome and looks the tits

  • alimokrane #59 2 years ago

    My pockets, my pockets!!! Im going to be ruined!!!

  • FortysixterUK #60 2 years ago

    errr...hello? I'm sorry I must be on the wrong website...this IS eurogamer isn't it?

  • Redeye #61 2 years ago

    Bonkers, pervy, violent and bloody - sounds like a winning combo if ever there was one.

  • solidSnake04 #62 2 years ago

    oh my god this xmas is gonna be insane ! this + bayoneta + mw2 + uncharted + forza + l4d 2 ? chuck in batman and fifa 10.... come on...Epic year

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #63 2 years ago

    I kinda hated the character and premise of this game when I first heard of it, but everything I've seen since makes it look like a really fun and balls out ridiculous game. The 9/10 score sold me. Yep, getting this.

  • hannibaldave #64 2 years ago

    WALLET ROFLFOLFLLFLLFLFOLFLLL!!!

    twats

  • Ace_McCloud #65 2 years ago

    Never heard of it before. Clicked on the article thinking "Generic". Flicked to the score - read the review - sounds great. Youtube vids look superb. The type of game that would've had my Streets of Rage playing youthful self crying tears of envy.

  • DDevil #66 2 years ago

    I never expected this to be any good... But it's been gathering some good reviews and I enjoyed my very quick blast on it at the Expo.

    It's going on my Christmas list :-)

  • PoundHound #67 2 years ago

    It would have been insta-buy for me at 7/10. 9/10 means I'm also a little bit excited.

  • beastmaster #68 2 years ago

    Where did this review come from? Wasn't expecting this at all and the score is a pleasent surprise. This was my game of the Expo. Very excited.

  • Strifer #69 2 years ago

    You people should just start watching this, as it should give you an idea of how awesome the game really is.

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=nuuypqYrF5I

  • sirtacos #70 2 years ago

    Looks like I'm going to get this eventually too.
    Damn EG and their recent barrage of 9s!

  • Ryze #71 2 years ago

    Wow!

  • Scimarad #72 2 years ago

    I rather enjoyed the demo (and that was the PS3 demo!) so that 9 means an instant purchase, I think.

  • spookyzombie #73 2 years ago

    'Dragon Age gets 6/10 and this gets 9? Sorry, what? I played the Jap demo. It's OK. It's NOT a 9/10 game'.

    I agree based on the JP demo I played. I guess it gets better as you go along.

  • figaro7 #74 2 years ago

    These guys were clover, ofcourse im sold on this! Hope its bloody good as ninja blade and ninja gaiden 2 left a little sour taste in my mouth, really enjoyed DMC4 though! Between this and No more heroes 2 the hack n slash is alive and well!

  • TRUTH #75 2 years ago

    The PS3 did score less then the 360 version in the Japanese infamous Famitsui games magazine. The 360 got a perfect 40/40; the PS3 got 38/40.
    Edited by 1 at 18/11/09 @ 22:59

  • Chalee #76 2 years ago

    Anyone who is surprised that this is an awesome game has really missed something obvious - this is the next in line in that grand series of games that encompasses Okami, Viewtiful Joe and God Hand. Anyone who knows his gaming knew that this could NOT fail.

  • smelly #77 2 years ago

    This is normally the type of game i'd like.. but i cant bring myself to buy it for no other reason than i'm sick to death of the sad sexualisation of female characters that game developers always insist on!

  • busboy33 #78 2 years ago

    This game repeled me from the get go: The childish "sexy"effort, I hated DMC, the "story" was laughable, etc.

    Tried the demo on Xbox . . . and was blown away. It's really fun. Embarassingly, shamefully fun. The over-the-top smut is SO over-the-top that it's actually funny.

    Don't know if I've got the budget for a purchase, but its a definite rental . . . and I'm amazed I just typed that.

    btw, for the author . . .
    Her costume doesn't get absorbed into her body and that makes her hair grow. Her costume is made of her hair, so when it is used to make things like the giant wolf head it runs off her body to go do silly killing stuff. The finishing moves leave her pretty much nekkid, but some of her middlin' magic attacks (like summoning a gigantic stiletto heel to nut-stomp her enemies) leave her in various ammounts of undress, depending on how powerful it is (and consequently how much of her hair she has to divert from clothing to nut-stomping).

  • carrotcake #79 2 years ago

    Dude people are surprised that this is good? :( from the first gameplay trailer it looked like a crazy fun and unique action game, always been on my radar. But then, some people were even surprised that super mario galaxy got a high score! Don't bet against fun gameplay :) even if the premise and characters look a bit weird/geeky/kiddy to you

  • Quint2020 #80 2 years ago

    Just pre-ordered this along with Darksiders, 2010 is already looking better than 2009!

  • kongzi #81 2 years ago

    normally I don't care for this kind of game, but this is so over the top, so ridiculous... I find myself intrigued..

