Bayonetta

[clint g]

Anyboy give the game a shot yet? I was thinking about putting it on my "once it goes cheaper" list but its getting such great reviews that I feel like going out and getting it tomorrow

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/bayonetta?tag=topslot;title;1

 

[JonathonWally]

I pre-ordered it a long time ago, just checked it's status a few minutes ago, that and Darksiders are on track to be here by noon tomorrow. I'm psyched.

It's like Devil May Cry, but with a chick in library glasses.

Did you play the demo? It's up on both LIVE and PSN

 

[firehawk12]

I just want to play it because it's so Japanese in its Japaneseness - from the objectification of the main character to all the design. Outstanding.

 

[clint g]

I pre-ordered it a long time ago, just checked it's status a few minutes ago, that and Darksiders are on track to be here by noon tomorrow. I'm psyched.

It's like Devil May Cry, but with a chick in library glasses.

Did you play the demo? It's up on both LIVE and PSN

I ddint try the demo, Ill see if i cant get around to that though. I've got a very good feeling that I'm going to like it though cause as you said its Devil May Cry with a young Sarah Palin

One thing I did hear from the Japanese reviews though was that the PS3 version is to be avoided for some reason. Apparently the game was being developed as if it was a 360 exclusive and then got a shitty port job over to the PS3 or something *shrug*

 

[firehawk12]

Sega ported it, not Clover, so that's a bad sign.

 

[JonathonWally]

I pre-ordered it a long time ago, just checked it's status a few minutes ago, that and Darksiders are on track to be here by noon tomorrow. I'm psyched.

It's like Devil May Cry, but with a chick in library glasses.

Did you play the demo? It's up on both LIVE and PSN

I ddint try the demo, Ill see if i cant get around to that though. I've got a very good feeling that I'm going to like it though cause as you said its Devil May Cry with a young Sarah Palin

One thing I did hear from the Japanese reviews though was that the PS3 version is to be avoided for some reason. Apparently the game was being developed as if it was a 360 exclusive and then got a shitty port job over to the PS3 or something *shrug*

I went with the 360 version, I pre-ordered it before I thought about buying a PS3

 

[clint g]

Sega ported it, not Clover, so that's a bad sign.

If they were smart they would do what every other japanese developer does and made it a 360 "exclusive", then a year later make a super deluxe PS3 version

 

[firehawk12]

Grrr, frakking Namco. My copy of Tales is still sealed because I read about the stupid PS3 version.

 

[Aragorn]

If you have a Toys R Us membership card, you get a $10 gift card buying Bayonetta or Darksiders... or a $40 gift card for buying both. Offer ends Thursday.

 

[crouteru]

Tried the demo, didn't really care for it. Just seems to be a button masher with daft dialogue and it's just a bit too much on the wrong side of silly for my liking.

 

[PKerr]

I've read quit a bit about it too and I've read the PS3 version is gimped as well.
It will probably turn out to be a decent game its just I've got too much on my gaming plate to look at right now.

Just about to beat Resistance: Fall of Man, then either move on to part 2 or play the Uncharted games as I have both now.

Darksiders and the God of War: Collection should be arriving in the mail today or tomorrow.

Army of Two: The 40th Day 1/12/2010
Dark Void 1/19/2010
The Assasin's Creed DLC 1/31/2010
Bioshock 2 2/9/2010
AVP 2/16/2010

Plus a ton more games coming over the next months, Yeah Bayonetta is gonna have a long wait until I get to her.

 

[Shakaar]

I'm interested in the game, but may try to get it from Gamefly for now. I'm still playing a ton of games from the fall and there are many coming up. Just got Darksiders today, there's ACII DLC coming, Heavy Rain, FF13, God of War 3. Next up, though, is Dante's Inferno on 2/9. Damn, that game looks sweet!

 

[PKerr]

I understand the PS3 version has issues.

Xbox 360 version review: 4/5
http://www.giantbomb.com/bayonetta/61-20710/reviews/

PS3 version review: 3/5
http://www.giantbomb.com/bayonetta/61-20710/reviews/?review_id=249



And I have a friend that has the PS3 version that confirmed it.

