Wrath of the Witch Queen- Bayonetta Review

As the processing power of consoles has grown exponentially, so has the graphical intricacy of our games. While faster CPUs and additional memory have brought higher resolutions, these technological advances have also increased the amount of visual data, allowing diversions to bedazzle gamers with colossal amounts of on-screen activity. Some of my most salient gaming memories emanate from those supreme tests of sprite tracking- from sorting out the imposing hordes in Smash TV to navigating Raiden’s clouds of enemy ammunition.

Twenty years later these diversions no longer generate the same sensation of chaotic bliss. Like many gamers, my ability to discern frenzied fields of activity has improved over time, requiring new amusements to reach that heightened state of mind-blowing immersion. Sega’s Bayonetta is the latest conduit for attaining that altered state of gaming consciousness.

The game’s playable prologue foreshadows some of what’s in store. Accustomed to featureless cinematic introductions, players may not even realize that they are in control as the subtitled narration commences. Within moments opponents will surround the protagonist, failing to obey the requisite rule of gaming which states that foes must politely wait their turn to attack. Like any great game, it can be debilitating at first. Gamers will inevitably focus on the visual opulence as blood erupts in crimson spurts, flowers bloom when the protagonist is hit, and ethereal guillotines behead unlucky foes. 

Just as players sort out the sexy spectacle of violence, they’ll also be garnering a taste of the title’s fluid control scheme. Bayonetta’s heroine is as sinuous as she seductive.  Whereas Kratos annihilates foes with bombastic strength, this femme fatale obliterates with erotic elegance. Each of her countless combos displays a lithe lethality- from stripper-pole spins with furious kicks to giant stiletto stomps that pulverize rivals. Coupled with purchasable skill moves, an upgradable arsenal and armaments that can be procured from fallen foes, combat remains consistently exhilarating. With the exception of the odd quick-time event embedded within a cinematic and the recycling of boss characters, skirmishes in Bayonetta are skillfully varied.

Perhaps the most awesome element in Bayonetta’s arsenal is ‘Witch Time’, which is invoked whenever the player narrowly evades an incoming attack. By waiting until the last moment to dodge, the game slows down every on-screen enemy, allowing our protagonist to deal out devastating amounts of damage. Masterfully, the skill is encouraged but never required by the game, creating a compelling risk/reward mechanic that elevates the game above its third-person peers.

While the title could have easily been yet another disposable action title, Bayonetta will maintain a player’s attention long after the game’s eighteen chapters are completed. With hidden tomes to read, achievements to accomplish, outfits to unlock, and collectibles to acquire, the disk holds an unexpected amount of depth. Clearly, this is part of the game’s design, as the game’s entertaining but often nonsensical cinematics are always skippable, encouraging additional playthroughs.

For a title as visually sumptuous as Bayonetta, players might expect the sporadic graphical foible. With the exception of a bit of screen-tear here and a hint of slowdown there, the title performs flawlessly, and humiliates its contemporary action brethren with its dazzling draw distances and frame-rate. The game’s soundtrack is equally proficient, with a beguiling title song, and a several charming retro references.