Bayonetta

Bayonetta Review

So that you know a little about where this reviewer is coming from, let me say that action/adventure games are my sweet-spot when it comes to gaming, with the God Of War trilogy being my favorites. At least, until possibly now, with the introduction of BAYONETTA. There is quite a lot to say about BAYONETTA because it's a very highly detailed, intricate, and variably complex game (more on that statement in a moment), so I'll get right to it....

THE GOOD :
As I just mentioned, there is a LOT to Bayonetta. Proof of this is the 400-page plus Collector's Edition Strategy Guide that can be purchased for this game, and if you intend to go deep on it, it's a very worthwhile investment to make. However, if your intent is not to `go deep' on this game, it's built for that too. That's one of the great things about BAYONETTA - it lets you determine how much you want to get out of it and you can play to those levels of interest or not. I guess the first tangible thing that should be noted about BAYONETTA is the unbelievably intricate, complex, smooth and tight combat system the game employs. With any variety of melee or ranged weapons you can strap to both your hands and feet, the ability to slow time down with well-executed dodges, the absolutely STAGGERING number of combination attacks that can be performed and the items you can employ to assist you in your battles, the game truly has an imposing and almost endless number of combinations that can be employed to defeat your various enemies. And it's absolutely fantastic. After you've played through the game once (it takes about that long to REALLY get the feel of everything available to you and how to use it), then you start to get an idea of what this game can be. The designers made this game so that once you have mastered the controls, fighting styles, weapons, items, etc., that the act of doing battle becomes like an artistic ballet of death for your opponents. It's truly something to behold! Beyond the centerpiece of this game, which would be the combat system, BAYONETTA, has some other impressive strengths. Not the least of which is the graphics and design. The levels, scenery and especially the design of the enemies is absolutely stunning. In the case of the enemies, which, in this game, are angels and angelic hierarchy, they are truly a wonder to behold. These are not your `humans w/ halos and wings' angels. These are truly wondrous, regal, spectacularly designed `heavenly creatures' that come in all shapes and sizes. Honestly, these are the most creative and interesting visual interpretations of angels I think I've ever seen. Truly fantastic! Equally as fantastic is the design of the main character herself. Speaking purely as a gamer-geek / fanboy (and just a guy in general ;-), it's hard not to like a hot, sexy, tightly wardrobed heroine whose clothes go flying off every time she executes certain types of attacks. The easily offended need not worry as there's no nudity in the game, but the game does have plenty of sexual innuendo, both tongue-in-cheek and not. Additionally, the game allows you to unlock (among many other weapons, characters and items) additional costumes for Bayonetta, some of which are quite revealing. Beyond the things I've already mentioned, there are other things to like about BAYONETTA, such as the fact that the game throws different methods of play at you instead of sticking with the formula and combat system you're used to using. There are entire verses that play like the old Afterburner game, there are shooting gallery sections at the end of each Chapter and other asundry methods and such thrown in. Additionally, there are other fun things you can do with the game like farm halos ( halos are the games currency and you'll need a LOT of them - read : millions - to buy things!) practice your moves on the load screens and use cheat codes to bypass unlocking some of the harder items, weapons and characters. There are many other positive things to mention about this game, however, like anything else, BAYONETTA is not without its' shortcomings, which brings me to .....