 

[Kaijima]

Bayonetta was directed (and had its game system) designed by Hideki Kamiya, the dude who made the original Devil May Cry. He didn't work on any subsequent game in the DMC series.

This game is, for all practical intents, his actual sequel to DMC. The game system in the demo may not sell the game correctly to some people - this is anything but a button mashing game unless played on normal and easy in the first couple of intro stages.

After that, it gets much more complex even on normal, and the hard playthrough (which alters enemy types and has different AI behavior) is a very challenging game.

After playing through it, my own opinion is that it does move the genre forward whereas most other games have merely been copying Devil May Cry. It's just that it is wrapped up in an insane, over the top package. The humor in the game is actually pretty good later on, and it lampoons typical characterizations in video games. I don't want to spoil anything for those who end up playing the full game.

If anyone recalls the Sega Genesis game Gunstar Heroes, that's actually a good comparison for what Bayonetta is like. One way that it improves the DMC genre is that it gets rid of pointless puzzles and forced backtracking/exploration sections. Every chapter in the game is a series of precisely designed enemy encounters and boss fights - often with 2 or 3 bosses per chapter - with a short but fun action level separating them.

The game also encourages replayability as it has a ton of unlockables and there is a ranking system for every single enemy encounter in the game. (Each encounter in a chapter is called a "verse" - so you are awarded medals up to Platinum for how well you handle each encounter.)

Overall, it's just an extremely well thought out and 100% tightly designed game. It /is/ story heavy in some chapters with a cut scene between several sections of the level, but the cut scenes flow in and out of gameplay seamlessly; usually you take control of the character without even the camera view changing and begin playing. It helps avoid the feeling that you're watching a bunch of movies that have nothing to do with the game you play between cinema scenes. The continuity between story scene and gameplay is so tight that if you're quick, you can sometimes see NPCs from the cut scene bail out of the area when the action starts up.

 

[Yoda]

Honestly the whole thing sounded pretty ridiculous... the character herself looks pretty ridiculous as well. I thought this was one of those releases that never had a chance of being good, like "Wet". Though I guess I didn't realize it was from the DMC guy, not that I ever played DMC, but at least it's an acclaimed game with a pedigree and production values. I've been getting into the action stuff a little more, with Batman, and God of War Collection. Maybe I'll try the Ninja Gaiden Sigma games if they're at bargain bin prices now. Bayonetta is now officially on my "Buy under $30" list.

 

[firehawk12]

Strangely, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is an improvement over the first one. They made it less cheap.

 

[Kaijima]

The character is supposed to be outrageous. She is a vicious satire of female exploitation in videogames, because she, well, looks like that, but has a harsh British Nanny personality and would grind the balls of most 18 year old gamers into the dirt. The opening cut scene to the game is one of the most insane and self-mocking things I've ever seen. And, okay, here's something, one non-story spoiler for later in the game. This should give you an idea.

Spoiler. Told ya.


At one point, the bad guys fire cruise missiles at a helicopter carrying Bayonetta, and she jumps out, onto a missile, turns it around by steering the rudders, then casts a spell that magically takes control of the guidance computer and projects a magical holographic gamer hud over her face. She says "This is MY Fantasy Zone." and you proceed to take control of her on the missile and play through what is effectively the first stage of Space Harrier though in Bayonetta's setting. With the Space Harrier theme music remixed. While the enemies from Bayonetta take flight, and fly at you in waves replicating the enemy patterns from Space Harrier.

Okay, yes. Really. There are other Sega references throughout the game. Even the credits are not safe from unexpected surreality.

I really cannot exaggerate the madness in the game. Despite the madness, somehow, there is a serious side to the story that is also touching (I can't make this stuff up.) and even well-written when it wants to be. The English voice acting is actually quite good, much better than most (thought not all) game dubs.

Honestly the whole thing sounded pretty ridiculous... the character herself looks pretty ridiculous as well. I thought this was one of those releases that never had a chance of being good, like "Wet". Though I guess I didn't realize it was from the DMC guy, not that I ever played DMC, but at least it's an acclaimed game with a pedigree and production values. I've been getting into the action stuff a little more, with Batman, and God of War Collection. Maybe I'll try the Ninja Gaiden Sigma games if they're at bargain bin prices now. Bayonetta is now officially on my "Buy under $30" list.