From Wikipedia:
Bayonetta (ベヨネッタ, Beyonetta?) is an action game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, directed by Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe series creator Hideki Kamiya at Platinum Games in cooperation with publisher Sega. Set in a fictional city in Europe, the game centers on its title character Bayonetta, who can wield four handguns—among other weapons—and perform magical attacks to defeat various enemies. The game has five difficulty settings; its two easiest ones contain a game mode playable with only one button, similar to a mode Kamiya used in Devil May Cry. Its developers designed its characters with modern style and fashion in mind, and composed for it a largely upbeat and feminine soundtrack.
Development of the game started around January 2007, and it was released in Japan in late October 2009. It has been promoted through a television commercial with music by Japanese pop singer MiChi, look-alike searches, a theme for the Google Chrome Web browser, and an upcoming photo book and soundtracks. Critical reviews of pre-release versions have praised its easily learned moves, fast pace, boss battles, “Witch Time” slowdown mechanic, and character and stage designs. However, they lamented inconsistent frame rates, duller graphics, and technical issues in its PS3 port, as well as its use of camera angles in both versions.
This micro-review is based off the Bayonetta – First Climax Demo for the PS3 port.
Loved;
Fast-paced Combat:
Combat scenes in Bayonetta are extremely fast, way faster than the directors previous title ‘Devil May Cry 4‘, fighting off large quanitities of small enemies, or a mid quantity of larger enemies with the four(!) guns the main character is able to wield. Bayonetta is also supposedly able to wield a, two-handed Katana Sword, a snake headed whip, and pictures have been posted Bayonetta wielding various shotguns, rocket-launchers and more. Apart from her own standard weapons she is also able to pick up defeated enemies weapon, ever wanted to use that boss’ huge axe? Go ahead and pick it up. Boss combat are huge as well, they got makeshift combat stages, crumbling areas and alot of action to boot. Mid-battle action commands have been used as well, posing more opportunities for varied combat, stages may be moved by the largest enemies or smashed by environmental collapses.
Huge easy-to-learn movesets and combos:
Bayonetta features an enormous moveset and combo set for each weapon, to make them easy to learn all weapons have the exact same combo-combination, making it easy to master than the previously mentioned Devil May Cry 4. The lists are enormous, more than 50 combos for each weapon, press releases stated she has four weapons total, her guns, sword, whip and one more unreleased weapon.
Hated;
Music, Graphics, Devil May Cry(?):
The music features some more feminine music than I’ve ever encountered in a video game before, except maybe for when I actually bothered to play ‘Final Fantasy X-2‘, apart from the music that makes you think you’re in a church, the game features this very… I don’t know what to call it. ‘Annoying high-toned female approached music that makes my head go “ERRRGH!”‘. It’s a gamble to use this genre of music for an action games, I’m mostly used to high-pumped rock/metal styled combat music with ambience sounds when not in combat, I’ve played thousands of action games, and this one – apart from the previously mentioned Final Fantasy game, is the only one to feature this music. And I DU NUT WANT!
And as far as graphics, backgrounds are horrible for looking like they spent 5 minutes painting a scenario, then editing it into a 3D model in approximately 45 minutes. I’d dare saying it’s far worse than any other 4th generation game I’ve seen so far! Overall character design could use more works. As being a female oriented game — Hey ‘ey wait’a'damn’minit! A female game? THIS?! WHAT?! How in the world could the character designers make a game that is geared toward females, and have the main characters clothes be made out of her own hair?! Even when you perform a ‘Climax Attack‘, which is the most powerful finishing move for bosses, she gets 90% naked except for the ‘sensitive regions’ will be covered in remnants of hair! I am definately not a masoschist, but I do claim this game to be more male oriented rather than female at this build.
However I will have to ask for a genuine female opinion from another ‘Kipz member before bashing this to hell.
Last nail in the coffin, aside from the game director having directed Devil May Cry 4, but does Bayonetta have to be an offspring of it? Anyone who played DMC4 would instantly notice about 90% of the mechanics and gameplay are stolen/ripped straight out the ass of DMC4. This just makes it repetitive from a previous game and makes it lose alot of capabilities to be played over and over.
This also struck the nail in the coffin for me, I will not buy the game unless I can get it for 0.50$ or as a gift from anyone in regards of donating it to me, or giving it as a gift.
Bayonetta is a good looking game, when you don’t look at the environments, character designs are off concering the target group for the game, I doubt females need any confirmation that they’re below 1.90 metres tall, or have a perfectly shaped body and supremely long legs. This is more a male game rather than female, albeit females may play it or may not. To get a better point of view, I’ll ask a female ‘Kipz member to test the game for me, and come up with their opinion of it.
Making it an offspring of Devil May Cry 4, not a good idea either, Devil May Cry 4 wasn’t exactly the greatest game of the series, but this may or may not save Hideki Kamiyas hiney from flames, however I doubt this beyond the borders.
I recommend you rent the game before buying it 8th of January, try before buy is the tip of choice for this game.