  • StooMonster #82 2 years ago

    Wow, 9/10 here and 10/10 in EDGE ... I've added this to my list of 'must have' games for 2010.

  • Stompy #83 2 years ago

    What's the sound of one hand fapping?

    You.

  • cheekyjay #84 2 years ago

    This Q4 and next year's Q1 have to represent the single most phenomenally diverse and appealing line-up of games yet, assuming too many Q1ers don't slip. Thus far, we've had:
    Batman
    Fifa
    Uncharted
    Halo ODST
    Ratchet and Clank: Crack in Time
    Tekken 6
    Mario Bros
    GTA Gay Tony
    Jak and Daxter PSP
    Brutal Legend
    Dragon Age
    Mario and Sonic Winter Olympics
    Modern Warfare 2
    Little Big Planet PSP
    GTA Chinatown Wars PSP
    A Boy and His Blob
    EyePet
    Beatles Rock Band
    Rabbids Go Home
    Mario and Luigi DS2
    Wii Fit Plus
    Borderlands
    Metroid Prime Trilogy
    Assassins Creed 2
    ...and still to come, we've got:
    Zelda Spirit Tracks
    God of War Collection
    Avatar
    Lost Planet 2
    Dead Rising 2
    Final Fantasy Crystal Bearers
    Splinter Cell Conviction
    Red Steel 2
    Mass Effect 2
    Alpha Protocol
    Aliens Vs Predator
    MAG
    Dante's Inferno
    God of War 3
    Rage
    Final Fantasy XIII
    Heavy Rain
    Ruse
    Saboteur
    Bioshock 2
    Silent Hill Shattered Memories
    No More Heroes 2
    Command & Conquer 4
    Super Street Fighter IV
    Darksiders
    ... and now Bayonetta too... and that's not to mention the launch of the PS3 Motion Controllers and presumed games to accompany the launch...

    Then, on the horizon there's still Red Dead Redemption, Blur, Alan Wake, The Last Guardian, ModNation Racers, Doom 4, Mario Galaxy 2, New Wii Zelda, Split Second, Metroid Other M, Agent, Epic Mickey, Halo Reach, APB, Sin and Punishment 2, I Am Alive, DCUO, Fable 3, the launch lineups for Natal and probably WiiHD... it's a good time to be a gamer...
    Edited by 4 at 22/11/09 @ 15:42

  • Gene-ius #85 2 years ago

    @ cheekyjay +1 for effort with the list. It neatly encapsulates both the love and the hate the gaming industry shows us.

    Anyway, two things:

    One, I can't be the only person to believe Bayonetta to be the single strongest female character in gaming. There's the obvious: she at least the most capable character, able to blow holes in just about everything with powers Samus Aran and Chloe Fisher wish they had; but there's also her sexuality. She's hypersexualised, yes, but that's not the problem with most videogame women. The problem with them is their slightly girlish innocence, which results in an uncomfortable 'exploitation' feeling when seeing them, like they're helpless, just waiting to be used. I can't see anyone using Bayonetta. She's well aware of her sexuality, and is happy to exploit it. The ability to kick people through walls if they so much as look askance at you might help. She's not to be leered at, except from a safe distance.

    Secondly, has anyone read Edge Magazine's review? They gave it a 10. It's only their eleventh 10 yet. This game must be something special.

    P.S. And I know Bayonetta's alternate costumes can't even be explained away as satire, but I'm just basically pretending they don't exist.
    Edited by 1 at 23/11/09 @ 16:26

  • Ky0lux #86 2 years ago

    I've been playing this game non-stop since I've received it a week and half ago.

    For those asking how long the game can last you. I've played 30 hours so far.
    Here's a breakdown:
    10-15 hours to beat normal mode on your first try.
    The rest of the time have been split between beating the Alfheim portals (challenge rooms), looking for the weapons I had missed that I could find. Farming halos to buy accessories to get some of the trophies. (I'm at 75% of those so far)

    Here's what I have planned still BEFORE taking on hard mode and non-stop climax.
    -Lower my completion time on Normal to under 3 hours
    -Beat all missions on normal with a platinum ranking.

    Those two should take me still a while, especially the second, but they both unlock useful/fun things.

    The game offers much more than what I expected.

    As far as the PS3 part is concerned. This is what I imported. The game runs fine most of the time. The intro of the 360's demo's part starts off with a slower frame-rate then fixes itself by the first minute (and it's still playable). The only frame-rate issue I had was on two occasions on chapter 15. Those weren't so great, but they're easy parts of the level so it's not much of a big deal. The real issue with the PS3 version is the loading, which apparently will be fixed in a patch, as there's no HD installation as of now. Oh there's some screen-tearing, but not anymore than you'll see in most games. I really noticed it once or twice so far. As for the PS3's colors being washed out, they aren't as bad if you set up your ps3 in Full RGB or Limited depending on what works best on your tv.

