10.1.2010

What a lovely start to the year 2010 !! This is simply put it one of the best action games I have played in a long time.It seems much easier to get to grips with than similar Genre titles like Devil May Cry, God of War and Ninja Gaiden .... and much more pretty too graphics. Bayonetta does the genre proud making great use of current technology ... it's really amazing what's going how much is going on and how epic it all looks ( Even with minor slowdown ) . I am wondering how the console can keep up and not crash with the constant emerging graphics splendor gracing the screen.The gameplay is as beautiful as the graphics you see. There is a huge emphasis on timing and evasion which rewards you making your enemies move in slow motion.Becoming a master of last second dodging is easier than it sounds ... even beginners of this kind of genres will be able to pull off some skill evades in no time and feel awesome doing it. but you still need skill to cope with the overall difficulty on normal ... although checkpoints and items still make normal mode possible for beginners/noobs too.There are also lots of crazy over the top attacks and weapons to equip as you expect from this genre , aswell as great enemy designs and amazing boss battles.But what really holds this game together and makes it stand out being particularly rememorable is it's unique and glamourously silly and over the top , sense of style. Not just graphically , audio it is a true delight too. The soundtrack is phenomenal , haven't seen nothing like it in a game so far and it does indeed suit this game.From the opening scene of seeing the heroine fight the first batch of enemies to the theme of a jazzy peppy remixed version of Sonatra's classic " Fly me to the moon " you know you're onto a winner ! Trust me, it's much better than it sounds.The whole games sense of presentation is top notch ... just introducing a new type of enemy is taken to epic proportions , to the presentation of angelic hymns and biblical illustraions ! Animated cinemetics are amazing too .... even though some cinematics are stills , they're still handled well enough they are still engaging to view and voice acting in general is great too.The level of presentation even extends to the loading screens , which are normally the most boring part of a game ... but in this game , even loading screens are made enjoyable , because it allows you to practice combos/moves while you are waiting for the next section to load.All in all this is just a great joy to play and watch and even listen .... the fighting is just very amazing, exciting and cinematic .... and gameplay is easy to learn and has depth of timing. I will have hours of much fun with this title.This title is among the cream of the crop among over the top action titles and makes the term next-gen proud... it's a great amazing polished game that deserves the high praise games journalists have been giving it recently.The only minor gripes I have with this game is the slight frame rate drops in certain action scenes , which is understandable with all the crazy epicness going on ...... and the appearance of screen tearing during some sections too ( although for some reason more present during the exploration scenes than the fight scenes themselves which is a huge blessing ) ... there are also a few quicktime events which is a kind of thing I tend to loathe .... but I think most were well handled in this game that they don't overwhelm the gameplay too much.Overall on 360 the animation/gameplay runs rather smoothly , so it all moves gorgeous as it looks which is amazing in itself considering how much insane and detailed stuff happens ... not just considering character animation .... scenary too ..... the framerate drops on 360 are quite rare ( only when things are getting really hectic ) , but I hear the PS3 version doesn't run as well. So best experience for playing this game is on 360 I suppose as many critics have highlighted before the games full release.Also another slight downer as expected is the camera can become troublesome in some sections , but that's to be expected from this genre. You do have controll of the camera, although in a fight your best bet is to auto target an enemy so the camera faces them ( Even if they were previously of screen ) ... turning the camera manually during a fight might be dangerous work with all the enemies about .... Although this game does generally handle the camera alot better than some of examples of this genre, but still not quite perfect, but good enough.The director of the Devil May Cry series has given us something extra special and outdone himself . Dare I say this is DMC perfected ? I loved DMC4 ( See my review ) a couple of years back .... but Bayonetta improves on many aspects of it , although it very different from it.Give this a chance if you love hack 'em up over-the-top action and I am sure you'll be pleased. In my opinion nothing short of a masterpiece among the action genre.

