1UP: Bayonetta (360) Review

Bayonetta is essentially a sequel masquerading as an original game. It's not a "nice first attempt." It's not short. It's not a foundation lacking features and variety and whatever else reviewers like to complain about. It has the kind of heft usually reserved for the second or third game in a franchise, and deserves to sit next to Assassin's Creed 2 and Uncharted 2 rather than their predecessors.

[Blaster_Master]

To say that this game is good enough to stand next to Assassins Creed and Uncharted 2 like saying having sex with a ugly fat chick is as good as doing it with a gorgeous super model. This game isn't even in the same league.

[Rikitatsu]

Famitsu: 40/40
EDGE: 10/10
Pixelverdict: 5/5
Gamesradar: 10/10
LEVEL (Swedish Magazine): 10/10
The Gamer Scene 9.8/10
WhityTheReviewer: 9.6/10 (PS3 9.3/10)
IGN UK: 9.6/10 (X360)
IGN: 9.5/10 (X360)
play.tm: 9.5/10
VGArabia: 9.4/10
Games Master UK: 9.3/10
Nowgamer: 9.3/10
4players (biggest german mag) : 9.3/10
gamers.de : 9.2/10
Gamezone.de: 9.2/10
Burn360: 4.25/5
Eurogamer: 9/10
1UP: A/A+ (9/10)
GameInformer: 9/10
PSM3: 9/10
OPM: 9/10
OXM: 9/10
CVG: 9/10
GamesTM: 9/10
spaziogames.it: 9/10

[KingKionic]

Universal acclaim ?

heh...game~s going be good .

[Raf1k1]

I wouldn't put it with the likes of AC2 or U2 either but it does deserve praise (on the 360 at least). I wish they did a better job on the PS3 version as I would have bought it straight away instead of waiting for it to go cheaper (even though the demo didn't exactly amaze me).

[deadreckoning666]

UNIVERSAL ACCLAIM. I woulda bought it too if the PS3 version wasn't the inferior version.

[StanLee]

PS3 fanboys disgust me. Please don't take your disappointment out on the game. The game is fantastic, the port isn't. Sega deserves your venom, not the game which is really what Devil May Cry should have evolved to after Devil May Cry 3.

[Baka-akaB]

face it , Bayonetta is there and wont go away just because some fools decided that being a "DMC clone" (as opposed to being clone of stuff we see all the time) was a bad thing .

Or decided the game wasnt good because not exclusive to either ps3 or 360

Hell what the heck , i'll buy it on both 360 and ps3 !

[lociefer]

Sega really fcked up on this 1

[Chubear]

Game reviews are insane this gen. I just don't get it. What on earth makes this game, as a 4th gen title, a 10 and Heavenly Sword, a 1st gen title, 7s & low 8s.

The only thing awesome of this game that surprised me is how a new IP garnered the same hype technique of halo and made it work.

I know it's now common place in the industry that any game given less than 9s might as well be given a 4 cause even if they're 8s or 7s there's this conception anything less than 9 is a "fail" and it's a conception the gaming media pushed on the teen community so now they can't give a great game an 8.5 or else it won't sell.

Sorry but this game is pure hype. Is it fun? yes, lots of game are. Is it a good game? sure but lots of games are... is it in the league of MGS4s etc? HELLLL NAWWW! and we all know it.

[Baka-akaB]

Once again chubear , i agree with you that some titles were treated in a rather disgusting way because of console war mentality .

Yes heavenly sword was pretty good and got punished by swarming morons .
But that's not a reason to "punish" Bayonetta as well .

It's easily every bit as good , if not better , in it's own regard . The game is dmc 2.5 (the second title being dmc 3 again) .. wich would make it awesome enough for many DMC fans .... regardless of some people's "heaven VS hell war" going on :p.

[Saaking]

Why is everyone praising this game so much? Is it really that good. I might have to look into it and from the looks of it I'll have to get the 360 version :(. But probably when it get's cheap, I'm not supporting this game after they made a sh1tty port for the PS3.

