Although yet to receive a release window beyond a vague "2014", Bayonetta 2 is a highly anticipated arrival on the Wii U; it's also easy to forget that, when confirmed for the system in August 2012, large parts of the internet given up to game forums suffered a meltdown. While the original Bayonetta may not have been a commercial smash hit, it seems to benefit from a fiercely loyal following; some of those fans are even pushing for a Wii U release of that title, though the words of Reggie Fils-Aime may put them off further campaigning.
While preview builds and limited footage so far certainly look promising, one aspect of Bayonetta 2's development may disappoint fans — well-known Platinum Games Director Hideki Kamiya isn't leading the project, though he's undoubtedly provided consultancy on occasion. Kamiya-san did take on directing duties for Wii U exclusive The Wonderful 101, however, and in a Weekly Famitsu interview (translated by Kotaku) he explains that his focus is on new experiences and ideas, taking away the opportunity to continue on previous franchises.
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It's not that I don't want to make sequels – I really do! But considering the nature of my position, I don't really get a chance to. Somebody needs to offer new entertainment to gamers and do the work of sowing seeds that can later grow to be strong pillars. It sounds a little overblown, but I've come to believe that is my purpose. If I had been involved with Devil May Cry 2, then Viewtiful Joe and Okami might never have been made. If I was directing Bayonetta 2, then I wouldn't have been able to make The Wonderful 101.
Kamiya-san's projects, including The Wonderful 101, do often deliver experiences that are fresh and different from a lot of other games on the market, so perhaps this is a sound policy to follow. Do you agree?
[source kotaku.com]
Comments 37
As long as he sometimes peeks around the corner and directs the people in the right direction, im fine
I can't wait to play Bayonetta looks bad-donkey !
Bayonetta would be a good release to announce on the awards show Saturday. Show a lengthy trailer and give a release date. Hopefully Platinum continues to support the Wii U with great games like W101
BAYONETTA 2 IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!! Please show this game at VGX and put Bayonetta 1 on Eshop for 10 bucks!!!
@Gerbwmu Nintendo should just buy Platinum Games!!!
Man I really like that guy.
I hope who ever is directing has a better sense of normal game convention pacing. W101 is great, except for a few really screwy things. Like most levels take 15-20 minutes, but a couple took me over 40, and they probably should have been 2 levels a piece, but I'm sure they wanted to keep 3 levels per world. And save points should come after boss battles so I can enjoy my victory. Don't reward my beating a boss by having me sludge through some wind blown icy area, save that for the next level.
Okami was great, Bayonetta was even better, just sometimes playing W101 I sit there thinking - did anybody actually play test this before it was released? Fortunately that's a rare occurrence, but when it does happen it's obvious and annoying.
I hope we get a B2 date soon. Since it's Nintendo i'ld settle for a season/quarter. Seems like a good Winter/March game but since we haven't heard much hopefully by Autumn/October.
I wouldn't mind seeing Nintendo buy 49% of platinum......it would be nice to see them grab a few other studios as well. Maybe even a few western studios to produce a FPS or MMO. Variety is always a good thing....but then again the cost maybe to much for what I'm asking for. Still I'd like to see more 2nd party type titles, maybe even a return to some sports titles that don't involve a plumber. I still think Ken Griffey Jr baseball for SNES is one of the best baseball games.
I fully agree with his stance. It's nice to get more of a good thing, but I'd pick a brand new game over ANY sequel.
I hope this isn't taken as inflammatory, but the idea of constantly pumping out more content for an existing 'franchise' seems to be the norm in the US. When I was in my teens, I was quite into manga. You could look up recommendations, buy a single book, or a series that had 5 or 10 volumes and enjoy it, then recommend then to someone else. Around that time, I tried getting into comics, and that is the complete opposite. Want to start reading Spider-Man? It's next to impossible to get the whole story as you have 50 years worth of material. This leads to the reboot, which I still find an utterly ridiculous concept in any form of media.
TV shows are the same. It seems instead of the writers of a TV show wanting to tell a story, the first rule is it has to have 24 episodes to fit into a TV season, and then if it's good, you have to make more of it. It doesn't matter if you finished telling your story, you keep making more until people start losing interest. The writing just has to suffer when instead of a story forming in someone's head, they are told they need to make more episodes of a particular show so need to come up with a new story that keeps using the same characters. It's also really hard to recommend a TV show to someone when they consist of a couple of hundred hours of viewing to get through it all.
@Gerbwmu What happens if a japanese company starts to let western devs do their work can be seen if you look at capcoms general direction. And i highly doupt that we need any more FPS games, but thats a taste question.
They should at least invest majorly into platinum. They are the kings of their respective genre (hack and slay / beat em ups) and both could really benefit from one another.
Makes sense. The guy wants to work on new things which should be respected.
@Einherjar - I think you misunderstand my thought. I don't want Nintendo to let western developers take over their franchises.....I want 1 or 2 western developers making their own 2nd party games as part of Nintendo's family.....much like Rare with Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, or Conker.......
