Bayonetta
2009
Audio: Japanese, English · Subtitles: English, Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Italian
- shooter
- hack and slash/beat 'em up
- adventure
- action
- fantasy
- single player
The story
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.
What it’s like
Saturated, gothic-baroque spectacle: cathedral interiors and rain-slick city streets lit in hot reds, gold and electric blues, with camera angles that swoop and whip around a single figure in dark, sleek hair and high heels. The soundtrack is operatic and jazz-tinged, with theatrical vocal swells and pulsing guitar that spikes whenever a combo lands. Its vibe is loud, camp, and kinetic, the kind of rush you want on a wired Friday night or in a deliberately indulgent afternoon session. Pacing is relentless: fights chain into one another, each finishing move staged like a dance number, and the stages turn into amusement-park set pieces full of colossal angelic foes. The tone is playful rather than grim, self-aware and cheeky, with a heroine who is confident, wisecracking and in complete control. Intensity is high. Combat is constant and stylized, with heavy blows, gouts of blood and dismembered enemies, though the gore is cartoonish rather than harrowing. Sexualized imagery and fan service run throughout, and the protagonist's clothing is shredded in some attacks, so expect partial nudity framed as spectacle rather than intimacy. Not gentle, and not quiet. Made for players who want big, showy, button-hammering action with a sense of humor and an unapologetic attitude.
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