With Bayonetta 2 around the corner as a Wii U exclusive, a reality that caused quite a stir when announced in 2012, it may be important for Nintendo-focused gamers to consider diving into the fresh port of the original Bayonetta, a title that skipped Wii when released in the last generation. Whether it's a worthwhile double-dip opportunity is another topic, but this arrival on the Wii U eShop — or as an inclusion with the sequel, depending on your region and purchase — does give a new audience a look at one of Platinum Games' definitive efforts.
The premise of Bayonetta is, like much of its approach, contrary to the norms we come to expect of big-name action games. Bayonetta herself is a witch that fights and butchers angels to survive, for example, but these heavenly enemies are rather grotesque creatures designed to inflict maximum damage. When you throw in human characters, multiple planes of reality and intersections of time, along with this continual run of biblical battles between Umbran Witches, Lumen Sages and all of their respective minions besides, you get a true sense for the fantastical setting. Despite its potential to confuse, and the fact that smaller details can be head scratchers, the storytelling works on basic levels and is enticing, drawing you in to learn more.
Of course, that's all in the context of a mature game. This is a title packed with innuendo and sexual suggestibility, and it's important to address that right away, especially as M-rated releases are rare on Nintendo's home console. It also raises questions over the portrayal of Bayonetta in terms of gender representation; there are interpretations that suggest she's a powerful, strong women asserting herself, while other arguments state that she's simply a figure of male fantasy. We dither between those two perspectives and middle-ground depending on the stage, it seems, as Bayonetta's displays of admirable power are then joined by overtly sexual 'torture' moves. Once again, be prepared for the realities of what Bayonetta brings to the Wii U, and accept that there may be some cringe-worthy sequences.
With that serious stuff out of the way, we'll switch gear to that most important detail, the game itself. In terms of structure it's a rather welcome throwback, offering up a single player action experience as a standalone mode; aside from some concept art and achievements, that's the core deal. It's a welcome approach, however, as the end result is a campaign that was clearly given the utmost devotion. A flat playthrough will need up to a dozen hours, but each chapter is carefully crafted — levels alternate from a linear series of confrontations and mini-bosses, to extensive boss battles that fill the screen and can take up to 20 minutes in their own right. The approach is one of sheer audacity, with large-scale environments and extravagant design being the key factors.
Bayonetta is, in most cases, a fluid and smooth protagonist to control — the basic third-person movement works well, but this is a title defined by the combat and the intensity of the action. There are two primary attacks — punch and kick — that can be chained into a daunting range of combos; we suspect most will settle on a few favourites for most occasions, and it's certainly vital to master these move-sets to activate more powerful strikes. As the difficulty ramps up the difference between success and failure can be to turn relatively weak primary attacks into completed combos.
There's impressive depth and complexity beyond those basic attacks however, such as Witch Time — if a dodge is triggered just prior to an enemy attack you slow time and have the opportunity to gain a significant advantage; its implementation is less generous than in the sequel, but is truly rewarding when achieved. The scope is truly impressive once you also account for a substantial range of moves and abilities that can be purchased with in-game currency. You can buff your abilities with various wearable accessories, mix collectibles to form other key items and customise Bayonetta to become increasingly powerful, with a nice balance to encourage additional playthroughs. Perhaps the most important customisation is in a selection of weapons beyond the core guns; these can be assigned to feet and hands in any mix you desire, and fundamentally change the combat, allowing those that commit to mastering the mechanics to experiment for the best results.
These factors all contribute to a tight and at times thrilling combat system. It's hard to comprehend the speed of events without a little self awareness, as thumbs and actions on screen become a barely perceptible blur that, nevertheless, makes sense when playing. Visual indicators are vitally important in holding the set-pieces together, keeping some level of accessibility to accompany the impressive range of attack options — some enemies even require basic auto-aimed gun play as you wait for them to come within melee range. At its best the action is truly breathtaking, and with Climax battle-ending moves against boss enemies there's a suitably cinematic quality as Bayonetta summons enormous beasts — with her hair, accentuating the fantastical approach — to pummel the unfortunate villain. Much like in The Wonderful 101 you'll be asked to regularly mash a button as rapidly as possible in quick-time events like these, but it fits well with the high-speed action.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the ambition and bravado on show, there are moments that frustrate. These are typically found in on-rails sequences that, while welcome in switching up gameplay, can be sloppy in implementation. Though visually appealing, there's often a lack of control, making them feel overly dependent on luck or, at worse, reliant on trial and error. In addition quick-time events can occasionally feel cheap, in which you're watching a cut scene but suffer an immediate death if you fail to react to an unexpected prompt; it's rare, yet with Continues effecting your level ranking these can be frustrating occurrences.
