LogFAQs > #934231913

Bayonetta

Played on: Xbox 360
Release: January 5, 2010
Genre: Character Action

KICKING THE DECADE OFF WITH A BANG

In the years since the original release of Devil May Cry, the "character action" genre had struggled and floundered a bit in capturing the unique essence and vision of that series. While franchises like God of War stood shoulders with DMC in regards to popularity, it ultimately missed the mark on the replayability factor and awesome combo potential DMC had in spades. Of course, it took the original creator of DMC in the first place to reinvent the wheel of character action games once again, with the fantastic Bayonetta, technically released in 2009 in Japan but otherwise 2010 for NA (aka me). The bombastic, over-the-top nature of Bayonetta made even DMC3 look like a subdued survival horror game, and if there was a chance to be quirky, chaotic, or insane anywhere in the game, Hideki Kamiya and PlatinumGames seized that opportunity and cranked it as far as they could push it. With a combo list that could fill an entire encyclopedia, Bayonetta gave players so much room for experimentation, potentially making every single combat encounter in the game a wholly unique experience without much repetition at all. It may seem exhausting to some, but the short spurts with each individual battle ranked on its own merits gives the game an almost bite-sized feel that makes the game much more manageable. Or could you even turn on the automatic mode which gives you all of the spectacle with none of the effort; sure, it's looked down upon by some, but it's there and I'll admit myself it's a blast to turn it on, put on some music or something, and just chill to the gleeful carnage unfolding on your screen, while taking in the equally terrific Gothic atmosphere, which cannot be understated how important it is to both Bayonetta and character action in general (not just the Gothic part, just general atmosphere).

I fell in love with the original DMC thanks to its almost overbearing Gothic horror atmosphere, and it's such a vital part in contextualizing the action. The claustrophobic hallways of Mallet Castle with large enemy counts constantly makes you feel like the underdog despite your overpowered moveset, giving each battle a thrill that makes each action you perform feel extra badass, stylish, & meaningful. Similarly, Bayonetta's bible-accurate influences often pits you against gigantic, screen-filling enemies that fill you with simultaneous awe & horror, playing with your expectations on what a traditional angel is typical presented as. The battlefields make you feel small & powerless, but with the confidence of our main character and the knowledge of our arsenal giving us the right tools needed to conquer the day, we make it through regardless of the challenge. A great character action game constantly gives you this push & pull of tension, and it is what separates the great titles like Bayonetta from the pack.

I couldn't think of a better game to kick off the decade for me. It laid a new blueprint for pretty much every character action game to come out of the 2010s, and the fantastic underappreciated MadWorld aside, was the game that kickstarted PlatinumGames to become synonymous with kick-ass character action games and a level of quality almost unmatched in the entire gaming industry.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
https://imgur.com/MmrKwGZ - https://imgur.com/ntWVGyh