Bayonetta (Game Review)

Bayonetta is a cinematic, action packed game from renowned game developer Hideki Kamiya, also known for Resident Evil. The protagonist, Bayonetta, is a gothic beauty.

She wears a skin tight jumpsuit covered in leather straps and steam punk metal adornments. Her raven black hair and librarian glasses make her look like a beautiful, dominant seductress instead of a powerful witch. She is a member of an ancient society and possesses incredible powers. She awakens to the year 2552 after 500 of years of slumber, being entombed in a coffin at the bottom of a lake without her memory. The mystery behind her past and her purpose in the game will begin to unfold as you travel through her world fighting against angels and other countless, unyielding enemies.

In combat, Bayonetta uses weapons, magic, acrobatics and her destructive hair. She is a sexy, gun-wielding enchantress with many intricate finishing moves to fight against her enemies. This is an adult-oriented game because the more complex your combination attacks the less Bayonetta seems to be wearing. Her torture attacks unleash painful medieval devices such as the Iron Maiden or a Guillotine that you can use to finish off the enemies and send them to Hell. Her long, dangerous hair also has hidden powers. One of the attacks is called the wicked weave which will summon large, demon fists and feet to punctuate a fight. Climax attacks are when she uses her hair as a magical conduit to summon demonic beasts to eliminate the upper ranks of her foes. Witch time is a special dodging technique that can be used at the last possible moment which can activate hyper-speed or allow her to run on water. She can also perform mid-air stiletto slashes and slide her deadly heel into an enemy. Her choice of weapons can be guns, shotguns, bazookas and fiery claws. Her four main guns are called Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. They are double barreled and exquisite to behold. I would love a pair to wear with a steam punk outfit. Her shotguns are called the Onyx Roses and each shell contains the curse of the fairie's trapped souls. She can also pick up enemy weapons from the fallen. I love the gigantic axe that can be swung around and released, and it will come back like a boomerang taking down more enemies as it goes. She can also find some other interesting weapons on her travels like a living katana pulsing with the heart of the demon god of war and a possessed whip. The weapons are interchangeable and upgradeable which keeps the game exciting. Bayonetta can also call upon primal forces and transform into various beasts like panthers depending on what she's up against.

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As for the bosses, they just keep on coming. They are relentless. The story behind this game is thoroughly thought out and very clever. I find the entire angelic hierarchy and the different demons intriguing. If we are fighting angels, are we on the good side or the bad side? Who is the enigmatic woman, named Jeanne, with similar battle techniques and powers that often appears? Does she hold information about Bayonetta's past? How did Bayonetta become the heavenly enemy? Is her friend Rodin really helping her by making her weapons or does he have other plans for her? The only way to unravel the secret is to play the game.

This is an incredibly fun game to play. I loved the graphics and the steam punk feel to it. I liked the cinemagraphic breaks in the story that are like watching parts of a movie. I found that the basic moves on the controller were simple enough for me to use as an average player. I had two other people that work at video game companies try out Bayonetta and they both enjoyed the game play as well. I have found that different games appeal to different types of players but this game seems to please everyone which is monumental. I am a girl and I think Bayonetta's world is finely detailed and attractive to look at, whereas the men will like the eye candy. I think Platinum Games has come out with a fantastic game and I highly recommend Bayonetta to everyone from novice to experienced gamers.   sega.com/platinumgames/bayonetta

Game Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Platinum Games
Rating: Rated 17+ or M for Mature