Impressions: Demo-ing “Bayonetta”

So, 2010  is upon us and things are already looking bright, at least gaming-wise. It’s only 5 days into the new year and some truly incredible titles are on the horizon. Heavy hitters like Bioshock 2 and Mass Effect 2 are certain to make waves while new IPs such as the previously previewed Dante’s Inferno are about to make their mark on the gaming scene. With a somewhat controversial premise, titillating marketing (heh…finally got to use that one)  and a deathly gorgeous protagonist , Bayonetta is aiming to  rock your world.  After playing through the demo currently on Live, I have to say it will probably wipe the floor with you.

From some folks who pretty much defined the genre of stylized combat in the form of the iconic Devil May Cry as well as the bloody splatter fest that is MadWorld comes a game that puts those and all imitators to shame. Bayonetta is the most exhilarating combat experience I’ve played through in…well…ever. The action packed set pieces, exhilarating combat movements and grotesquely gorgeous enemies make this game blow any previous stylized combat iterations out of the water. Add a sizeable weapons list that can be combined to form countless powerful combinations as well as stellar production values across the board and you have one of the first must-have titles of year.

The story, which may prove to be the only real pitfall in an otherwise immaculate package, appears to center around a battle between the forces of Heaven and Hell, and the worshippers of both parties. Bayonetta, your character, is a witch who can channel the forces of hell through her hair (Hygenic, maybe not. Mind blowingly powerful and awesome to watch in practice, oh yeah!) and is battling the forces of Heaven in order to save/destroy/ awaken something or other. This was a demo, full of unholy action, not plot filler. What I saw were some great cinematics that showed the beginnings of a promising in-game mythology, not to mention a cool twist on the concept of Good and Evil, what with you blowing away what appear to be angels as opposed to the tried-and-true- forces of darkness.

Plot isn’t the key to Bayonetta’s high marks;  fluidity of execution is. Controlling the gun toting witch is a breeze, each action flowing into the next almost effortlessly and proving to be either as simple or complex as you choose.  Button mashers can surely get by just focusing on their quick and strong attack moves, but hardcore gamers can up the ante by mastering a whole master list of insane and violent moves coupled with a great slo-mo mechanic that can only be triggered when the player accurately dodges an opponent’s attack.  This will keep players on their toes as they try to chain together sizeable sums of attack points in between dodging the next attack, leading to a game of cat and mouse as you plan where to move next amidst a throng of enemies all gunning for your soul. It’s simple yet smart, presenting some nice challenges which don’t get in the way of the brutal fun.

In the demo I got to utilize the guns attached to both Bayonetta’s hands and heels, leading to some truly crazy dance floor bloodbaths while special torture moves initiate a slew of erotically themed point modifiers. Shoving angels into iron maidens, flipping around axes like a pole dancer, whipping enemies with flames;  gore and sex in equal parts will probably make Bayonetta an experience that will probably end up raising eyebrows for years to come. You can also steal an enemy’s weapon and use it for short periods, spicing things up with item specific moves and bonuses. One of the true highlights is in using your character’s aforementioned hair to summon the forces of hell in the form of demonic finishing moves and special attacks. I can’t really describe them suitably, so you’ll just have to trust me when i say they need to be seen to be believed. There looks to be plenty of variety in Bayonetta, and from what I’ve read it’s likely you’ll want to play through the game a few times in order to unlock everything the title character can do.

Bayonetta looks to be a lot of visceral fun, a polished fight session with equal parts sex, absurdity, and campy humor. I’m highly impressed with what I saw in the demo, and am hoping to get my hands on it once I  have some free time in my game lineup. So, give the game a spin and see if it whets your appetite for more. Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure your immortal soul will be able to withstand it.