The overall campaign, however, is an exaggerated and breathless romp, generally pushing gamers to master the complexities and mechanics to get the most out of the experience. The 'Normal' difficulty is certainly punishing enough, meanwhile (with more difficult options available), but 'Easy' and 'Very Easy' should enable almost any player to progress through the full storyline — there's undeniable motivation to improve the trophy record page that's provided upon an initial completion. There's also an optional 'automatic' option in these easier settings that enables powerful combos to be completed without the precise timing and co-ordination typically required; there's more satisfaction in removing the automatic option, in our view, but credit is due — Bayonetta may be uncompromising and demanding in much of what it does, but it supports those new to the genre or less skilled.
That brings us to a new feature exclusive to the Wii U port — touch screen controls. It's functional, as you use a combination of touch and hold, swiping and tapping to run, dodge and attack, but suffers from the inevitable nature inherent in the control scheme. For the same reason we wouldn't feel inclined to play a fast-paced game like this — especially one in which we instinctively use the right stick to swing the camera around — on a tablet or phone, we see little benefit in this case. It harms no-one, but any players struggling with difficulty can opt for the aforementioned automatic mode and still enjoy progress. Our favoured controller, overall, has been the Wii U Pro Controller, though the GamePad's physical inputs and the Classic Controller are also available.
The other major additions for this port, which have been high profile, are costumes that are available right from the beginning. We have portrayals of Princess Peach, Daisy, Link and Samus Aran available, and they are a little more than simple skins. The Mushroom Kingdom themed outfits replace combo-closing power strikes with Bowser's limbs, the Link costume enables a timed block — using a mini Hyrule Shield — while Samus Aran has a fun arm cannon. While minor changes they nevertheless add an extra dynamic, and give extra motivation to embark on additional playthroughs of stages — our only minor complaint is that these outfits aren't fully mapped to Bayonetta and the environment, so during gameplay and cutscenes there's plenty of obvious clipping.
To wrap up with the overall presentation of this title, it's a distinctly mixed bag. Audio is a highlight with some terrific music, solid — and campy — voice acting and an impressive level of polish throughout. The visuals are showing their age a little, though environment design is excellent; we smoothly move from Southern European architecture to heavenly and hellish settings, with distinct identities given to the crossed realities referenced earlier in this review. An area that's been substantially improved in the sequel, however, is in the crispness and colour palette of the engine — though a stylistic choice, the muted colours here can lead to a fuzzy overall perspective, marginally undermining the fast-paced combat. There are also occasional dips in framerate, meanwhile, but we should be clear that they're not excessive or particularly damaging to gameplay; it's still a far superior performance to the particularly poor PS3 version.
Conclusion
Bayonetta's distribution — as part of Bayonetta 2's release in various packages or as an eShop download — makes it a must have for action fans intent on jumping into the newer entry. It lays important groundwork with the lore and story, while also giving us a look at the gameplay foundations that have been further refined in the sequel. In its own right it's a cocky, self-assured and bombastic video game, yet maintains a sense of irreverence and fantastical fun nevertheless. Whether as a free extra or standalone download, it's absolutely worth exploration for Wii U owners that fancy some frenetic action and impressive combos. Bayonetta has attitude, and while you may occasionally cringe at this one's mixed messages in empowering its heroine, it serves up a great deal of frenetic action — your controller of choice won't know what's hit it.
Comments 135
I played the original recently enough that I will jump right in to Bayo2, although I'll play this a bit; I want to see Daisy Bayo in action, and I'm curious to compare PG's work to the infamous PS3 version.
The on rails bits are better than the button mashing bits. (I haven't played all of it).
I'll get the combo pack of these and start off with part 1. October leading into SSBWiiU in November is going to be one helluva run for me.
I dont usually replay games - too much out there to get to as it is - but looking fotward to revisiting this one. I played it on PS3 after the patch and really didnt notice any problems for those concerned about such things. Not worried at all about this version.
I'll be getting the special edition though I have to pre-order it. Although I could just play the 360 version I rather play through the first one on the game pad and it will be natural for me to jump into the sequal rather then use the 360 controller for the first game and the game pad for the second.
God there are so many games coming out. I am importing P4AU (payed upfront at least), payed off Pokemon. I still need to order Bayonetta and Persona Q and don't get me started with steam. >.<
This will be an expensive 3 months.
I played this on PS3 a couple years ago and loved it so I'm excited for the Wii U version it was one of my top five games I'd recommend for PS3 I'd SO GIVE THIS GAME A 10 on Wii U for the addition of costumes alone LoL, this seems a bit early for this review though you guys at NintendoLife already got the full game ??? I simply can't wait for Bayonetta two have been psyched since they announced it two and a half years ago come on October get here ..
Looking forward to replaying my favorite action game of last gen.
