Why Bayonetta 2 still will flop commercially

GGG writes about the disappointing possibility that the glowing reviews for Bayonetta 2 may not help it sell better but not for the reason you'd think.

[ritsuka666]

I think this is the end of the series unfortunately.

[Ezz2013]

never been a fan of the first
but i hope Wii U owners buy it and support the developers for Wii U sake

or the developers will just go after where the money is
this is after all a business

[zeal0us]

I enjoyed the first one but after the sale figures of it got release and it took several years for it to pass the 2million mark worldwide, I knew Bay2 would have a harder mountain to climb being exclusive to one platform.

I honestly wish this series shared the same success as DMC but I guess some things aren't meant to be.

[InTheLab]

Yeah it's time to put up or shut up. I hate the Bayo franchise outside of it's very good combat, but it would be a shame to have this franchise be resurrected, then fail due to poor sales.

The scores are high so it's obviously of the quality of most Nintendo exclusives, so there's no reason why this game should fail.

Hopefully this thing sells at least a million so Nintendo will finally open their eyes and cater to a group that's clearly being neglected by N and 3rd parties.

[GordonKnight]

Day one purchase for me. I'm just mad the First Print edition isn't coming to NA.

[mikeslemonade]

^obviously you guys don't know a good hack/slash game.

Coming from a Nintendo hater, this is a must-play game. I'm buying the system used and a new copy of B2, and then return the system in a week. Then I will sell the game to my friend.

I hope the game suffers in sales because Nintendo doesn't deserve it for stunting the potential of this game on last gen hardware.

[N4g_null]

Well I'm buying 3 copies. .. yes it is that good. Nintendo deserve these sales for seeing a gem while others passed it by just because of sales.

[Neonridr]

developers won't go anywhere. Nintendo stepped in and basically funded this game. It cost Platinum next to nothing. They have nothing to lose here.

[Gamer1982]

I have a wiiu and wont buy it. The first one was average and massively over rated. The fact its an exclusive is getting it bloated scores right now. I will stick to my smash bothers when released and mario kart :).

[Metallox]

I will fight that statement by purchasing a copy. Unfortunately, we can't do more. Bayonetta is in the hands of players :(

[DevilOgreFish]

"Why Bayonetta 2 still will flop commercially"

I have to agree with both this statement and everyone that says the franchise is also amazing. Similar to D4 on XB1 which is also a gem, these particular games are made with specific tastes.

commercially these games may not do to well, but it is what it is, they're great games. i remember being part of the craze of the first bayonetta and viewing it's reception, it had the same effect on a lot of gamers even though it was a fantastic game in it's own right.

[kevnb]

D4? I can usually guess acronyms but c'mon now...

[iplay1up2]

I think Nintendo was smart to release a demo for the game. I had not played the first one, and was not all that interested, after playing the INSANE, demo at 1080p (upscalled)60fps I was sold within the first 5 minutes. Thank you Nintendo.

[ChickeyCantor]

"I think this is the end of the series unfortunately."

If anything, the first one did that already. Here we are with a sequel. You people need to calm down.

[ThunderPulse]

Thankfully

[Magicite]

Game looks great and probably deserves all the praise it gets, but it was doomed same second it became WiiU exclusive (no offense to fans).

[RyanShutup]

This comment doesn't make sense, seeing as how it was already doomed before Nintendo saved the franchise. If anything it was given a second chance, how it fares from here is up in the air.

...to say Nintendo doomed the franchise is a bit ignorant.

[Spotie]

To be fair, while Nintendo did save the franchise temporarily, you can argue that Bayonetta's fate was sealed at about the same time this game became a Wii U exclusive. There just simply aren't enough fans of such games on the Wii U to give it the sales it deserves.

Sure, I'm happy it got made at all, being a fan of the first. But the odds of there being a Bayonetta 3 probably would have been better if the franchise were shelved for a while.

[randomass171]

@Spotie If the franchise was shelved for a while you would probably be waiting a LOT longer for Bayonetta 2 before 3 would ever be considered...

[3-4-5]

Not everyone goes crazy for a "weird" shooter with a female main character.

And it shows in sales.

It's just not appealing to the masses, even if it is of high quality.

Fans should just appreciate what Nintendo did for them though.

Without Nintendo, this series was already dead.

Without Nintendo, there would be no B2.

* There is one end of the spectrum and this game is on the other far end.

It's "too different" compared to the other titles available on Wii U.

