Bayonetta Message Board older than one year ago

Cut those load times with hard disk install.

Sega of Japan announced that it will release an update for the PS3 version of Bayonetta tomorrow, which adds an "Install" item to the game's main menu. The patch, first tentatively announced in November, is intended to cut down the long load times that have perturbed Bayonetta's PS3 players. This doesn't mean the game has now achieved total parity with the Xbox version -- there are still other visual issues, like frame rate, in Sega's PlayStation port -- but at least Sega has now taken one step towards improving the experience on PS3. The update has currently been announced only in Japan only, but the release date just happens to fall on a Thursday, when the PlayStation Store updates worldwide, so we wouldn't be shocked to see it arrive here tomorrow as well. [Thanks, Copland]

Speaking to Game Informer, Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya discussed the possibility of a sequel to Bayonetta. Kamiya noted that the Bayonetta team has "love" for the game, saying, "I don't see anything wrong with Bayonetta 2." (If you're reading this, Mr. Kamiya, neither do we.) He elaborated that he'd like to approach a sequel "from a different angle, in the form of a spin-off." Game Informer goes on to speculate that a sequel could star Bayonetta's rival, Jeanne. Honestly, we don't care who stars in the sequel. As long as the action is just as solid as it is in the first game, it really doesn't matter. As long as someone is kicking ass in a stylish, intuitive way, we're sold.

Stroke me, Jubileus.

Bayonetta basks in glory in this trailer full of praise.

This dark witch is so irresistible, she's worth a second look.

Buxom beauty busts onto the scene with a baby and a brilliant beginning in this official Bayonetta launch trailer.

Bayonetta struts her stuff on multiple consoles, but which one brings the most heat?

We were unbelievers at the beginning of this new Bayonetta ad (after the break), in which Mega64's Rocco Botte insisted that he could emulate -- nay -- top any of the titular action star's moves. But he's definitely shooting bullets with his feet and he promises repeatedly that his hair is a demon, so now whose face has got egg on it? That's right: Ours. ... Hey, he wouldn't lie about his hair being a demon, would he? No, of course not. Who would lie about that? We're probably just being paranoid.

The first thing you should know about Bayonetta is that the story is entirely unimportant. It makes no sense. At all. Period. There's something about two warring clans, one of witches and one of sages (Light vs. Dark -- yada yada yada). There's a "journalist" who inexplicably carries a grappling hook; an ancient god that's being resurrected; and, at one point, there's even a dance-off. Now, forget about all of that. You'll be skipping through it on your second playthrough anyway. And that's really the point. If you like action games in the vein of Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden, you'll probably start your second playthrough of Bayonetta exactly when I did: immediately after the first.

Get ready for a season with the witch.

Does Bayonetta amount to flash, or is there more to this witch than her absurd proportions?

Traverse the treacherous terrain and solving clever puzzles is also among the agenda of Bayonetta.

Bayonetta struts her stuff against a plethora of enemies in her debut outing!

PlatinumGames chats about the upcoming launch of Bayonetta.

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.