Bayonetta Message Board older than one year ago

We may still have a few more weeks before the hair-based weapon wielding Bayonetta arrives on US shores, but that doesn't mean that reviewers haven't gotten their hands on the region-free, fully translated PlayStation 3 Japanese release (and the lucky folks at Official Xbox Magazine seem to have secured an extra early Xbox 360 review copy). Regardless of the downright silly nature of the game's story and characters, Bayonetta has thus far received universal acclaim from the critics. Here's what some had to say. Edge (100/100): "A beautiful and graceful fighting game that lets imagination loose, and winks before slapping Dante, Kratos and every other hero back to the drawing board." Eurogamer (9/10): "It's in combat that Bayonetta's splendour is fully revealed ... a blast of creative brilliance, both technically accomplished, strategically deep and infused with rare imagination, Bayonetta represents the pinnacle of its chosen niche." Official Xbox Magazine (90/100): "Every one of these dazzling battles is thrilling without overstaying its welcome - and also challenges you without being cheap" Play.tm (95%): "Bayonetta could - and should - breathe fresh life into the ailing Japanese action genre ... an unrivalled showcase of imagination and creativity." Source 1 - Metacritic PS3 Source 2 - Metacritic Xbox 360

The demons of Inferno are your playthings -- now go crazy.

SEGA and Platinum Games' latest is bewitching.

Thus far, Bayonetta has exposed us to a litany of disturbing oddities. First we were exposed to the expression "non-stop climax action." Then came the uncomfortable revelation of Bayonetta's "sexy" dancing. And now, we must forever live with the term "hair moves." As the ancient Egyptians figured out long ago, hair is gross. Short of the occasional Rita Hayworth hair toss, hair really shouldn't be moving at all. And it certainly shouldn't be transforming into giant boots, fists or demons. Alas, this is the proposition you face should you desire to play Bayonetta. You've been warned.

Bayonetta's hair takes on various forms to pummel and destroy her enemies.

Bayonetta wields the weapons of her enemies to assist her in battle.

Being the stylish, fashion-way-forward gal she is, Bayonetta (of, um, Bayonetta) likes to accessorize. Sometimes she gets tired of having guns for shoes and hair that can take the form of giant demons, so she politely barrows steals weapons from her enemies, to use against ... her enemies. In this short-but-sweet clip from next month's Platinum Games action spectacle, we get to watch her do just that -- nabbing a giant mace (not of the "spray into a mugger's eyes" type) and use a very long, forcefully procured spear to pole-dance-kick the hell out of heavenly foes. Best of all, the clip is narrated by a velvety-voiced English woman who sounds just like Bayonetta, if she were real. Which she's not -- so please, stop calling Sega asking for her number. Yes, we're onto you.

Platinum Games chats about the extra visual flourishes used in the upcoming actioner.

Platinum Games goes over some of the more advanced features of Bayonetta's gameplay.

Bayonetta's forms give her the maximum potential to contend with the many epic boss battles.

Platinum Games discusses the philosophies used in creating the adversaries in its upcoming game.

Platinum Games brings out the big guns.

Here's a friendly little reminder for all the climax action fans out there: The previously announced Bayonetta demo has arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace. We've been able to spend some time with the demo, and it's probably safe to say that Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden players out there have something to look forward to. But you don't have to take out word for it, because you can try it yourself. Amazing world we live in, isn't it? Shortcut: Download the Bayonetta demo [Via Xbox.com]

Play puppet master with the sexy librarian.

Platinum Games describes the methods behind making a fun game.

We're not sure why publishers decided that purchasing a game should be more difficult, but the recent trend of retailer exclusive pre-order goodies seems to be here to stay. Case in point: the various pre-order bonuses for Bayonetta in the UK. Those who pre-order at Play.com will receive the Bayonetta Climax Edition, pictured above on the left. Meanwhile, HMV pre-orders get a "Manga's Leading Ladies" DVD, which features "full episodes, trailers and exclusive clips" of something. Perhaps the coolest bonus, though, belongs to game.co.uk, which offers a replica of one of Bayonetta's guns, Scarborough Fair. All three are being offered for £39.99, so the only decision you really have to make is which bonus you like the best. Well, that and whether or not you ever want to invite a pretty girl into your home.