* There needs to be " TRANSITION " Games, that allows devs to scale...game by game.... a style that fits what people want.

1........2.......3........4.. .....5......6.......7

Most Mario Games are at 1-2.

Bayonetta is at 7.

There needs to be more ...3...4..5..6.. type of games that can "break the ice" for newcomers.

[herbs]

I believe there is a chance of success for this game on Nintendo hardware. Generally speaking Nintendo gamers care more about gameplay than gamers on the the other systems and this is reflected in the games available. Generally all the exclusives on PS4 go for high detail graphics first frame rates and gameplay mechanics second whereas the majority of exclusive Wii U games run in 60fps have stellar gameplay and technically less demanding graphics to compensate for the smoother gameplay. This game delivers on both fronts but will possibly be brought down sales wise due to its bizaar subject matter and art direction however I feel that Nintendo gamers will have an easier time seeing past that kind of thing because gameplay is #1 to most Nintendo gamers like it should be.

[Amorist89]

I respect the author's opinion yet I optimistically disagree. There's something in the air or maybe I am a glutton for punishment with high hopes.

This game is gathering a tonne of attention with top marks, it has to reflect in sales,

[ABizzel1]

We can all hope for the best, and want the best, because it is an amazing action game (best hack n slash of all time, IMO NO, best hack n slash gameplay, IMO YES).

But ultimately this game is far to alienating for most consumers to want to pick it up. If a game isn't produced to be enjoyed by the masses, then it has to rely on the niche gamer and word of mouth to sell well, and having a hyper sexual innuendo spewing, high-heel gun touting, magical hair demon summoning witch is just far too Japanese for the west, and the game didn't even do good in Japan.

Then add the fact that it's on a Nintendo console (family friendly console, outside of the core). 3rd party games, violent games, and Mature games aren't doing great on the platform at all. And there's only an install base of less than 7.5 million users means it's unlikely to be a commercial success regardless of reviews.

[kevnb]

Reviews really don't matter, just ask destiny.

[N4g_null]

There was a time when all of gaming was more Japanese tastes. The graphics race has made gamers taste skew to conservative realism and also less game play.

[Loadedklip]

I seriously hope you are right.

Wonderful 101's sales have been beyond disappointing. Could have had a wonderful new franchise instead I doubt we ever see a sequel to that.

Please don't let Bayonetta suffer the same fate.

[pcz]

all jokes aside, this game deserves lots of sales, i hope it does become a success. not merely to spawn more sequels, but to attract more support from third parties, and more games of a similar tone...

[StrawberryDiesel420]

ain't gonna happen unfortunately

[Master-H]

Agreed.

[user5669510]

yeah we already know when we saw a positive wiiU article we was going to see a ton of negative articles to kill it. we have to stop any positive news about wiiU to ever reach the public, its all about res and overhyped consoles thats not living up to their expectations. this is the gen of 1080p @60fps on maxxed setting. it doesnt matter that we had 1080p tvs since the beginning of last gen, we just brought and heard about 1080p tv this gen when we brought these next gen consoles. as far as im concerned there is no highe res than 1080p. i heard that theyre working on a res called 4k, ps4 is gonna do 4k next gen ez

[ABizzel1]

I don't think this is negative, it's just being realistic and we all need to learn the difference. Just because it isn't something you want to hear doesn't make it negative or hold some truth.

If someone beat you that if Bayonetta 2 became a sales success (we'll say 1 million copies sold) you would get $1,000, however, if it didn't you'd get punched in the face repeatedly would you accept that deal?

Now if the same person gave you the same deal regarding Call of Duty, I'm sure most people would take the deal, and end p with $1,000.

It's just the reality of the situation, does that make it negative, No. And at the end of the day it's up to gamers to vote with their wallet and prove them wrong.

[thehobbyist]

4K isn't being worked on. It already exists.
$500 graphics cards are struggling to run 4K, even in SLI/Crossfire(two graphics cards computing for the same program) if you think consoles will be able to handle that this gen or the next you're kidding yourself.

[marloc_x]

Agreed. I hope it inspires the industry as a whole too..

[pcz]

when i buy a wiiu i will get this game for sure. i never played the first beyonetta so will probably get the double pack

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Tge director already talk about Bayonetta 3 potentially be another Nintendo exclusive

[Gamer1982]

Deserves sales why? For being an exclusive?? For being a niche game?? Its not a mass appeal game so it deserves the sales it will get. Nintendo should have done there research before signing up a game with a niche appeal such as this to be fair. They did really well with hyrule warriors for example as Dynasty Warriors sells millions worldwide with each release especially in the west. But this game sold average at best last time over 3 platforms now locked to 1 platform it will be lucky to break the 1 million barrier.