12.1.2010

Bayonetta does not start subtle. Beginning with the titular main character falling on a plummeting clock face while angelic monsters swarm around her the game starts straight away with you battling them off with four sets of guns attached to each arm and leg. It's a fantastic opening scene and the Bayonetta piles on the steam from there.Straight out of the mind of Hideki Kamiya (Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe) Bayonetta is very much an evolution of Devil May Cry, basically if you enjoyed that or any similar action game (Such as God of War) then Bayonetta will pull you in and not let you go with a much more exciting/fast-paced combat system then any other action game in its class.Fantastic graphics and gorgeous creature designs give the entire game a wonderful look and feel plus the playful references to other games (Sonic and Outrun among others) add to the funny jokes and provide a surprising amount of laughs.Gameplay is fast paced and also very liner with the game following a similar patter of 'move forwards, battle enemies, solve environmental puzzle, fight boss' but it pulls it off with such style and intensity that it can become hard to keep up with the insane action on screen as you loop through combos, jumps and dodges. Speaking of dodges, pressing R2 at anytime (even during combos) causes Bayonetta to somersault out of the way and doing this at the last moment causes 'Witch-Time' slowing down time allowing you to smash in some hard-hitting combos. This handy feature turns battles more into a dance as you leap and somersault out of the way before turning the tide on the swarms of enemies with rapid strikes from any of the several unlockable weapons.On Normal the game lasts about 10/14hours depending on your skill level but there are many unlockables and you can start the game on either of the two harder difficulties with all your items, weapons and the like from the first play through. A large and rewarding unlockable art gallery, many hidden bonus stages, online leaderboards and hidden upgrades and items reward multiple playthroughs which makes this game on the whole, good value for money.The music is a mixture of crazy J-Pop, Blues and massive dramatic choir music which can be a bit hit or miss at times, voice acting is...okay (very stereotypical and campy but fitting with the zany actions of the characters) the story is likewise a bit hit or miss, largely disjointed and forgettable (yet there are many cut-scenes which try to tell it) the story does however take you to some incredible battles against two headed dragons, massive floating angelic monsters, cardinal virtues and others. The game is hard and will push your reflexes however a competent 'continue' system allows you to push forwards and learn from mistakes without giving into rage and frustration.One point that should be made clear is that this is first and foremost an action-fighting game; if you don't enjoy this sort of game then Bayonetta is not for you. Also the story as mentioned isn't really a major plus either. Plus the camera can also at times make it hard to see what is happening on screen(particularly in the final battle) and there can be some console slow down (but nothing on the level of the PS3 version)Overall Bayonetta is a superb game, a game so ludicrously over the top and drunk on itself its hard not to hum along with its remix of 'Fly me to the Moon' as you slash and hack through the angelic hordes. If you are a fan of Kamiya's other works or just want to try something that could only be made in Japan then you should not hesitate, this is the first great game of 2010.+ A fantastic, fluid and responsive combat system+ Unique and evocative art style+ Some of the best boss battles around+ Great animation and graphics+ Rewarding of multiple playthroughs+ Delightful, insane and wonderfully fun- The story is all over the place and largely forgettable- Some slight camera issues