    If you can get it on 360. Get it on that. If your only option is the PS3. Don't worry, the game is still solid anyway. The lower frame-rate is only noticeable if you compare one next to the other and doesn't affect gameplay (except on the chapter 15 cases, but it isn't so bad that it won't let you progress).

    Also, if you played the demo on PS3, most of the issues you might have noticed are for the better part fixed.

    Oh and while her hair takes shapes of the big demons, it's not actually her hair that is eating the angels, if you read the explanations in-game, it says that the hair is used as a catalyst to summon the demons.

    The import is 100% english by the way.

    And for those that played DMC4, Bayonetta blows it out of the water all the way to Neptune.

    edit: "One, I can't be the only person to believe Bayonetta to be the single strongest female character in gaming. "

    Actually it's a hard call between Bayonetta and her rival, Jeanne.
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/09 @ 16:31

  • aaronali #87 2 years ago

    @ cheekyjay no Demon's Souls?? Your list is woefully incomplete.

  • jeebthegreat #88 2 years ago

    /is glad his birthday is in January

  • rommy667 #89 2 years ago

    Love this game :) great review....

  • Seabeast #90 2 years ago

    I will buy this soon when its down to 20 quid like every other game like this released in the UK.

  • TRUTH #91 2 years ago

    The normal level if your generally good gamer can take approx - 9/12 hours. BUT! only then can you play the higher levels once Normal is completed - this where skill really comes into play as the whole game is switched around as tougher enemies that appeared later in Normal level, all appear earlier instead of the weaker enemies and also fight better. Don't expect to see the enemies showing up at same levels as on Normal. There also the gathering of weapons, portal battles, skill foghts etc etc.

  • spookyzombie #92 2 years ago

    I'm onto the fourth level now and the game is good. I'm not too sure if it's a 10/10 though. The action can be so manic at times that it makes your eyes water. A lot of it is cheesy too and the cut scenes are a bit mental also. They remind me of the vibe of FFX-2.

  • smelly #93 2 years ago

    Has anyone played much of this yet? Im not sure i believe the reviews from the demo i played - but i want something on the 360 to play .. it's not been turned on in months..

  • niteninja #94 2 years ago

    This game is absolute fucking shite, 9/10 your having a laugh, its like a cheesy softcore porno its all over the place.
    Its like a game made from some awful fan fiction.

  • Lunaticorc #95 2 years ago

    *prays to gaming gods that there will be a PC version of this one day*

    I'm gonna go play some DMC4 now while waiting for that miracle :p

  • Zebula77 #96 2 years ago

    Hmmm, miiiiight just get this somewhere down the line. Demo didn't impress me all that much, but seems like a fun game to just blast through. I'll wait till it gets a bit cheaper.

    For those of you who are playing it right now. How would you compare it to DMC 4? I thought that one was ok, but got bored after about seven or eight hours in. Does Bayonetta have more variation perhaps?

  • headrush #97 2 years ago

    The demo is terrible. I'll stick with Dante.

  • SomaticSense #98 2 years ago

    It's really not button mashing. Anyone who says it is, is clearly a cack-handed cretin who is getting their arse spanked, so then resorts to hammering random attack buttons haplessly while their health meter is rapidly declining.

    The use of timely dodging and certain combos is absolutely paramount in this game. Some combos are more useful than others, and as such you will find the button combo for these ingrained into your thumb reflexes and and end up using them most of the time subconciously, but that's in no way button mashing (Button Mashing: hammering any button on the controller in random flurries in the hope that you pull off something useful). Button mashing in this game will get your arse handed to you on a plate.

    I don't remember people scorning DMC for being a button masher, which had a very similar combat system.

  • fiery_jackass #99 2 years ago

    I'm sort-of enjoying it, but seem to be a bit hopeless at the game. Can't quite make the leap away from a slightly spam/mash approach. Odd, because I bonded very strongly with Ninja Gaiden Black and (the much easier but still mash-unfriendly) Arkham Asylum. I think, at the moment, there's just too much going on and it'll take a few more hours for the bewilderment to clear. I hope it does, lest I end up disappointed

  • Seabeast #100 2 years ago

    I know this game is all about the combat, but is it really that good? I have played the first hour and i simply cannot ignore how bad everything else about the game is, its shockingly bad in some areas. 10/10 from reviews is a joke and that kind of score can only be handed out by some nerd virigin who gets off looking at Bayonetta.

  • db3 #101 2 years ago

    Played the demo, deleted it.

  • NorfolkNClue #102 2 years ago

    Just finished this game. Combat is great, game is good for first half, then goes totally bonkers and gets absolutely ludicrous. Could have done with being 6 chapters shorter.

  • Feanor #103 1 year ago

    Kill yourself first.