[shaw98]

Then people will be missing out on an awesome game. A good selling game does not make a good game.

[ABizzel1]

That's true.

But a bad selling good game, rarely sees a sequel.

[shaw98]

Bayonetta 2 happend, and the first one did not sell good.

[ABizzel1]

@shaw98

Keyword "rarely", on top of that Bayonetta 1 didn't sale awful, it sold well over 1.5 million copies.

[Gamer1982]

"A good selling game does not make a good game. " Thats true but the games not that great just over hyped for being an exclusive wiiu game. BTW before you attack me I'm a WiiU owner and am psyched for smash brothers. But this game was a big mistake for nintendo.

[jayzablade]

Already have my order in for the Special Edition....can't wait!!!

[DigitalRaptor]

Same here.

The reviews boggle my mind, in a good way. Last time I recall reviews for a game being this insanely good was The Last of Us, both last year and this year.

I think Bayonetta 2 is a front-runner for GOTY easily, and I think it will win.

[LAWSON72]

May buy the game before I even get a Wii U so I can help this game succeed.

[LoneWolf019]

Game is getting great reviews

[TheJacksonRGN]

The first did as well and was on 2 platforms with a bigger install base. It doesn't look good, but I want to be wrong on that.

[LAWSON72]

In a far more inflated library of titles, very much unlike next gen at the moment. If there is one edge it has over the first it is that. There were 3 big and good hack n slash games that came out that year and pretty much in the same month if I am not mistaken; Darksiders, Dantes Inferno, and Bayo1.

Of course there are big titles coming out now, however none are like Bayonetta. Also the first has not done that bad with pretty much 1M a platform. That is by no means bad for a JP game, however Platinums problem is they do not always put up big numbers nor have they lead to established franchises which a lot of publishers probably want

[kassler]

To bad it won't come to other platforms.

[Dudebro90]

Considering we don't know what Nintendo is expecting, its impossible to say.

They might only be expecting 200,000 copies.

[ABizzel1]

That's true, but it also has to make money, and considering it's doing more than the last game in almost every way, it should at least have a similar budget equal to just the 360 versions cost. And even with nearly 2 million in sales (it should have passed that) it wasn't enough to put faith in producing a sequel from Sega and many other publishers even with high reviews.

I don't think 200k copies is going to cut it.

[truechainz]

You act like Nintendo doesn't know that though. I can see a million reasons for Nintendo as a business to pick up the funding for this game even if it doesn't sell well. One of the best ones being that Nintendo has set a precedent that they are willing to dive in on games that are respectable, but are not the next call of duty commercially. While the possible alternative strategies of this move are clearly lost on most gamers (who all they can put together in their heads is high sales=good) I guarantee that they are not lost on most devs. Especially indies looking to go for bigger projects. Not to mention that it is likely that Nintendo and Platinum both are in a win-win position with this game regardless of sales.

[Ck1x]

You can't predict the budget for a sequel just because of the cost put towards the first game. It doesn't work that way! I bet that this game isn't a big drop in the bucket that people think it is for Nintendo. They are already hinting at a new project possibly in the works with Platinum, so obviously Nintendo is enjoying this partnership they have with the studio.

[N4g_null]

As a gamer I respect nintendo's vision for gaming more for supporting the niche games. The wii had a ton. Wii sport etc did not sell well and they are still doing that. Their catalog is simply so much better from a game play stand point.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Bayonetta 2 sold through 67% of initial shipment in Japan. In Week 1.

[Blackleg-sanji]

Really hope wiiu owners pick this up seriously its a great game the devs deserve it I have mine pre ordered

[Father__Merrin]

unfortunately bay 2 will be a total waste of a game, it's a genuinely high quality title that could have charted well. I also feel this will be last in the series

[originaljohn]

The same can be said for the first Bayonetta.

[Corpser]

Buy a Wii U and support this masterpiece

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

No chance in hell. Bayo 1 on PS3/360 didn't even sell 1 million.

Sorry this was meant to the dude below me.

[ABizzel1]

It did sell over 1 million copies on PS3 (even though it was by far the worst version), and almost 1 million on 360.

[kryteris]

i can see this selling 1-2 million easy.