10.1.2010

For my first game of 2010 I played and finished Bayonetta. In my opinion this game is best described as a mixture of Devil May Cry with the added cheesiness of Final Fantasy X-2 thrown in which makes it unique and humorous and lets itself not to be taken too seriously.Your play as Bayonetta who is an Umbran Witch equipped with handguns in both hands and two more attached to her stiletto heels. The Umbran Witches were a powerful and ancient clan of women who were capable of projecting magic to their own ends, fuelled by the power of the Moon, and the Lumen Sages were an equal group comprised of men who worshiped the light and were fuelled by the Sun. Bayonetta teams up with Rodin who provides her with weapons,extra moves, treasures and items such as Herb Lollipops used to replenish your health bar which you will need to replenish at every opportunity because you can only carry 3 small ones and 1 large. At the end of each level you also get a mini game allowing you to trade points for some of the items you can purchase at the store. This is the only way you can hold more than the quota for items unless you are lucky enough to find some in a chest.The only problems I had with this game is some frame rate issues early on and also the camera isn't always facing the way you are facing forcing you to slowly turn the camera back round manually. During the game there are a couple of vehicle levels which I feel adds something extra to the game but those who only want to fight hoards of enemies maybe slightly disappointed. The vehicle levels could have been better executed and one in particular goes on a lot longer then necessary.Graphics are stunning; the different places you visit really improve as you progress through the game. The battle system is easy to pick up as most moves only requite the kick and shoot buttons to pull off combos, those more used to fighting games will progress to the longer harder combos which when executed correctly can make fights a hell of a lot easier. You can build up your combos and release extra powerful moves including torture moves and using your hair to release demons for finishing moves. Later in the game you will learn to transform into animals which will help you fly, jump further and travel faster which is needed in certain areas of the game, but another issue is that you have to click RT twice to change which is also the button used for dodging so when in the heat of battle you will sometimes find yourself changing into an animal instead of dodge.One important move of the game is Witch Time, this slows down enemies on the screen allowing you to pull of bigger attacks without getting hit, Witch Time comes into effect when you successfully dodge an enemies attack at the latest possible time, you should think about mastering this move as it will be needed throughout this game, Witch Time is your friend!Also thrown in are mini games which you have to defeat enemies in a certain way or you are stripped of some of your powers, this is against the clock and if beaten you gain self satisfaction, which is the best gift of all (Although I would have preferred an achievement for them)!The game takes about 12 hours to complete and you will need your wits about you as enemies will come at you thick and fast and some take off a lot of damage. Boss fights are fun but are used time and time again as you travel through the game and there is nothing more frustrating than seeing a boss you defeated come back for the 5th time.

8.7.2011

A review from Benny, please read :DI'd like to start off that this game is FREAKIN' AWESOME. Although I haven't completed it, this game has took my breath away. I'm currently up to chapter 8, so far, the game has not been a let down. The game genre that appeals to me the most would be an action/adventure game or a 'Hack n' Slash' game. This game fits the bill. Let me also say that if you enjoy the Devil May Cry series you will certainly enjoy this, or at least, give it a try.Now let me talk about the visuals/graphics. "Beautiful". As Rodin would say. The game runs smoothly at 60 FPS, I see no frame rate drops or screen tear on this version. As for the PS3 version, that one may be disappointing,as I have played it at my cousins house. I am not taking sides or anything, I'm just saying that the PS3 version is a terrible port of the 360 version, thus giving it laggy gameplay, etc. The aesthetic quality is amazing, the colours are very bright and vivid, especially in different levels such as 'Paradiso'.Ok, now let me talk about the difficulty options of the game. This game has difficulties from very easy to normal. From what I've seen anyway, there is no hard mode, maybe you have to beat the game to unlock it?I started this game well on the normal difficulty, as I progressed through different levels, I noticed the game started to get alot more tougher than usual. The bosses are very challenging, with a little health bar you possess and maybe one recovery item that won't even fill half of that. Sometimes I would have to switch on easy mode, which would give me a bigger life bar and less damage from enemies. The difficulty doesn't affect my rating on this game whatsoever. I love challenging games :DMoving on to the gameplay. The character you play as, Bayonetta, a seductive woman with a strong sexual appeal and god like powers. Bayonetta has a wide range of moves, from huge heels to break dancing to slowing down time. You can unlock more moves which will cost you points WHICH you score from the levels you play in. The better you progressed through that level the more points you earn. Usually halo's represent the points system. There's also a huge selection of weapons to choose from, her regular weapons would be the two guns she uses. They are upgradable. And she can possess four weapons at once. Switching from the two. I.e. using swords and guns. She also has a morphing ability, but you can find that out for yourself ;)The Bosses are huge! At the beginning of the game I thought the first boss was huge, as you progress through each level, the boss you noticed at the beginning is a little baby compared to the rest, seriously. They are very challenging. The enemies, they're also a pain in the butt. But I must say that it will not get boring as different enemies appear around the corner each time! I guess you can call them sub-bosses. Sometimes you may have to face two...or four. The levels are stunning and not repetitive, you will fight through different types of environments. From hellish volcanic structures to heavenly calm arenas.I haven't got most of the story yet but only because I have just begun the game, so I cannot comment on that part yet, but, so far so good. I can say alot more, but I want to save it until I complete the game. If this review or other reviews isn't enough, look up gameplay videos on YouTube or download the demo version!I hope you enjoyed my review :DThanks guys.