@ThomasBW84 Wait did the embargo for this end today or was there never one to begin with?
Cant freaking wait !
Yeah!!! Hyped for this!!
An 8 seems a little low for the best action game of the last gen, should have been at least a 9 and then Bayonetta 2 can get a 10.
Well this is a surprise review out of the blue…so um is it Oct 24th yet??? Good review. Lately ive been replaying a lot W101 to get my Platinum fix until Bayo2 & 1 come out but also with a side of Xenoblade ive been able to wait as patiently as i can LOL!
I cringed at the utter sh*tness of the cutscenes.
This game was game of the month in gameinformer and you guys gave it 8/10? A 9 is the real answer. Can't wait till October to get my hands on this game(1 and 2).
Managed to get the first print version before it sold out. Between this, Curtain call and Smash Bros 3ds plus a few other ongoing games, i'll be sorted until Christmas. Been saving and sacrificing like mad so this had better be worth the extra! I'm really enjoying the wonderful 101 so if Platinum can make it at least half as enjoyable as that, then i'm sorted ♡
play 1 or 2 first? I'm afraid of playing 1 & then getting too jaded to enjoy 2
Anyone know anything about the GameCube controller for Wii U, like is it considered a Pro Controller & will it work for Bayo 1 & 2, & is it better than Pro Controller or just for Smash Bros?
Be warned, you may cringe?
Seriously NL, I am not a baby, nor do I suspect most of the people who will buy the game are. You don't need to waste words with such parental, hand holding nonsense. We are all quite capable of deciding for ourselves whether to be offended or not.
This is a masterful action game. 8/10, eh?
If this game and it's sequel were less, for lack of a better word, perverted I would buy them in a heartbeat.
@snoox I'm not sure the gamecube controller will be compatible with many games besides Smash. It lacks the clickable sticks, one shoulder button and the - button.
By the way, pretty early for a review, isn't it?
The game is a 10 IMO. One of my favorite games that I played on the 360. Although I'm not double dipping for this, can't wait for Bayonetta 2.
@Savino Well, Kamiya created both DMC and Bayonetta, so of course they're similar.
Whoah surprise! They should release this soon on the eShop on bundle so we would play Bayo2 at launch.
Fortunately just enough time between Hyrule Warriors and this. It is going to be a pretty exciting few months for the rest of the year!
@Wonkers I do not see any problem with their mentioning the content as it is helpful to parents that check out reviews prior to getting this game for their kids. I know I don't plan on playing this around my kids.
Yes.
The PS3 version was the worst compared to the 360 version! Much worse. I'm sure the Wii U's version will be the definitive one. I love this game very much. The music is also fantastic. That soundtrack is memorable.
@Frapp Well don't you go and you know what. (it rhymes with your name )
Best action game of last gen gets an 8?
@bouncer0304 it's arguably much better than w101 which incidentally was my game of the year last year so if you enjoyed that then rest assured, you're in safe hands:-)
also an eight does not do this masterpiece justice, i demand a recount or a full blown riot at NLife towers, whichever one is easiest to organise. one of the gems of last gen and my personal best game of the generation and that's no mean feat as street fighter 4 was also in the mix (my 2nd best game of last gen)
oct 24 seems so far away.CAN NOT WAIT. (but obviously have to...)
Got my Bayonetta poster collection on the wall. My preorder is locked in. And like Bayonetta said "Flock off feather face"
Blinded by (best of) nostalgia it seems says the comments. 8 is still a pretty good score folks. Even with the score, if you like what you see, get the game!
Plz get the game.
8/10 is a fantastic score ya bunch of ding dongs!
@CaPPa
Huh, was thinking the same thing. I wasn't really a fan of the story (not bad, just not that captivating), but I really liked the characters and the gameplay is unrivaled in the 3D beat-em up genre. I wouldn't say 8/10 is wrong (GAWD I hated the missile sequence), but I would easily bump this up to a 9/10 from my personal perspective. Games like God of War III, DMC Reboot, etc. just don't even compare.
Sweet can't wait to get both
This one getting an 8 pretty much supports my prediction that Bayo2 will get a 9.
Nice to hear it supports Classic and that the costumes are there from the start. Any excuse to replay this masterpiece is welcome.
Protip: get the Moon of Maha Kahla as soon as you can. my first playthrough would have been a lot easier with it.
The entirety of Bayonetta is a really intricate (and often exceedingly exaggerated) mix of weird innuendo, cool (and sexy) shots, and a genuinely interesting plot that actually has definite relevance. And that's exactly why I liked it so much back then! I'll be glad to waste every minute I need to make it through this game once more - and then, off to number two!