Even time becomes a slave to Bayonetta.

Did you think the footage of Bayonetta summoning intricate torture devices was disturbing? Wait until you see this context-free prototype dancing footage, featuring everyone's favorite giant witch cutting a motion-captured rug (after the break). We don't know if it's the fact that the animations have yet to be finalized in this sequence, or if it's the idea of Bayonetta taking a break from her brutal revenge quest to get down, or if it's simply Bayonetta's flagrantly inhuman body proportions, but yikes. What kind of touch-ups did Platinum do after this prototype stage? " ... on Kamiya-san's orders," animator Uchi says, "we accentuated the movements of her waist and butt to make it over-the-top in the sexiness department." You'd have to accentuate the hell out of those movements to go from that to "sexy."

Platinum Games explains how it created the creatures found in it's upcoming game.

Platinum Games explains how it created the creatures found in it's upcoming game.

Take on various sexy forms to overcome your opponents.

Sega and Maxim.com have selected a winner in their search for a model that best captures the lead character from forthcoming action title Bayonetta. The young lady, Andrea Bonaccorso, walks away (slowly, considering she has guns for shoes) with an Xbox 360, a copy of the game and a 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50X1 HDTV Plasma TV. She'll also appear on Maxim.com, in a sensible, dignified outfit, we're sure. So how did she qualify for such an honor? This is really what it says in the press release: "While some entrants perfectly mirrored the outfit of the character and others simply donned librarian glasses, Andrea married both elements to come out on top." So, there you have it. We're rewarding this girl for wearing both clothes and glasses. Meanwhile, Joystiq and Joystiq.com selected a loser in Sega and Maxim.com's Bayonetta Model Search and it's all of us.

Take control of Platinum Games' next big action title.

The sexiest librarian in the world.

Finally, a chance to play Bayonetta for those of us who never got around to setting up Japanese PSN accounts or Sega Passes. Sega announced that the demo for Platinum Games' torturiffic action game will be available on Xbox Live and PSN, in North America and Europe, on December 3. With this demo, you'll be able to gauge the limits of your Bayonetta fandom. Maybe you'll like it enough to buy it. Maybe you'll like it enough to buy the PAL limited edition. Or enough to import the PAL limited edition (for North American gamers). Or maybe you'll freak out about Bayonetta and feel compelled to import the Australian limited edition. This is why demos are so important: you can make sure you actually like the game before you bring yet another fancy plastic foot-pistol into your home.

Platinum Games showcases the automatic mode found in its upcoming actioner.

Bayonetta has the magical ability -- and macabre desire -- to conjure torture devices for use against her enemies. But why does the hair-clothed, gun-toed heroine of Platinum Games' action game do this? Is she just a horrible person? In a new developer diary (after the break), Director Hideki "Viewtiful" Kamiya explains that Bayonetta and her fellow witches have suffered through torture themselves, and so she fights not only for survival, but for revenge. Her sadism is a direct result of her own experience previous to the game's events. Plus, as Kamiya says, "It is important players enjoy seeing enemies sadistically destroyed." Do try to enjoy the torture. Otherwise you'll be doing the cruelest attack of all: hurting Kamiya's feelings. Joyswag! Enter for your chance to win a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta code (for PS3) by being the first to comment "off topic" on this post. Click here, for more information on this giveaway. Official rules apply.

Rules are made to be broken--and in Bayonetta so is everything else.

Delve into Bayonetta's world as director Hideki Kamiya explores Bayonetta as a character and highlights her "Dark Arts of Destruction".

Apparently it's not good enough to simply dispatch enemies these days. No, in these modern times, one must also torture them before they die. At least, that would appear to be the stance of Platinum Games' Bayonetta. The latest video released for the game explains the magic system. In short, landing successive blows on enemies without being struck fills the magic bar, allowing Bayonetta to unleash some particularly nasty finishing moves. For example she can summon a guillotine, stomp a foe's head right onto the chopping block and then drop the blade with a snap of her fingers. Or, if you're not really a traditionalist, you can opt for the giant, spiked wheel of death. Your choice. See the video after the break.