THE BAD:
Honestly, there wasn't much that I didn't like about BAYONETTA, and with the exception of one thing, all my beefs are rather menial. The one big thing that rubbed me the wrong way w/ this game (and I realize this is purely a personal thing) was that the enemies are angels and you spend the entire game brutally destroying them and other heavenly beings. Not exactly my cup of tea as it runs directly against my own religious proclivities, but I will admit that it is a rather unique approach (how often do you see the angels / heaven as the bad guys?). Beyond that one major gripe, there were a few minor things I thought could have been done better. For instance, you can assign certain items to your D-pad for easy access during gameplay, but you can only assign items to 3 of the 4 positions. That's a FAIL. Especially considering how unforgiving this game can be in terms of scoring. And speaking of that, this game is pretty difficult when it comes to scoring (if you even care about something like that in this type of a game - I really didn't)! Every item you use, every hit you take, every time you die GREATLY impacts your overall score for a chapter. And considering how difficult some of the fights in this game can be, it makes you wonder why scoring is set-up like it is, let alone in the game at all. Then again, it adds yet another dimension to your gameplay and, as I mentioned before, you can choose to play to that or not. So I guess that's a matter of perspective. Some other things that were less than stellar with BAYONETTA were the absolutely, ludicrous, inane and stupid plot and the long cut-scenes. However, it should be noted that you have the ability to quickly bypass the cut-scenes if you desire, so that's something of a plus, even though it's a good idea to watch them all on your first playthrough. Additionally, the game is unapologetically girly in certain regards (flowers underfoot when you run, butterfly wings when you jump, dance & jazz soundtrack) but nothing that bothered me personally. All in all it was kind of a decent change of pace from the testosterone fueled world video games normally exist in, but it's worth mentioning if that's not your cup of tea. Really didn't bother me at all though......As one last item of interest, I read a good number of reviews that must have come out around the time this game was released that stated that the load times for this game on the PS3 were painfully long and a lot of people were having problems with that. A patch to fix this has since been released and I have found there to be none of the problems that others were mentioning with the load times.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're into action/adventure games like God Of War, Devil May Cry, Dante's Inferno, etc. than this game is an absolute, undeniable must-have for you. This game is very much the perfection of its' genre. And even though I'm WAY into the God Of War trilogy and I'd say those are my all time favorites, I can honestly say this game plays better than the first 2 of those (though not quite as good as the 3rd) and I almost like it better. Almost. But I just can't bring myself to say I like a game I've called unapologetically girly in certain regards and one in which you destroy angels throughout, `my favorite'. It's very close though - that's how truly excellent this game is!

Bayonetta Feature

• String together deadly combos and special attacks to bring down angelic enemies, including small minions and gigantic behemoths
• Rely on Scarborough Fair, a collection of four enchanted guns, plus shotguns, bazookas and fiery claws
• Retrieve a variety of other weapons from fallen enemies
• Fill up the Magic gauge and unleash your powers to banish enemies to hell
• Use linked combo attacks and Bayonetta's hair to call demonic forces to your aid in battle

Bayonetta Overview

Bayonetta is a stylish and cinematic action game, directed by Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya, set for release in 2009 on the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. A member of an ancient witch clan and possessing powers beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, Bayonetta faces-off against countless angelic enemies, many reaching epic proportions, in a game of 100% pure, unadulterated all-out action. Outlandish finishing moves are performed with balletic grace as Bayonetta flows from one fight to another. With magnificent over-the-top action taking place in stages that are a veritable theme park of exciting attractions, Bayonetta pushes the limits of the action genre, bringing to life its fast-paced, dynamic climax combat.

Bayonetta Specifications

Blurring the borders of good and evil, this cinematic and stylized adventure stars Bayonetta, a heroine bent on sending supernatural forces to the depths of hell. Armed with her four enchanted guns known as Scarborough Fair, she battles both monstrous behemoths and angelic enemies. By combining special magic attacks, summoning primal forces and unleashing devastating weaponry, she impressively punishes anyone who gets in her way. From its fluid and intuitive combat system to its gripping story line, Bayonetta is one action thriller that won't disappoint.

Unleash your powers View larger.

Amazing graphics View larger.

Utilize Deadly Combos View larger. Variety of Weapons View larger.

Synopsis In addition to the weaponry on her hands and feet, Bayonetta also has gruesome devices in her arsenal, such as the Iron Maiden and Guillotine. Charge her Magic gauge to send enemies packing. Even her hair is designed for devastation, serving as a magical conduit to summon demonic beasts for aid in battle. And, with the ability to transform into panthers, bats and other forms, she's prepared to handle any situation. When it comes to banishing sinister supernatural forces, Bayonetta's the best man for the job. Key Game Features: String together deadly combos and special attacks to bring down angelic enemies, including small minions and gigantic behemoths Rely on Scarborough Fair, a collection of four enchanted guns, plus shotguns, bazookas and fiery claws Retrieve a variety of other weapons from fallen enemies Fill up the Magic gauge and unleash your powers to banish enemies to hell Use linked combo attacks and Bayonetta's hair to call demonic forces to your aid in battle Transform into a panther, bat or other life form depending on the circumstances Employ the Iron Maiden, Guillotine and other gruesome devices to finish off monstrous foes For 1 player

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: May 28, 2010 03:35:07

Review Feature Office 2010