Again why is it rare for M rated games to be on Nintendo consoles still? When Wii got M rated titles they were huge
YESSSSSSSSSS
@CharleSketch ooooh ok got it thnx for the reply! Guess I'll be getting a Pro Controller then
I don't usually insult an article but this review was bleh, took a long time to really get into the review and only an 8? Hmm...
Wonder if reviews on Bayonetta mean that it will be released on eShop not long after Hyrule warriors is out worldwide
@sinalefa - "get the Moon of Maha Kahla as soon as you can."
Wow, you really are serious about your Platinum games arent you I remember it being a great game and most of the playthru and storyline but I dont recall any names of anything. Though now that you mention it that does sound familiar.
@Gerbwmu - I cant imagine they would release it much before 2 if its free w/ 2 but you have to pay for 1 separately. Either people would be mad if they paid for it not knowing it is coming free, or it would just be sitting there taking up space. Maybe a week before w/ the weekly update. Nintendo has been really good the past month advertising new and upcoming titles on the eShop so I expect that to be up there.
We seriously need a digital preorder for Bayo 2 wherein you can get this early. Like, now.
@Mega719 I'd say it's due to lack of 3rd party support this time around, not really the lack of actual M rated titles developed. With so many big 3rd parties jumping ship, most of our content comes from Nintendo itself (whom generally don't create M titles) or indies.
Back in the Wii days it was more due to stigma of being filled with "casuals" (I hate that term as much as I hate the "hardcore" label) and being family oriented. 3rd parties assumed the fanbase was filled with soccer moms and grandparents, so to speak.
there will be 16 different threads on the message board about wanting additional costumes. i bet my life on it.
Never played it but I am considering getting 2 so ill get to try out 1 if do get 2 cause it comes with it.
@rjejr
That is the item that lets you parry attacks, so I use it a lot.
Looking forward to both these titles!!
@Captain_Toad Probably to build up even more hype.
" It also raises questions over the portrayal of Bayonetta in terms of gender representation; there are interpretations that suggest she's a powerful, strong women asserting herself, while other arguments state that she's simply a figure of male fantasy. We dither between those two perspectives and middle-ground depending on the stage, it seems, as Bayonetta's displays of admirable power are then joined by overtly sexual 'torture' moves. Once again, be prepared for the realities of what Bayonetta brings to the Wii U, and accept that there may be some cringe-worthy sequences."
BOOOO!
@Wonkers
Seriously. The game is so fantastic that I never found myself cringing. More like grinning through the whole thing.
@shonenjump86 You don't need to double dip! it comes free with bayo2!
@NickieBoy
Yeah I know. I just meant that I would not buy it standalone on the Wii U e shop.
Great review! Pre-ordered a couple days ago, With Bayonetta 1 & 2, hyrule warriors and smash on the way it's a great time to be a Wii U owner.
So was the rail section, framerate and some things with the visuals, the only things making it an 8? Because this review reads like a 9 unless I'm missing something.
Sounds like a good, solid action game.
I was really expecting 9, and I have that PS3 version of the game.
Best action game of last gen. Hands down.
8/10 is a great score but this game is definitely a 9 and can easily get a 10 in my mind. That said I'm so excited for this to finally be coming out. I really hope a lot of people pick it up and try it out. It's a BRILLIANT game and the sequel only looks better!
Can't wait. I'm almost there baby. Don't get to the climax without me.
9.5 out of 10 in my books.
Eight seems low. This is one of the absolute best games in its whole genre. I would definitely give it a 9, maybe even higher. I really hope Bayonetta 2 can live up to this game!
Can't wait to play this (again) and Bayonetta 2!
Any word on the technical quality of the port? Bayonetta on 360 is one of my favourite games of all time but the PS3 port was pretty bad, with terrible frame rate and poor controls. Dips in frame rate get mentioned but is it closer to 360 or PS3? Is it as good as the 360?
Oh, and it's very much not a free extra in Europe. The solus versions is £30 and and the double pack is £50. Considering you can pick it up on 360 for a few pounds, there's definitely a decision to be made.
Here in he uk , Edge video game magazine have bayonetta 10 out of 10 for the original 360 version.
I wonder what Bayo 2 will get
Wow, Bayo1 doesn't look anywhere near as good as Bayo2. They really did upgrade the visuals for Bayo2!
Bayonetta clearly is one of the best action games out there. Though sometimes frustrating, the first playthrough feels nice, and the following ones are madness, as Bayonetta is like a lot of Platinum's other outings: the first playthough is a tutorial, and then you go and have fun.
Honestly, if you like challenging games and over-the-top violence, and of course, have the humor for it, Bayonetta is perfect! And I'm not even talking about how the sequel looks... 0_O
@Frapp awesome gif!
