It's hard to imagine a games industry without the unstoppable influence of Bayonetta, at least when it comes to the character-action scene. Coming from the talented minds of Hideki Kamiya and the rest of the PlatinumGames team, Bayonetta managed to capture the strong characterization, unapologetic campiness, and flair that defined previous games like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. Indeed, in many ways, the first Bayonetta surpasses these franchises.
Players assume the role of the titular hero Bayonetta, a gun-slinging witch pitted against "Angels," brilliantly designed and unsettling monsters ravaging both urban and rustic Earthly environments. The game owes a lot to the likes of Devil May Cry (which had previously earned Kamiya his weighty renown), with fast-paced, combo-based combat that rewards style, creativity, and aggressiveness, but it manages to strike out on its own as well. The movement, sleek combos, and unmistakable charm of Bayonetta still stand out today, making the game a defining entry in the character-action space.
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Bayonetta Remains One of Gaming's Best Heroines
It's impossible to discuss the original Bayonetta without highlighting the protagonist herself. She follows in the footsteps of legendary protagonists like the original Lara Croft who, while ultimately an interesting and strong character in her own right, was excessively sexualized, both by the Tomb Raider designers and by the male-dominated fanbase. But Bayonetta's version of a female protagonist has managed to hold up against scrutiny, as Bayonetta is not only immensely powerful, independent, confident, and full of charisma, but empowered by her sexuality. This characterization makes her a unique and aspirational character, never pandering to the audience but being consistently likable throughout the game's runtime.
Bayonetta would go on to inspire games like Stellar Blade, and this widespread influence is a testament to its staying power. While a strong and independent female lead helped the game gain solid footing in the genre and went a long way toward multifaceted female representation in action games, Bayonetta's characterization goes far beyond her femininity: she is clever, cunning, and informed by her complex, messy, and magical past. It would be hard to argue that she has the nuance of characters like Kratos, who have the benefit of a longer series and at least one major reinvention, but she is easy to love without being overtly kind or G-rated, which is a relative rarity in many modern action games.
Bombastic, Breakneck Combat Makes Bayonetta a Gem
PlatinumGames excels at dense combat sandboxes, and Bayonetta is no exception. Its most obvious point of comparison is Devil May Cry, as Bayonetta utilizes melee attacks and firearms in much the same way as a character like Dante or Nero, though her fluidity and use of magic make her far more than just a reskin of these iconic heroes. Bayonetta dances across each combat arena, literally, using mobility, speed, and panache to her advantage in a way that sets her apart from the often hypermasculine leads of other hack-and-slash games.
The sense of momentum and gratification within the game's combat system is aided by Witch Time, Bayonetta's mechanical crown jewel. Performing a perfect dodge will slow down time for a few seconds, allowing players to unleash a punishing barrage of attacks on enemies, and since a confluence of factions can make it either exceedingly easy or brutally difficult to get this timing right, the mechanic winds up being both accessible and rewarding for more experienced players.
Bayonetta's fresh, slick, and expressive combat system is one of action gaming's best, even all these years later. Moreover, the game is proof positive that a new IP can be just as powerful, successful, and impactful as legacy ones that have been around for decades. In fact, sometimes they can even outshine legacy IP.
Bayonetta
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- October 29, 2009
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- Bayonetta
WHERE TO PLAY
From PlatinumGames’ legendary director Hideki Kamiya of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry fame, SEGA brings one of the most universally acclaimed character action games of all time to PC.
Bayonetta. The last survivor of an ancient witch clan who keep the balance between light, dark and chaos. Entombed to protect herself – and the world as we know it – Bayonetta is discovered and revived after 500 years, sparking a chain of events with cataclysmic repercussions.
Thrust straight into battle, with only one clue to her past, Bayonetta must discover the truth and fight for the future. Her daunting conquest sees her face off against countless angelic enemies and giant foes in a game of 100% pure action.