[ABizzel1]

The gameplay in Bayonetta is great, I think the character Bayonetta hinders the game. As I thought the story is going to be passable. I still think reviewers are rating the game too high, I mean what the point of having multiple categories where games can score well in if you're going to base your review off of gameplay alone.

For example IGN

Presentation 8
Graphics 9
Sound 9
Gameplay 9.5
Lasting Appeal 9.5
Total 9.5

How is that possible shouldn't it be a 9.0/10 and even if Gameplay and Lasting Appeal have the most weight (which they should) then the game should be a 9.2 at the most.

Bayonetta is a B+ or A- to me, you have to have EVERYTHING to get a 10/10 in my book and no game has ever been a 10/10. But I'll be picking it up on the 360 (even though I prefer action games with the PS3 controller) on January 5th.

[ThanatosDMC]

I disagree at someone's comment about this is how DMC was suppose to evolve into.

[lightningsax]

@Saaking - Here's one PS3 owner who's a huge fan of this game. Bayonetta was one of the rare instances where the demo for a game really spoke to what was awesome about it. The dudes at 1up are right - it's the controls that make this game shine.

There are certain games where I feel like I should go out of my way to experience them. I'm pissed as anyone about Sega screwing it up, but that's not stopping me from getting it. It looks that freakin' good.

I'd liken it to the Dragon Age situation. Yes, it would be better on consoles if BioWare themselves maxed the game out for each platform, but hey, it's Dragon Age, so kudos for picking it up no matter what system you have. Dragon Age 360 was heavily downgraded by review sites for being a bad port (Gamespot comes to mind but I know there were more) but it sold like hotcakes, and more people got to experience a killer RPG. Same with Bayonetta. I'm thrilled that I get to play it, and that's all there is to it for me.

From what I've seen in the demo, this is a highly recommended buy for either system.

[ps3gogetitt]

Now I have to consider this game... and I was thinking of picking up AC2..

I am surprised at all these great reviews...

[Doc Sony]

Nope, still don't see the appeal.

EDIT: WOW, disagrees that I don't see the appeal.

So I guess this means that I DO see the apeal then.

[lowcarb]

Go play your PS3! Nobody cares about your PS3 fanboy idiotic logic when it comes to anything video game related.

[Baka-akaB]

the above is the idiot here .

I love the game , he doesnt ... he has a right to his opinion , so long as he doesnt spew crap , wich he has yet to do...

Who's the idiotic fanboy here ? You decided he was one based on him stating he isnt attracted to the game , and his name .

[Eamon]

LOL Doc Sony, I know how you feel when people disagree with what you feel like.

But be honest, you're just hating on this game because its not an exclusive or because the port wasn't made properly.

Just sayin.

Edit: Something interesting here. I just noticed a comment by you Sir Doc Sony. http://www.n4g.com/Redirect... <-- Baka-akaB, I think lowcarb is correct in assuming what he has written in his comment.

[Baka-akaB]

then if he has a negative habit elsewhere my bad then .

[duplissi]

lol lowcarb snaps at someone for being a fanboy!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

[artsaber]

For Cameltoe. Hehehe nice deTAIL

[TheTwelve]

...I'm going to have to take this game seriously. I wasn't expecting this. All these reviews can't be a lie. Alright well it will keep me good until GOW3.

12

[artsaber]

See Halo3 and GTA4.

[TheTwelve]

Halo and GTA, two of the biggest franchises in the history of videogames? Not many reviewers would risk giving these games a bad review.

But what is the motivation behind giving Bayonetta a good score? It's a brand new franchise, Japanese even, and for American reviewers to give it so much props...

Heck, I don't like it either. Demo didn't impress me but again, it was only a demo and perhaps there's a lot more to the game.

12

[jesuisankit]

Exactly.. there is lot more to the game than the demo.. The same demo lvl in the full game is loaded with stuff and it doesnt even scratches the depth bayonetta has.. What I will say is platinum games made an amazing game but the demo was bad :P

[Baka-akaB]

Seriously i dont see what would be the gain here . With or without good reviews , it's unlikely to harm the bigger franchise such as GoW .