Why do so many Wii U games exclude Wii Remote controls? I think this would suit. Call Of Duty on Wii U is better for having zapper style controls. Shame
@Jllanos22 @BossBattles @Emblem
Thomas outlined some solid complaints, notably that the games visuals have somewhat dated since it's original release and these were not overhauled to bring it inline with the sequel. The questionable gender representation, while not be a detractor for some is certainly worthy of nicking it down from a perfect score.
To anyone who has played these games, do any of the non Nintendo outfits allow you to cut down on the nakedness that seems to follow combo execution? It just seems crass and excessive.
Wow, really early review. The game isn't out for another month. Good to hear you got your review copy well in advance!
Sorry to be a critic, but with the use of press shots and the way the review is structured I'm not convinced this is a review of the Wii U version, just thought I'd put it out there.
I know nintendolife.com use press shots generally, but it would be a real boon to get actual screenshots, in this case screenshots of the referenced clipping on the costumes would be good and futher legitimise the article.
@JibberX @Peach64 I had the same feeling... BTW, an italian review says that the Wii U port is as good as the 360 version, but the touchscreen controls are quite bad...
@JibberX We always use press shots - as do most sites!
Grabbing unique screens for every single game would be an incredibly time-consuming venture, and press shots are usually better anyway, so we - like most of the industry - just use those instead.
I can assure you that this review is based on Wii U code. What about the review's structure gave you any reason to doubt this? I'm just curious.
@Damo thanks for the response, I understand the effort to get screenshots, but naturally unique screenshots would increase the presentation as a whole, we all know press shots have an idealised and curated dare I say staged output (we all know how much fun Ubi-Soft have with them).
So for the review itself, naturally your audience might be more interested in the game itself verses the Wii U treatment of it, however since this is effectively the 2nd port of a 360 game it might've made more sense to start with how good the Wii U port is vs the burying of that detail in paragraph 10.
Specifically the broad references to the use of the touchscreen and the additional skins in paragraph 11. It could be argued that you would start with that, and move into the game game later on... but I can see why you did it the other way. I understand that the weapons and the purchasing of them is a critical element is extending and understanding the game, as such I wonder if the "novelty" Nintendo items are just rehashes of existing weapons or actually thought out extensions of the game engine, I'd hope the latter. It's brushed on, but maybe that's more of a job for a guide perhaps.
I was mainly interested in the framerate, and if that was a chokefest, and you reference that, so that's cool.
Hope this helps.
@JibberX This is a review of a game which has previously never been available on a Nintendo platform, so we obviously thought it would make more sense to describe the game itself in detail before moving onto the benefits of the Wii U port.
Even if this wasn't the situation, reviews should never assume the reader knows everything about the game in question; it's always good form (in my opinion, and clearly Tom's, too) to take the time to describe what the game is about before digging into details such as how it compares to other versions on other systems. While people like yourself - who have played the game elsewhere - will know the basics, there will be many who have never touched Bayonetta on PS3 or 360.
Hope this explains our stance.
@Damo yeah, that's cool, cheers for the responses.
Apologies for being so cynical.
I hope the review of the PS4 version of Bayonetta 2 is a accurate as my initial impression.
I've never complained about that dumb number at the bottom of the review but there is always a first time and to give an 8 to Bayonetta is ridiculous. The best game of its genre in many years, maybe the best ever, deserves at least a 9 and probably a 10.
I don't understand how can you give just an 8 and yes, I know 8 is a very good grade but this game is more than very good.
I pre-ordered the First Print Edition in that book case.
@DarkCoolEdge There are plenty of button mashing action games, and many Warriors fans would think it's more laughable to rate this higher than Hyrule Warriors, due to HW having a load more variation.
@JibberX
PS4 version of Bayonetta 2? Where did you hear or read that?
On topic:
I haven't played this game nor heard about it before. I'm glad they ported it to the Wii U as I have no intention of buying Bayo2 without playing this first one. Day one buy!
@BensonUii on my comedically implausible wrap around face phone I bought in at a stall inside the Great Fox...
(It was a joke to infer that I was wrong. Very wrong.)
Now I've explained it, I must watch several episodes of Keeping Up Appearances, thanks.
One of the best games ever made and certainly the best game of this type.8 WTF
Whoa, isn't this a bit early?!
Anyway, it's been a tough few months at retail for me. I have little interest in both Hyrule Warriors and Bayonetta 2, sadly (although I'm probably still getting the latter as soon as I can), so I most definitely will not be playing this game before diving into 2. Who knows, maybe if I end up absolutely loving the sequel, I'll go back and play through this one.
