Bayonetta Review

21 Jan 2010 at 14:40:16 by Staff Writers
Systems used to review this title: (PS3)

I hate Bayonetta. Not the game, just the woman. She taunts me with her moves and mocks me with her combos. It's not just her, but most people. You see, my back has been in agony for weeks, and slouched in a sofa controlling one of the most flexible females of all time is definitely a matter of rubbing salt in an already painful wound.

Despite her ability to move, or anyone's ability to move for that matter, Bayonetta is a great example of how a modern day "hack 'n' slash" game should be made. From the moment you're introduced to this selfish yet sassy woman, you're hooked. And it's no surprise as the story is woven by Hideki Kamiya, the man behind some of the best games, well, ever. And it tells. There is influence and inspiration from his previous work most notably, Devil May Cry. It's the cinematic feel and the movie-like quality which seamlessly integrates from game to story and from story to game.

So Platinum Games delivers this witch woman who's on a mission to find out who she is while taking down the forces of God and Heaven on her way. Although the game's story is well told, it can sometimes be a little long-winded and you'll find yourself wishing the cutscenes didn't take so long. Thankfully, though, you can skip the cutscenes, which is extremely helpful if you're having to do a section again because you were useless.

Bayonetta as a character, like most in the game, is well-crafted and written. While a little long-winded, as mentioned, the voice acting is pretty strong and there are uber amounts of action to keep the story moving along, as well as puzzle-esque sections in the game which are a welcome break from the constant brawls with heavenly creatures. But it has to be iterated, that what may seem like just another "hack 'n' slash" game really isn't and you do have to spend the time learning the combos to really get a kick out of the game, as well as master some pretty terrifying hair combos. Something Bayonetta and I have in common.

But Bayonetta isn't all about the hair, she's got her guns and swords too, and it's the variety of ways in which you can approach an enemy which makes this game so fun. We all know that this bitch of a witch can be carrying four guns at any one time, but the introduction of different melee weapons which can either be picked up from the Gates of Hell (more on that later) or from fallen enemies means that you can deliver decisive blows to your enemies making it much easier for you to complete certain missions. Ultimately though, it really doesn't matter what you pick up for weapons as it's the Witch Time that makes all the difference. By dodging enemy attacks at the very last second, you are able to enter a slow-motion mode which gives you an unparalleled smack-them-in-the-face opportunity. Not only does it slow down time, but certain combos will be enhanced in this mode, while longer and more complicated combos are a much easier affair to execute. Your time is obviously limited in this mode, but the more of your magic meter you fill, the more time you'll have. The magic meter can be filled by maintaining long combos and not being struck by an opponent. It's in your best interests to get as much Witch Time as you can because Bayonetta is quite sexy in her witch form, but a little bit of a minger when she's in her normal catsuit (made out of her hair by the way!).

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