And the trend is to bash japanese game lately in the press , about many things like their supposed lack of innovation this gen , for bad or good reasons alike .

There is little to gain from falsely boosting up some new ip from former dev stars , who hasnt released any big success since resident evil 3 and DMC1 ...

A yearly released big ip gathering only praises no matter what crap they pulled every week , and no matter the numerous bugs , ok now that is weird ...
But this ? doubt so .

Then again i like the game so ...

[no_more_trolling]

this is one cheesy game

this is my opinion

i hate it

[bobdog626]

If so it's a Must have game.

[colonel179]

Then God of War 3 will be Bayonetta on some alien $hit!

[nycredude]

First of all any game or reviewer claiming a game is "like" GOW is doing nothing but hyping their game up. Just do a review without comparing. I played the demo and it's NOTHING like GOW. It's way more like DMC than GOW!

Second how is anything on CRACK "better"? Go check out anyone before crack and then after being on crack, they become busted! So being something on crack is NOT good!

My final 2 cent on this. Maybe I am missing something here because I played the demo alot and I fail to see how this is the second coming of action games! I am sure lots of people may like this stuff, but to me it was just a cheesy ass button masher with a piss poor cheesy story ala DMC.

[artsaber]

The character looks like she is Sarah Palin inspired, her costume design at this point in the game seems uninspired (hopefully it can be upgraded later on)... CORNY ass line "something? go-go baby" But we give it a pass because it is a chick. Imagine Dante saying that... but the important thing is that it might be fun, the reviews suggest that it is. I will try it out, but I will rent it first to check out the replay value. This is just an escape scene, so it is hard to tell if it is repetative or not.

[Baka-akaB]

sure they look alike , but Bayonetta was shown around before the world even knew who she is .

And the game isnt getting a pass because of some supposedly hot chick .

It's the reverse actually , you guys , some in a rather hypocrite way , decided it would be lame because of "them naked boobies" .

Then since knocking the gameplay without valid arguments became harder ... you guys decided "who cares it's a dmc clone" .

Again even if it was a 100% pure dmc clones , it's not like we get a dmc every year , and not like when we had one it was awesome . DMC4 was ok but pales compared to dmc3 .

And dmc 2 is something everyone agree doesnt or shouldnt exist .

So yeah excuse us for liking a proper great DMC game ...

I'm not saying you personally are an hypocrite and guilty of all the above ... but we damn know some people are already salivating at Dante's inferno , and not applying their own damn "it's a rip off" criteria .

[artsaber]

I was simply playing devil's advocate. I will be playing this game under the assumption that it is fun. I liked the earlier DMC games. If Bayonetta borrows much from it, I don't care much as long as it is fun. The same goes for me playing Dantes Inferno, I will be playing that as well, but GOW3 I will buy instead of rent.

The difference with Bayonetta is that DMC kinda fell off, whereas GOW has improved. So it makes even more sense to give Bayonetta a fair shot into the genre since DMC didn't quite seal the deal IMO. Not that DMC was bad, but it left room for other things to be worked in, etc. A good quality production game we should all welcome in, but this chick still looks like Sarah Palin, whether it was intended or not... lol. I just thought that was funny.

[spinbot_lv1]

6 months by now and this game will be listed by gaming community as one of the most overhyped game of the year.mark my words

[Hakimy]

They gave the PS3 version a A-.This is better than ign's 8.2 rating.Lets see what will gamespot says about this game ;)

[Baka-akaB]

dont bother , none of them have even seen the full japanese ps3 games .
Those that did know the game had far less issues than the demo .

-Is it inferior to the 360 version ? yes

-Do you care if you dont have the 360 on a screen right next to it ? No

-Would most people even notice if there wasnt those comparisons driving them crazy ? No

-Is the game ruined on ps3 by being inferior to the 360 ? No it's hardly the Orange box all over again .

-Is the gameplay hampered or ruined on any version ? No

-Is it an inferior port ? Again yes obviously

-Is it a shoddy crappy port ? of course not , it's just inferior because of less good texture , and some screen tearing , but the game is the same and everybit as playable .