I happen to think it was a great review. Also, I wish I could play this now, so I could be good to go when 2 comes out. I own a 360 and yet somehow missed out on the original so I'm pumped. My only problem is that I play games slower then the typical gamer, so if I start with B1 in late October, I may not get to B2 until well into November......and then Smash comes out! So I might not get to B2 until December.....and then Captain Toad comes out! So then I might not get to B2 until January! What a problem.
I wish I knew if I could ignore B1 for B2 and come back to B1. But then I might not want to. Again, what a problem.
@rjejr - My thought was that they would release this a few weeks early in a promo for buying Bayo 2 digitally.......preorder Bayo 2 and play Bayo 1 today or buy Bayo 1 and get the price off your digital version of Bayo 2 type thing
I think my feelings on this are the same as when it released on 360. I am sure there are those that will like it, but it is not for me nor any of my children.
Simply put, even though Bayonetta is a strong female character, she also has a sexual exploitation aspect to her that for me takes away from the game by cheapening it. Why couldn't she designed to be just as powerful without needing that exploitation and fan service? The GIF above highlights that, and makes me cynically wonder why Devil May Cry never had a butt/junk shot fly under?
wait you guys got a review copy already? dang that's quick
@sinalefa - "parry attacks"
Ahhh, we're not much for that in this house, no guarding or grabbing or blocking, just beat or be beaten My kids really need to learn some tactics though in SSB if they are going to keep going to tournaments.
@undomiel - Hmm...that's why we have a rating system, so we don't need to be told what's in it. It is rated as an 18, so for those 18 and over.
@Wonkers - is right to question NL. We don't that hand holding nonsense.
@Gerbwmu - OK, that would work. I don't get pre-ordering digital games honestly, but if I could get an entire game for free and play it 2 weeks early just for pre-ordering, yeah, that would work. I don't normally buy digital unless I have to but I would consider it for that. Though I think the US is getting 2 discs w/ 1 game on each, or maybe it's both games on 1 disc, so I would probably buy the disc. Wish they would have been clearer on that from the beginning but it does seem to be different distribution methods in different regions.
All that said, as good as Nintendo has been of late, I'ld be surprised to see B1 two weeks early. Though since you brought it up not quite as surprised now
@Gerbwmu
That would be too easy. Another missed opportunity by Nintendo.
@AJWolfTill
You have such a problem with a female video game character showing skin and being sexual that you would want an option or mod to cover it up? I'm sorry, but you're ridiculous. Just play the game and enjoy it, I promise the nasty bits won't hurt you.
One of the best games of last gen, even better with added Nintendo content, dirt cheap physical release in an epic limited collector's box which I'll get, with an exclusive sequel no one dared to hope for... Well, that's a 10/10 to me.
Seeing as this is an eshop version review, I can forgive the 8/10 80% has never been bad in any regard anyways.
A little bit bellow average since the 360 version have a metacritic of 90. I don't know why, but every recent (two weeks or so) review on NintendoLife is usually 1 or 2 points bellow what I would expect. And that's very weird since for almost an year now this site was usually grading games pretty much the same as what I expect.
@rjejr - OK......I'm going out on a limb.....we will have a pre holiday hype Nintendo Direct on October 9th during which it will be revealed Bayo 1 will be available in the NA eShop directly following the direct and if you pre purchase Bayo 2 you get Bayo 1 for free.
Now to be completely wrong......
Dude what the hell this game is at least a 9.
Even though I'd give it a 10. Best action game made to date.
This game's "sex appeal" certainly isn't doing it any favors for me. Bayonetta might have been appealing to me but the fact that she dances around like a moron and does it with a big stupid grin on her face just makes it a big turn off for me. Still, I play games for the gameplay, so I'll be picking this one up.
@Wilford111 It's worth the purchase. If it bothers you, just ignore. Don't want to spoil you, but I think this is a safe spoiler if you've never played the first game. She does all of those lewd poses and such to taunt the angels/demons. Just FYI.
90% review more like if you like Classic Sega and full moon's and witchcraft you will love this game.
@Wonkers
may, not will, they are not deciding your cringeworthiness, Im pretty sure some will cringe.
So comparing this grade with the Xbox 360's grade we can see that NintendoLife's grade is among the 10 lowest grades for that version on metacritic. They have a total of 86 reviews. That's on the bottom 11% lowest grades for Bayonetta 1.
"Our favoured controller, overall, has been the Wii U Pro Controller, though the GamePad's physical inputs and the Classic Controller are also available."
Could be said for about 90% of all Wii U games.
Oh GamePad.... such a curious case.
@Darknyht really dude? The sexual aspects of the game/character are what bother you?
Not even one mention of the prevalent violence?
The game never really seemed something I want to play, I do like the SEGA music though, it has a great After Burner remix on the soundtrack.
