Bayonetta 2

Genre: Spectacle Fighter

Players: 1-2 Co-Op (Local Wireless / Online)

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Review:

(Note: This game is included in Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 Digital Bundle along with Bayonetta)

Bayonetta 2 is a Spectacle Fighter like Devil May Cry and God of War, a single-player experience where you are fighting multiple enemies using complex fighting mechanics, and in this case, it is a game where you fight various grotesque “angels” with the game’s titular character, Bayonetta.

So I’ll get this out of the way real quick here – Bayonetta 2 is a “Rated M for Mature” game with a hard “M”. Bayonetta not only kills enemies in bloody, gruesome ways, but she does so while striking cheesecake poses, dressed in what is basically a dominatrix outfit, which magically gets stripped off of her temporarily when she makes use of some of her attacks. The game never actually goes so far as to show any of Bayonetta’s X-rated areas, but suffice it to say that very little is left to the imagination.

By this point, people have made arguments on both sides, that this is yet another a stark example of sexual exploitation of a female character in a videogame, or that this is an example of a woman who is sexually liberated, and uses her sexuality in an empowering way… but I’ll leave that to you. Just know what you’re getting into before you get this game.

Now, having said that, this game absolutely does not depend on the sexy to get by with mediocre gameplay. Quite the opposite – this game is a master class in how to make a spectacle fighter. Bayonetta has a wide variety of moves, multiple weapons and upgrades she can acquire over the course of the game, the combat is tight, feels great, and you always know exactly how you screwed up when you take a hit, and the enemies and environments are varied enough to keep things interesting.

The game looks absolutely fantastic too. The character models for Bayonetta and her enemies are imaginative, well-designed, and intricately detailed, and some of the environments she fights in are equally impressive. This game’s opening scene isn’t quite as iconic as the first game’s clock tower battle, but there are plenty of amazing set pieces once you get past the tutorial section and into the actual game proper.

The game’s plot is… well, silly. And cool. It’s strange… the entire premise is bonkers, and the characters are ridiculous and over the top, yet the game still makes it fun and engaging, even while you make the “WTF?” face at the bizarreness of it all. The forces of Heaven and Hell are real, and neither one of them is very nice. Bayonetta is a witch, nominally on the side of hell due to a binding contract, and as such, she fights angels, which are actually grotesque monsters, using her magical witch powers, which transform her hair, which her outfit is made from, into giant hands and feet, and dragon heads to eat enemies alive, leaving Bayonetta mostly nude while it does its thing… yeah, like I said, weird.

The event that kicks off the plot of this game happens during a routine battle between Bayonetta and some angels, when suddenly, one of her summoned demons goes out of control, attacking her and apparently killing her friend and comrade Jeanne. Since we’re talking about a world where Heaven and Hell are real, so Bayonetta of course does the rational thing and trudges off toward the gates of Hell to retrieve her friend before the transition is permanent.

The Nintendo Switch version of the game mainly changes one thing from the Wii U version, aside from the obvious ability to play it in handheld mode – the game’s framerates are much-improved. Given that Bayonetta 2 was already a prettier game than the first Bayonetta, seeing it looking even smoother now results in a game that is absolutely gorgeous, and one of the best-looking games of its kind.

I should also mention that if you’re looking to get the Bayonetta games in physical form, you should be aware that the retail copy of Bayonetta 2 comes with a download code for the first Bayonetta. Bayonetta is not currently available in a physical copy on the Switch, although a physical release is planned for September 2022. Those who buy digital versions of either Bayonetta or Bayonetta 2 on the Switch will get a discount on the other Bayonetta game bringing the total cost to $60.

Let me be clear here – this is not only one of the best-looking games of its kind, it’s also one of the best-playing games of its kind. Bayonetta 2 is nothing short of a dream for fans of action games who don’t mind them bloody and sexy. And unlike Bayonetta 2, since this game is clearly superior to the only other version of the title in existence, the Wii U version, that makes this the best version of one of the best action games ever made. If you don’t mind your games M-rated, this should be a must-have on the Switch.

tl;dr – Bayonetta 2, like the first game, is a Spectacle Fighter like Devil May Cry, and it is arguably one of the best games in its genre, with amazing fighting mechanics, a lot of variety, and overall extremely fun gameplay, so long as you’re not bothered by the extremely sexualized main character. This is also clearly the definitive version of the game, so if you don’t mind the M rating, you should consider this game a must-have on the Switch.

Grade: A+

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