Bayonetta Hands On Preview
It's safe to say that Bayonetta is a rather interesting prospect. Developed by the team that originally came up with Resident Evil and Devil May Cry, there's a certain level of expectation about what this title can achieve. From the looks of things, Platinum Games, the developers of the title, seem to be taking it all in their stride.
Bayonetta is a game that doesn't take itself too seriously in some respects, but it definitely does in others. The story is set to be quite a departure from other similar games and it will deal with alternate realities. Bayonetta is linked to a man called Luka, in the past, present and future. However, Luka cannot see Bayonetta unless there are reflective surfaces around. He can still hear and smell her though.
The story is actually one of the main areas where little is known, as Platinum Games are trying to keep one of the game's defining features close to their chest for the moment. It does sound like it's going to be a rather detailed affair, but given the games other aspects, it probably won't make or break the title.
Where Bayonetta's main attraction comes is through the combat. Trying to expand upon what was created with Devil May Cry , Bayonetta is quite extreme. The range of weapons and combos is quite impressive, and there's even a combo selector during the loading screens to help players get to grips with all of the different moves available. As well as a variety of weapons, Bayonetta can also use a gun and these can be linked together to create nice combination attacks. She can also evade attacks, and doing so at the last minute enables her to enter Witch Mode, which slows down time. The level of imagination shown with the combat is definitely refreshing. It's essentially a new take on an old style, but one that feels necessary as the combat flows rather nicely.
The actual structure of the game looks like it will remain quite standard though, as there is an action sequence, followed by a closed off fight. Upon defeating all of the enemies, the player is then allowed to progress to the next section. It's a tried and tested formula and it works. It looks like there will be plenty of boss fights, which will take place in epic arenas, which is great. There is also the crazy addition of Hair Magic, which as the name suggests is magic, using Bayonetta's hair. She uses this against the tougher enemies to really make her point and it's safe to say that her hair is something that shouldn't be messed with.
Although Bayonetta is trying to be different from what came before, it's also trying to be the same. There are enough differences to allow this title to stand on its own though, and hopefully the final product is even more quirky. It's now scheduled for release in Q1 2010 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