@Frapp
For me the problem is that it's always the female that is hyper sexualized. I know that's not a popular opinion here at NL, but it's the truth. When men are portrayed as brawny/musclebound/half dressed it is for the the benefit of the male player who is playing as him.
Your gif made me cringe because I could hear all the snickering about it in the background. A few posts confirmed the reactions it got.
Sexuality is great; sexualisation isn't. As a female gamer, I get tired of the boys will be boys trope. I have no problems with the character being sexy if it's a legitimate part of the story. That gif? Pretty cringe worthy, imho.
Not caring for overt sexualisation in games doesn't necessary equate with being ok with gratuitous violence. I am more comfortable with cartoonish violence that realistic. Mentioning one doesn't mean the other is acceptable to a person.
@snoox
Actually Nintendo said they will do extensive support for WiIU GC adapter...what that means no one knows.....I hopemto god it means we get GC on VC.
Still you may want to check out the Wired Fight Pad coming only to Gamestop. It is a classic controller pro that plugs into wiimote (already supported by Bayo) and has the additional buttons but is designed like GC controller. The hope is the quality will be hood because Nintendo did license the maker so it will have luigi, mario, peach, and yoshi versions. Only $25 so I am getting one and hoping it works well.
I have to say I'm not really stoked for Bayonetta 2 and I doubt I'll ever pick this one up either. As a female gamer I just can't get behind all the sexualization of Bayonetta. It's gratuitous and serves no purpose to the game. I'm basically in the same boat as @k8sMum. I can see exactly where she's coming from and I agree.
And @Frapp I'm not against sex, I just see that it's always women who are hyper sexualized and it's never men. A lot of games seem to just be fantasy wish fulfillment for men - the men are all rugged and handsome, so you can pretend you are strong and buff, and the women have hot bodies, so you can imagine yourselves... well, you know.
Meanwhile if you're a woman you just feel very excluded when you play this sort of game. The violence IS a turn off for me - I'm not a violent person - but I can play games that are cartoony violent all day long. I also will play more realistic violent games if, say, they have a very detailed character creation system. But those games tend to be fantasy games - and that's usually not realistic violence either, no matter what the graphics look like.
The character creation thing is an important point because I feel like I am able to be represented in the game. In games like Bayonetta I feel excluded and even somewhat attacked. (I don't have to be represented as a female or anything. I play Minecraft as Steve and Pokemon as Ash and so on. But it helps.)
I'm probably not explaining myself very well, and honestly this comment section isn't really the place to get into a debate over representation of women in video games anyway.
@TheLobster
While I respect your opinion, the hyper sexualization sort of does serve a purpose In this series as it defines her character.....remember she is a witch, this is not a nice girl. Its a bit cheeky but it works.
I would say make your choice on if you like 3Rd person melee/beat em ups. If you like DMC or God of War you are gonna like Bayo and after you play you will see the hyper-sex serves a higher purpose then just titilating crotch shots.
Just about every movie, show, commercial, magazine, ect. sexualizes women so this game is more poking fun at it than joining the parade.
"Just about every movie, show, commercial, magazine, ect. sexualizes women"
That's probably a defect in our culture then, wouldn't you say?
In all honesty I am sure it is a great game in terms of GAMEPLAY - it sounds like a lot of you really like it - but in terms of my values I can't really condone it. So I'm not going to buy it, and nothing is making me play it after all. You all are free to enjoy your game and I am free not to. Have fun in October guys! I will still probably be playing Smash.
@QuickSilver88 wow amazing thnx for the info I swear Nintendo & Nintendo Life have the best gaming community
i love my WII U! ♥♥♥
@TheLobster They may make a sexualized version for men. But wait, they have done it before in SNES: Cho Aniki
@Gen Me too!!! Can't wait for this game!!!!
@JibberX Hi there, I've not been online much, hence the delay.
The Nintendo extras are (as I think I said in the review) fun but not hugely innovative. The special moves with each one do change things up a bit, so when replaying levels after completion to improve ratings etc, will be cool for experimentation. They're available from the start, too
But yeah, there's some sloppiness with the outfits clipping etc, but it's not (in my view) the end of the world.
RE anyone asking about the score - I'm reviewing the game from a current-day perspective, though I'm well aware of how much it was a standout in its original release in the last-gen. Aspects of it are flawed in my view, which I try to highlight. I consider myself a fairly tough scorer, too, and I consider 8 to be a "very good" score. Appreciate the opinions though, not everyone will always agree.
I'm used to it, I still get told off for giving SteamWorld Dig an 8
@Jazzer94 Yep, that was the embargo we had, I try not to apply logic to these things.
@GreatPlayer One video game series that is not seen outside of Japan (I am sure there are more than that but still, you really have to reach) does not compare to the vast amounts that do this to women. But that's actually pretty interesting that it even exists, thank you for drawing my attention to it.