18.1.2010

Bayonetta is a game that I can only describe as being painful to play. Physically painful... but in a good way... I think.Seemingly having been overhyped up the wazoo for some reason over the last several months, Bayonetta is pretty much the latest in a long line of Devil May Cry/God of War alikes, with the central appeal being it's developer pedigree and sheer unabashed OTT-ness, which it delivers in spades.The relentless pace and frantic action of the game is both exhausting and painful, with combat burnout and extremely sore thumbs forcing me to stop playing the game at several points as most of the boss battles seemed to gradually descend into intense button mashing that only got more severe as the game went on.This game is just ROUGH and not for the faint of heart. It is fantastically fun if you can take the pace, but that really is not as easy as it might sound.I don't even know how to describe the gameplay any more clearly than as a sort of extreme OTT up-the-walls, across-the-ceiling, highly-charged, over-sexed, double speed Devil May Cry nightmare. It is on the surface nothing too different from what you've seen in this type of game before, but Bayonetta really sets itself apart from all the rest thanks to two simple words: "speed" and "scale". The game is blisteringly fast moving and the sheer scale of some of the boss fights defies description at times, with utterly superbly designed fights that had me laughing my head off when I wasn't recoiling in pain at the button mashing intensity that would often get in the way. There is also a very real problem here with recycling, as a lot of boss fights and areas repeat throughout the game with some bosses being reencountered four or five times throughout the game. A tad lazy perhaps, but nothing overly ruinous. There are also a couple of 'gimmick' stages that pay homage to old Sega games Super Hang On and Space Harrier that are initially amusing, but go on far too long and aren't nearly as much fun to play as the regular levels. Again, a minor complaint.What aren't such minor complaints though are the sometimes severe problems with framerate slowdowns and screen tearing that plague the game throughout. Mostly these are little more than distracting irritations, but on a couple of occasions they occurred during boss battles and actually threw off my ability to play the game effectively. Added together, all of these 'little' problems add up to some very real issues with an otherwise extremely enjoyable and polished game that puts some fantastic new spins on some old ideas and delivers an often hilarious, if disjointed and not very clear storyline that offers some of the most memorable set pieces you will ever see in a game.Overall, mostly incredible, but some of the persistent irritations, recycling and painful descents into button bashing during too many sequences break up the relentless pace far too often for my liking, but despite that you absolutely MUST play this game somehow, as it is likely the new benchmark by which games of this kind will be measured from now on.

17.1.2010

This is a game where once you've played it for a session you can't stop thinking about it and can't wait to get home from work the next day and play it some more. When you think it may be getting a bit repetitive it throws in a new element, be that story line twist, power up, unlockable weapon or a level in a completely different game style, such as levels on vehicles, even towards the end an arcade style shoot'em up. It's so much fun, it feels like a real gamers game, like how games used to be; unlockable weapons, moves and costumes, hidden collectables, huge bosses. It's humorus too, at one point it seemed so light hearted and fun that it took me by surprise when they started swearing again in the cut scenes,

15.2.2010

As usual you can find tons of reviews online, so I will not go into a lot of details but I will highlight the reasons why I liked this game.One reason is that the game is crazy and over the top most of the time. I found the style of enemies particularly refreshing, with the mix of thecnology and bird-like angels and withe/blue/gold colors. The main character, bayonetta, can equip weapons on her feet for additional damage and crazy combos. There are even some quite violent attacks including a guillotine, an iron maiden and more. The animations are great and very fluid.The crazy style in the game is found also in the cut scenes, in which you'll see bayonetta perform insane stunts, dodge bullets,

11.9.2010

sorry for the title of this review, but I guess my brain is still a bit strained after playing this incredible game.... After spending hours and hours with this title I seriously still have difficulties to understand what was going on in this game....Story: Witch wakes up after thousend years of sleep... she does not know who she is... singing and dancing she runs through a town in Europe and beats up Angels with her hair... she meets a man of another dimension... I'm smaller than this chair... and what's the name of that woman who drives her motorcyle up the wall? Um, I think I forgot...Gameplay... on par with if not even better than the likes of Devil may Cry or God of war... dynamic, fast paced,