And yes.....too many FPS but I haven't played one I've really enjoyed since Time Splitters 2?
More looking for variety in the titles since I believe 3rd party support will be limited as it has been since N64
@Gerbwmu Oh, ok. Yes, i misunderstood that, sorry Sure, im all in for that as long as it wont be a major focuspoint. Im happy that nintendo as a japanese company is still making japanesy games in comparison to all the others.
And like i said, im not a big fan of FPS games Although a few more western oriented franchises couldnt hurt.
@rjejr I agree with you to an extent, mostly with that Ice level. It always felt like the levels should have ended after fighting Vorkken. Other than that though, I loved the game.. it's still up there as my possible Wii U game of the year. My biggest grudge with it though is the fact that I just can't get platinum on the final boss and unlock Bayonetta.. that stupid flight part is just too much for me. Even on Very Easy if you get hit once it ruins every chance of getting a platinum trophy. -_-
There are VERY few game developers with the skill and talent of Kamiya. Whenever he makes a new game, you KNOW it's going to be good, and you KNOW you're going to be buying it. That's just how good his games are.
I say, the few that exist with THAT kind of talent, should indeed continue trailblazing new frontiers of IP, rather than focusing on sequels. For every sequel a man like Kamiya directs, we forfeit another smashing new IP.
That part about Okami and Viewtiful Joe not existing had he continued on with Devil May Cry...that gets me. It'd be a crime to deny the gaming industry gems like that. As long as he can at least take a peek at it from time to time, I'm happy. And I trust the whole of Platinum anyway. Bring in Bayo!
Well that's cool. Hopefully this game will still be as fun as the first though.
@Peach64 I agree 100% percent with this.
@Peach64 Very good once again, Peach!
Bayonetta 2 does look amazing but only going to be of any interest to me if we get Bayonetta the first one on Wii U other wise doubt I'll bother. Not unless I go down the road of getting Bayonetta on PS3.
Thank god he made that decision then! I don't know what I'd do without The Wonderful 101 in my life!
I never played Bayonetta, but I have it on good authority my mind will be blown to bits if the sequel is nearly as good. I hope it is.
That said, after finishing The Wonderful 101, I slipped it into my top three favorite games ever. I loved every single bit of it. So if Kamiya not directing Bayonetta 2 was the only way he could have produced that, I don't mind one bit.
Bit, bit, bits...
@Gerbwmu As far as FPSs go I would love to see another Conduit on the Wii U. Bring us some of that make it exclusive, then they have more variety than the other two offer. The others mostly have FPSs, Nintendo has a variety of games and having another genre to add to their impressive roster couldn't hurt.
Well, after all the fun I had with Wonderful 101, it would be crazy not to try this game out although I would greatly appreciate it if the original was made available (it has been hinted on Kamiya-san's Twitter). It would be even cooler if they bundled the original with the game
"Somebody needs to offer new entertainment to gamers and do the work of sowing seeds that can later grow to be strong pillars. It sounds a little overblown, but I've come to believe that is my purpose."
Words to live by.
@Spuratis - Im just abut up to the boss fight, but I'm not a big medal guy. It does suck to get 1 pure plat, 3 plats and a gold only to wind up w/ a gold trophy, but I'm just playing thru it once on "easy". My Gamefly membership expires tomorrow so I need to mail it back next week. Then Dragon's Dogma Arisen (thank you PS+) until Chritmas and then SM3DW (solo and family fun), Skylanders (2 player w/ my wife) and Lego Marvel (2 player w/ my kids).
Bayonetta 2 and X are my next big solo games.
I'll judge it when it comes out, whoever led the development.
Not a fan of the short hair on Bayonetta, nothing against short hair, I just don't think it looks good on her.
But seriously, this game needs to come out sooner than later. It was published by Nintendo to prove to people that the Wii U and Nintendo was going to support and support developing hardcore titles, and so far that point has not been proven.
@Unit_DTH Conduit 3 would rock. Also Ubisoft should make Red Steel 3, although at this point it wouldn't make commercial sense at all. RS2 was awesome.
Am I the only one that would love a madworld 2? That game was amazing,marred by the wii's limited hardware. Imagine what the wii u could do!
Does this mean he's currently working on another game...
Given how good Wonderful 101 was, I think I am going to purchase Bayonetta 2, even though I usually do not like Beat them up or games with explicit sexual content.
Have been waiting for this game and monolith since I got a wiiu mid December last year. I hope this comes out soon!!
@Blastoise-san
Yeah they should. Nintendo needs more developers.
@sgotsch that pikulhu is awesome!
@sgotsch that pikulhu is awesome!
@B-Squared Okami and Viewtiful Joe both are incredible games! Those and (nearly?) all other Platinum Games... well, games, prove the entire team must be good at what they do, and love it. So indeed, they have my trust, and my money.
Bayonetta 2's announcement made me make some high pitched, unidentifiable noise of suppressed happiness.
But Kamiya you are somehow involved with an upcoming yet-to-be-revealed Okami game right? RIGHT? Because I need it in my life :' )
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