@Frapp Genius! ;D
@TheLobster
My point exactly, we have a culture saturated with it. I for one find it exhausting...lol. Atualoy I rented the first Bayo on x360 and thought it was technically excellent but didn't find the story to be that captivating.
I am not that much of a fan of the genre of this game but have thought Bayo2 looks just superb (again technically). It appears to have more story going on and the gameplay will be tight. You are right in that the original has very passionate fans and I hope that does put a WiiU in some peoples houses that want the game.
I am more interested to see Nintendo's latest attempt at publishing something 'mature'. This and Devils Third both look hyper-violent and over the top hardcore. I would more like to see another stab at geist or hope they localize Fatal Frame. I liked TLoU and Heavy Rain on ps3 which were certainly 'mature' but not so focused on 'shooter bro' juveniles.
Last point and that is I think I am sort of mystified by Nintendo giving Bayo1 outfits from their 'good girls' like Zelda, Peach, Daisy. That seems a bit perverse to me like when Miley went from Hanna Montana to a big ho over night.
If you people don't buy Bayonetta 1+2 I won't like you all...
Don't care if violence turns you off or whatever, sell it on eBay!
I know website that is probably never getting a review copy ever again. Embargo?
What's more, 8.. Really for a masterpiece from the best action game designer of all time.. You must be smoking.
@mjc0961 Wow you are dumb.
God of war is a clone of DmC. which was designed by the maker of Bayonetta. Bayonetta is the pinnacle of his action genre design. Yeah but you couldnt get past stage two.. we understand.
@QuickSilver88 I definitely hope it helps sells Wii Us. I don't know if it will though, at this point I'm not sure if any one game can do that (MK8 notwithstanding). But it's nice to have a coveted exclusive for once that PS4/Xbone gamers would want. Devil's Third again is along the same lines, I hope it reviews well too. Even though I doubt I will ever like either game it's good to fill that sort of gap in the Wii U's library.
Though I wonder why we have to equate hardcore with violent. I am certainly not a casual gamer but I also don't buy the sort of games that are typically "core" so what am I?
I do think the outfits are a bit perverse and offputting. Something about seeing them in this sort of game is just weird. Like a sexy Halloween costume that has gone too far. I guess some of that is because I was playing games with Peach in them (Super Mario Bros.) back when I was 3 in 1990. Those characters are just so wholesome and Bayonetta is not. Haha! Well that's not her fault. Like Jessica Rabbit. "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way."
@MadAdam81 Are you saying Bayonetta is a button mashing game?? If so, you clearly haven't played it.
@Inkling Hopefully either a 9, 9.5, or 10.
@DarkCoolEdge well, an action game anyway, which requires some kind of button pressing, especially if compared to DmC and God of War.
@TheLobster
Yeah the entire core, hardcore, casual..........its all just labels that I guess industry pinheads use to try to figure out who to sell their games to and how much they are going to sell. That's why I call myself an old school gamer. I have been at it since the beginning of time (video game time that is). I started playing arcade games in the late 70s, had my first console (Atari 2600) at 11 and have owned just about everything ever made since.
I wish some gamers would be more adventurous and open to different games. I have honestly known x360 shooter bros who own and play nothing other than COD,BF, and Halo. Those games are fine but there is more in life than military FPS. FPS is probably my least favorite genre, but I like story driven games so something like DeusEX would be more my type.
My favorite type of multiplayer would have to be local co-op multi. Games like DKCTF, Rayman, or even RE5 are great fun. After all isn't it better to shoot soulless zombies together vs. shooting each other in the face?
@QuickSilver88 I agree with everything you've said.
We are going into an Hate/10 phase before the main course which none of us have played comes around? Ignore the score, everyone knows this is one of the genre defining action games of the last generation and perhaps the best around.
Focus on the points that the reviewer uses to clarify this and whether not that the reviewer used a different number even if they feel just as strongly about the game good or bad. If the points are focused on objective factors and true, no problem even if the score left something to be desired.
Subjective stuff? Well more discussion may be good then.
EDGE gave Bayonetta 2 ...10/10.
Love this game, and the movie adaptation looks pretty spectacular, too! Just seen the trailer and can't wait to check it out. See here - http://mangauk.com/item.php?s=bayonetta-the-movie-bloody-fate-dvd
I don't recall ever complaining about a grade but I'll make an exception. Just an 8 for Bayonetta?? Come on! One of the, if not The, best hack'n slash ever gets just an 8?
I usually know what grade is gonna get each game in this web but I didn't see this one coming. Consider me baffled.
Personally I love everything about this game and the sequel, I had the original PS3 and bought the WiiU double-pack, just love them. I wouldn't think twice about buying again if they happened to release a Switch package!
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