Action-packed, with over-the-top characters (and the villainous Bayonetta as the lead), Platinum Games managed to capture fans of the hack-and-slash genre with its first three releases. The original game was a demon-slaying adventure with gory violence, and the two releases that followed delivered just as much action.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is the fourth of these and a departure from all the gun-toting action we are used to from the heroine. This time, we meet Bayonetta, a young witch still in training. Instead of her stilettos and pistols, Bayonetta (still Cereza here) trades these for her fluffy toy-turned-bodyguard Cheshire. Its bold take on the heroine’s origin story is a gamble that seems to be paying off, as fans and critics praise the adventure puzzler, even calling it the best Bayonetta game yet.
Magic and Astrology Are Favorites with Fans of the Game
Games with mystical themes have long been fan favourites, and Bayonetta Origins applies this exceptionally well. Cereza has yet to get into her Bayonetta shoes, but even with a limited move set, the little witch-in-training still has some awesome tricks up her sleeve.
Celestial symbols around the game world and Cereza’s abilities are some of the aspects of astrology and luck that make the game even more attractive to play. Many enemies you face need Cheshire’s abilities with the elements and Cereza’s magic, albeit with Cheshire doing the most fighting. More than just frenzied battling, Cereza and Cheshire combine their abilities to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles in this release.
A Unique Take on Visuals
Bayonetta games have always gone for surrealism as much as animation and graphics would let them. Set in the past, Bayonetta Origins takes on a softer animation style, with the game unfolding on the well-worn pages of a storybook. This fun kind of animation took fans by surprise and impressed them, too. With lots of animation styles to choose from, it’s interesting to see how well Platinum Games makes its pick. The story of Bayonetta’s origin is heartwarming, and the folklore visual style is quite befitting.
The game also utilizes the foreground and background quite well to create depth. It’s clear just how much thought went into the visuals, especially when the hovering camera goes between intertwined trees and curling branches, temporarily obscuring your view. It all keeps the game world neatly pieced together and gives the game an immersive feel that previous releases could not match.
The Critics Love It
Bayonetta Origins has enjoyed glowing reviews from critics and fans who did not know what to expect. Fans have applauded the release for all the Bayonetta lore it packs and the visuals, which are uncharacteristic of the game. Critics have also noticed how well the game weaves Bayonetta’s story, giving it high scores in publications like Polygon, Gamespot, and IGN. It has also been rated highly as a game that helps you relax rather than stay alert. Many fans have admitted that the game gets much more interesting once you get over the initial shock, and though it starts out slow, it picks up the pace quite fast as you progress.
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A Must-Play if You Love the Series
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon managed to find the delicate balance between the old and the new. Callbacks to previous games are sure to impress old fans, and new fans just discovering the title are spared the unrelenting violence of an older Cereza. It’s a great game to start with if you are just getting to know the Bayonetta series of games. It is a prequel to the first three, and new fans will appreciate the earlier releases even more.