[ABizzel1]

Good for you on being optimistic, but I see it struggling to reach 500k.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

Keep in mind Nintendo has been bumping the crap out of this one. Bayonetta! 2 direct.t Huge presence at e3. At least the Nintendo prarty faithful is aware of this amazing looking game! With that in mind I think this baby has legs and will move consoles. Picture a Wii U Bayonetta 2 bundle and it might be more tthan anyone ever expected!!!! Go Bayo!!!!!

[MasterCornholio]

Nintendo fans need to support this game. Its not made by Nintendo but its a fantastic game to play.

[Blackleg-sanji]

I really hope they give it a chance this game doesn't deserve to flop at all

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Same goes for fans of the first game.
As a fan of it myself, I entreat any and all Bay 1 fans to put aside their console allegiances and support the series they love.

[MasterCornholio]

Not without Zelda I won't.

I'm sorry but I won't buy the Wii U just for one game.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

You know Zelda is coming, though, so that's not an excuse.
And while you wait, there are plenty of games from both the wii and older systems on top of new games to keep you busy.
Bayonetta 2 could be your "gateway"game, with Zelda as your eventual goal.

[randomass171]

I wanted a Wii U strictly for Smash Bros. Bought mine with Mario Kart and soon Bayonetta 2 and a few downloadable games. There is plenty of incentive to own one now IMO.

[moomoo319]

if it was coming out for ps4 i would buy it

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Value your games more than your allegiance to a console, and you'll have many more games to play.
Including this one.

[moomoo319]

allegiance?? more like im 17 and can only afford one console.

[animegamingnerd]

hopefully with the high scores and a good chance a lot of sites will at least nominate it for game of the year and how there is solid hype surrounding this game means it will sell well

[STK026]

I would presume Nintendo expected low sales when they decided to pick up the publishing rights for it; the first one was very well received yet had pretty disappointing sales. I think Nintendo knew what they were getting into. Perhaps they did it as part of a bigger partnership with Platinum games, with more exclusives from them down the line. And, in the end, having a critically acclaimed game exclusive to your system is always a good thing.

As for those who, for the last several months, have been pointing out the obvious fact that the Wii-U doesn't have a big install base and that it would have sold more copies by coming out on X360/PS3, I have to ask this : would you rather have a low-selling Bayonetta 2 on Wii-U, or no Bayonetta 2 at all? Nintendo didn't steal the game from Sega, they saved it from cancellation.

[persona4chie]

I'm a huge bayonetta fan. I loved the first game, I played for over 200 hours and that was the ps3 version. I'll tell everyone else the same thing I've told my brother since this game first got revealed.

Will bayonetta 2 sell well/really well? As much as I would like for it to IF you go by the past then it probably won't. HOWEVER as much as I believe Platinum should be rewarded for this awesome game. I know that even it it doesn't sell well I'll enjoy the hell out of this game. I do my part as a gamer. I buy games to show support and I enjoy them. The only people who need to be concerned with the success of the game are the employees at Platinum Games....and people who want bayonetta 3. Other than that you are getting MORE than your money's worth with this title.

[Remy_Chaos]

Just preordered it along with the PSTV. Been a good month so far, my purse says otherwise but hey lol. You Nintendo crazies better support this one, after all that talk of operation platinum or whatever.

[Summons75]

There is always someone negative who just doesn't know how to have a good time so they refuse to let literally EVERYONE who is praising the game because it's fun just have fun.

[deafdani]

While I agree with this article for the most part because of the game's niche nature, it makes me sad that THIS is the only article about Bayonetta 2 that appears in the main page of N4G. Never mind the millions of other submissions that show the glowing reviews the game is getting.

This, of course, doesn't help promote the game at all.

[Ck1x]

Because its negative news that's why! Hard to bring down a positive Nintendo article while starring at a glowing review as well. It's nothing new really, all Nintendo articles that have a negative spin get a great deal of traffic on N4G!

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

A fairly large amount of Wii U owners I've seen are excited for this game, so they're no problem.
What I'm worried about, is whether fans of the first game will be mature enough to put aside their hate of the console it's on, for the sake of supporting a series that they should rightfully value more than their console allegiance.

Don't make the hardcore Nintendo fans do all the work, guys. This is YOUR series, too, after all!

[NixonMonoxide]

Great logic there genius.

Don't be a fanboy by sticking to the console you own and can probably afford. BUY A WII U and play BAYONETTA 2, to show your support! This is totally not Fanboy action in itself.

"A fairly large amount of WiiU owners I've seen are excited for this game, so there's no problem."