If you got both console wich to choose ? Obviously the 360 .. if you got both version why settle for an even tiny bit inferior version ? Unless you prefer to have trophies for it . Or unless by some miracle the western ps3 version gets even or get some bonuses

-Do the people complaining even care about the game to begin with , or are just happy to use it as console war cannon fodder ?
Well yes in quite a few cases , between the 360 morons using it as some proof of the ps3's inferiority ... and between some others ps3 clowns mad at their version being even one pixel inferior .

[Bluemaster77]

Dont take any chances just get the 360 version and have a good time :)

[mrmikew2018]

Platinum Games messed up the PS3 version, don't blame SEGA blame PG. It's their title, SEGA was just the publisher. There was no reason for PG to hand their assets over to SEGA to do the PS3 port.

[Baka-akaB]

I can live with the indeed inferior , but perfectly fine ps3 version . The thing i dont get is why even pretend till the last minute they worked on both .

The japanese folks hardly had any choice in the matter with more owning a ps3 rather than a 360 ...
They didnt turn their back on the franchise just because of the port , and wouldnt have neither with more honesty 5 months ago .

[cereal_killa]

FFS why is everyone so quickly to blame SEGA on this they had nothing to do with the developing of this game, they only did the port why is everyone giving Platinum Games a free pass on this when they are clearly the ones that fvcked this up SEGA could only do so much with the trash they were given and to honest they did a good job.

[Tewi-Inaba]

Yes, Sega did NOT have alot of money for this product, infact it was almost budget.
I suppose it's because madworld didn't quite workout that well and they were afraid of action games.
I don't know.

[Baka-akaB]

I dont blame SEGA , platinum have been promoting their game the whole year while some builds already showed discrepancy between both versions , and they assuring everything would be fixed .

They aint even the ones in charge of the ps3 version , and removed their name from it , they should have just shut up about it .

[Tewi-Inaba]

The complexity of or...variety of combos and attacks are awesome, but not for it's style, but don't get me wrong, It has awesome style :D
But it all somehow fits, I have no clue how they fit in so many things in one controller and somehow made it feel...Right.

I seriously don't know how Hideki Kamiya did it but he did.
greatest action game maker IMO.

I'm talking about the Xbox360 version thought.

[mrmikew2018]

Well I'm getting it for the 360, but it sucks for single console owners that just have a PS3. What happen to the Japanese developers? Back in the day they use to take pride in the work, I don't know what happen with them this gen.

[horndog]

Lol

[kingdavid]

Even though he is biased, I have to somewhat agree. The demo didnt exactly scream out "MUST PLAY NOW".

[Silly gameAr]

Maybe Bayonetta 2 will get a better PS3 port, but till than don't miss out on a great game because of the crap you read on N4G. As for me, Darksiders on PS3 and I'm not 100% sure which console I'm getting Bayonetta on. I'm a bit of a trophy whore and Im not really bothered by insignificant things that doesn't affect gameplay.

[United4Life]

A Solid Game , But in No Way does it Deserve to Sit Besides UC2 and AC2 , Both of thoes games are Near Flawless and Are Technical Masterpieces.

It"s a Great game , Don"t get me Wrong .It"s Good Fun , But It Won"t get you Hooked for Multiple Playthroughs as the Reviewers claim , Atleast It Didn"t hook me.

Great Game - Yes

Must buy - Only If you"re a 360 owner.The PS3 port is God Awful and we Already have GOW3 To look forward too.

Equal To UC2 - Clearly no , Very Fun game , but Loses in Plot Narration , Graphics , Fluidity of gameplay(Screen Tearing and Load Times) , Shabby Voice Acting and Some God Awful Cutscenes.

Best Feature - Fighting Mechanics , Lots of Depth.

Anyways i"m pretty sure it won"t sell like Crazy on the 360 , It"ll be an Achievement if it Even manages to Surpass Forza 3 sales seeing the Generic FPS loving Crowd of the 360 plus Mass Effect 2 Rolling Along .They Could have Got some sales on the PS3 but the Port just Defeats any Reason to Buy this game.