22.1.2014

If you're looking for a game with a deep story, characters you can truly bond with, and a surprisingly complex subplot... Then this is definitely not the game for you. If however like me, you've been playing a lot of games which swallow up your day and get you so immersed in the story you lose track of time, you might need a little break from the serious stuff and have a little play on something a little more light-hearted. I picked this up after a recommendation from a friend, and I have to say I am not disappointed. If it's not the (extremely) over-the-top action, hilariously implausible cutscenes, over-emphasised sexiness on Bayonetta's behalf which leaves many a character and player gawking at the screen,

24.4.2013

A wonderfully smooth, ingenious, addictive, fun, well-made game.Right from the start, this game hooks you in and invites you to wreak awesome carnage on a massive variety of highly detailed creatures.You'll never be bored, with the fact you can perform seamless combinations of attacks, and flips, with your body, guns, or exclusive weapons!One of the highlights of this game, for me, was that between loading the chapters, ( of a pretty compelling storyline ) you can move freely, and do near enough everything you'd be able to do, if you were in the chapter.I loved the fact that when you dodge an enemy, you gain "witch time", which is a few seconds where you can potentially 'make or break'

17.1.2010

Going to keep this short, but having played Bayonetta to death and seen a lack of people buying this game I just had to add my own opinion to the list. In short, Bayonetta is the best game I have played in many many years. It's like a modernised game of old, with amazing controls, brilliant action setpieces and gorgeous visuals.I was hesitant to buy it at first because it's a confusing concept - but do not be deterred by a 'different' game - this is the most ambitious and diverse game you'll ever play.The game is huge, simply epic in scale and one of the biggest video game rollercoaster rides you'll ever go on. Pure unadulterated fun and a truly perfected combo-based combat system is the perfect formula for probably the most addictive game you'll ever play.

4.6.2010

Pure non Stop action, wicked witch magic, Stunning graphics, Locations that would take you into a whole new world of fantasy, created with Imagination and creativity. Music supports the rhythm of the game throughout. Game play is as good as one can expect and even more. Stunningly beautiful cut scenes, and above all a Sensual Lady in a latex outfit with incomparable attitude, what else one could ask for.I assure you Bayonetta has raised the bar for game developers and the players as well. It is simply Video gaming at its best. It's been over 25 years since I started playing video games. Undoubtedly Bayonetta is the best game I've ever played and surly an epic winner in Video gaming history.

21.4.2010

I've finished the game a few days ago, and I must say that it is awesomely fun. You never get bored by a single moment of the game, and I really recommend it to fans of the Devil May Cry series. Graphics are impressive, music is nice (if you like the style ;)), and the gameplay is rich enough to always give you some new ideas to destroy your enemies in a new way. I also laughed quite a lot of times in front of my screen because of the funny situations in which the character is set into.However, a few darker points on the game:- Difficulty is unequal is Normal mode. Some passages are REALLY hard, and I mean it. You're sometimes really happy to start the area with a full bar of magic,

4.11.2010

Purchased begrudgingly as a gift for an experienced gamer, I am assured by the recipient that this is certainly up to scratch for all the things other experienced gamers would be looking for.... if you want technical details etc read a different review - this one's aimed at novices like me!For those of you who aren't fans of the X Box but are considering buying this for your other half perhaps, I'd say get it and have a go too. I'm not an X Box fan, I'm not a fan of fighting games at all but something about this one has sneakily got me having a go... as a foxy bespectacled woman, there's something appealing about playing a foxy bespectacled woman who can take anyone on and win.

16.4.2010

I don't want to be to extensive in my review, but this game never ceased to blow my mind from the minute I begun to the minute I ended it. Being an action game enthusiast, I longed for a title in my Xbox reportoire that made me say "See "friend", this game's got it all". And it really does. When I bought Devil May Cry 4 I was really disapointed of all the backtracking, that seem to be a stable in action games these days, but that didn't seem to be a problem in Bayonneta. Both "She" and the game are sexy as hell, adictive, rude (overly to many times), and like a said before, repetitive isn't a word in this game's vocabulary. From the beginning to the end, it's an escalating clixmax of blood,

Bayonetta (Xbox 360) - Reviews

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