Don't make me laugh.. Even if you had 300 friends that own WiiU's and bought B2 (Which you definitely don't) Your statement there lacks any sort of credibility. Sounds more like wishful thinking to me.

I'd personally be surprised if B2 even sells as much as the first title.

[randomass171]

wonderfulmonkeyman is right plus he is actually trying to convince people to buy the game. If this game doesn't sell well and you did not support it in any way then you don't have a right to complain. I would argue just buying a game and maybe a Wii U later on if you are strapped for cash. Being condescending is not a good rebuttal.

[ICANPLAYGAMES2]

Smh, well all I know is, at least I'll be getting my copy, a good game is a good game.

[NixonMonoxide]

Of course this title was doomed the second it was a Wii U exclusive. I'm thinking it'll have even worse sales than the first game...And the first game's sales weren't hot.

Having said that, I enjoyed the first title. Beat it on all difficulties, but it isn't special enough for me to suffer a Nintendo controller, just to play it.

Sorry Platinum.....

[carriage4hire]

SEGA just keeps screwing it's fans. Release a mature game on an immature platform. Just like Macworld it's pure genius. #Sarcasm

[tinkypop]

You're a special kind of stupid aren't you?

[deafdani]

XD

[LAWSON72]

Sega had absolutely nothing to do with game

[KaladinStormblessed]

Can you guys not see the #sarcasm?

[AJBACK2FRAG]

I wonder how dumb your sixth comment will be.

[Nodoze]

The demo is fantastic, and looks and plays very very well. I will be buying.

[truechainz]

I see most of you are just commenting about how this game will not sell well, as if you came up with that revelation by yourself and Nintendo didn't discover this way back when they considered funding it in the first place. They know this won't be a commercial success, as do the devs at Platinum. Did anyone think that maybe Nintendo thought it would be a good idea to revive a franchise to show that they are willing to support IP's even if they aren't big sellers, and that maybe devs might like the idea of a company being willing to support their niche ideas? Though the return for moves like this may not come in revenue now, it can definitely pay off later. Not saying this is what they did, but honestly it would be nice if more gamers thought outside the box about alternative strategies that could be at work rather than just assume that sales are the end all be all of gaming.

[Roccetarius]

Nintendo was hoping this would sell consoles, and it had nothing to do with ''reviving'' and supporting an IP. If people think that's the case, then there's another sad reality behind the curtain.

[truechainz]

They are not dumb. They are a company worth billions. You think they would assume a sequel to a game that barely moved 2 million on 2 consoles with huge install bases would sell consoles? If a bunch of idiots on a message board figured that out of course a company that takes weeks to analyze an option before purchase would. I'm not saying they did it out of the goodness of their hearts, but having an image of a company that does is not a bad thing. Use your head.

[Roccetarius]

This outcome could've been seen from far way, so it's not really that surprising. i enjoyed the first one, and i disagree with some decisions in the 2nd, but still a solid game.

I'll just wait for the emulated version instead.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

If you don't own the original you're stealing.

[ChickenOfTheCaveMan]

Nobody bought the first one and now it's an exclusive on a console that doesn't sell well, were almost only 1st party games sell, and is mostly a kid console but this game is 17+. Of course it won't be a success...

[KaladinStormblessed]

It's not "mostly a kids console" seriously all this "kiddy" console crap is just annoying. So are you saying Adults can only play M rated games?

[ChickenOfTheCaveMan]

Not at all, I'm just saying that around 50-70% of Wii U's are used by kids. Adults aren't the main focus of Nintendo, but sure there are a few.

Hey, I'm an adult PS owner, love my FPS, my gore filled games and whatnot, but I'm also a big fan of LittleBigPlanet. I acknowledge that it's a kid game, nothing wrong with it.

I didn't mean to rub anyone the wrong way, but I still think Wii U is a kid aimed at console.

[randomass171]

Nintendo released demographic data that actually makes this statement pretty inaccurate. Look at the age demographic data. http://mynintendonews.com/2...

[ChickenOfTheCaveMan]

I wonder if every 5 years old create their own eShop account or the fathers are the ones buying the games for their kids with a parent account...just a thought.

I hope you won't be amazed by how Toys'r'us is an adult store if they release a statement that 80% of the buyers are over 25.

[randomass171]

That's pretty unlikely as most people have their own accounts and Wii U allows to have around twelve of them per console. Sure some of the accounts could be shared between parents and their children, but it's been kind of established that the casual family crowd abandoned Wii U. For the most part people who are still buying it are the core fans who like Smash and Zelda. I don't think I can say much else to prove my point since I'm down to my last bubble and I'm pretty sure there is no amount of data that can convince you otherwise. *shrug*

[Dunban67]

I wish they would do a Platinum Master collection because all their games are good/great

It kills me that EA can release unfinished game after unfinished game and millions buy it day 1!but Platinum games barely register re sales -

[Realplaya]

So if the game sells 2 million on the Wii U then is it a success ?

[Ck1x]

Why do people think that the break even point is so high on this game? Infamous SS has sold around 1.5 million units and every ps4 owner considers the game a major success. I guarantee that Bayonetta 2 cost a fraction of Infamous SS to make and why do people feel that it needs to sell just as much to be a successful title for Nintendo.

[BigDuo]

According to Sega, Bayonetta 1 reportedly sold 1.1 million copies as of February 2010 between two home console platforms. The game came out first in Japan back in October 2009 and in January 2009 overseas. By April 2013, Platinum's president, Tatsuya Minami, said that he views Bayonetta 1 as a "C or D" in terms of its sales performance. Both Platinum and Sega were particularly disappointed with the game's software sales overseas.

[mysteryraz11]

wiiu fanboys brag about their exclusives yet they dont sell because you guys dont buy them

[Geekman]

Was this article necessary? Let me guess how his thought process went.

"Bayonetta 2 is getting amazing reviews? WAAH! Why isn't it on my console! Time to write some click bait!"

[Deadpool616]

I don't have a Wii U as of yet, but I'm buying a copy of Bayonetta 2. I want the Wii U to get more 3rd party games. This game needs to succeed, otherwise Nintendo isn't going far with other 3rd party support.

[NixonMonoxide]

@Wonderfulmonkeyman As I pointed out there, "GREAT LOGIC". Sorry the only fanboy here is you. The thought that someone MUST buy a console, because it's cheap speaks greatly of your hilarious reasoning. You think I hate Nintendo? LMAO. Maybe I don't want to buy more than what I own...Maybe I don't want to buy a new console for ONE game? Maybe I can think of better things to spend £200 plus on?

Apparently I'm a "console war" soldier.. There's so much butthurt in your post, it's hilarious. The only retard here, is you I'm afraid.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

I've been saying the same thing. EA and Activision release the same game year after year and people think it's ok and give them a pass. Why? Wish I knew. They're making millions now but I think some people are already sick of lazy developer syndrome. That's why I like Nintendo. They are dynamic, innovative and not worried at all about delaying video games for years until they are perfect. They will win this generation because they are not afraid to take chances and rely mainly on themselves for entertainment content whereas Sony and Microsoft rely on Activision and EA to provide their video game consoles with software. Oh and Nintendo will win this generation because they have the least expensive and least powerful home video game console this generation!
Next week Lateral thinking with withered technology in relation to Wii and Wii U development cycles. Peace.

[Picnic]

Being WiiU exclusive will actually give it cult status.

Rayman Legends was originally going to be a WiiU exclusive. Even though it ended up launching as a multiformat game it actually sold most on WiiU for a while. It now seems to have sold most on the PS3 according to VGChartz as I would expect but not by a huge margin over the WiiU considering the difference in number of console owners.

This is the kind of game that you either want or you don't. There's not a lot like it and any delay in it being on a particular console shouldn't affect sales in the long run. It wouldn't necessarily have got made at all without Nintendo's interest in funding it.

It's sometimes better in the long run for games companies if niche games launch on the 'niche' console. Sonic Adventure 2 launched on the Dreamcast and got a graphical overhaul over 10 years later for the last generation of consoles.

Bayonetta wasn't a Nintendo thing but Bayonetta 2 is a Nintendo thing. Not necessarily forever but Nintendo needed it. If it gives people a good reason to buy a WiiU then everyone wins. The sales figures are almost incidental, they don't have to be close to what Bayonetta sold, whatever that was, if it sells a decent enough figure to represent a 'niche game system seller' for the WiiU.

[BigDuo]

Even if the sequel does sell poorly overall, at least Nintendo properly covered its bases with the game's marketing. There's a TV ad coming out for those that didn't think NOA would do it, check it out at the link below. Anyway, I praise Nintendo for providing us with this pro-consumer title. It may not sell well, but people can't complain that Nintendo didn't try to offer them something special here when other publishers had turned it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[lunatic0001]

Fail or not...not gonna stop me from buying and enjoying the game day one