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Introduction
Bayonetta has been likened to God of War, Ninja Gaiden, Spawn, and even Sonic the Hedgehog. The titular heroine herself has conjured déja-vu in reviewers when compared to (of all people) Sarah Palin. Despite the comparisons and contrasts that will forever accompany the latest big action release, Bayonetta remains a fast-paced and over-the-top title that you simply have to play to believe.

Gameplay
Mature gamers only on this one, seriously. Bayonetta’s playstyle is a dish of Devil May Cry and Dirge of Cerberus, after Paula Deen has buttered it up with a second, third, and fourth coating of sex appeal. Jaws will drop and heads will shake with how liberal the game can be at times, but many players will keep chasing those halos after laughing about ludicrous cutscenes that feature Bayonetta dancing on angelic polearms and engaging in high powered fights that seem right out of an episode of Dragon Ball Z.
Combat may seem simple at first, requiring button-mashing to attack with primary or secondary weapons, but there’s much more going on in this game. Well-timed dodges will put Bayonetta in Witch Mode, which slows her enemies while she is able to act without hindrance. There are many executable combos in-game, and unlockable Techniques only broaden Bayonetta’s repertoire. Torture and Climax attacks are context-sensitive commands a la God of War that can dole out loads of punishment on the heroine’s divine foes.
Dying angels leave their halos behind, but Bayonetta has plans that turn them into much more than fancy headwear. The hellish craftsman Rodin will eagerly accept these halos as a form of currency used to purchase his wares, an assortment of cosmetic and practical items. This “item shop” is accessible before each chapter and at various locations during gameplay.
Bayonetta also has the chance to play an arcade-style shooting game at the end of each chapter, firing golden bullets acquired during the previous chapter. Angel Attack is a simple point-and-shoot minigame that awards points that can be redeemed for consumable items or extra halos. This break from the action serves as both a comedown from the intensity of the main game and a useful booster shot for your inventory.

Presentation
Over-the-top is putting it lightly. Bayonetta does it big on graphics, violence, sex, audio, and fun. Did you play either of the demos? Well it didn’t do the game justice. There are gorgeous segments to the game that were only hinted at in the previews. Immersive battles and dynamic escapes reminiscent of the Indiana Jones boulder sequence will keep you glued to your seat. A catchy soundtrack of jazzy J-Pop keeps players busy tapping feet instead of pulling out hair as bosses keep coming back later in the game.

Extras
Angel Attack is all the fun of Duck Hunt without the annoying dog. You can save lots of halos by keeping a steady hand and a cool head during the minigame, freeing up your currency for Techniques and such. Even the presentation is delightfully whimsical.
Rants and Raves

Rants

• Too many cutscenes often bog down the story
• Boss battles sometimes have too many phases
• Some bosses wear out their presence by reappearing multiple times
• Default camerawork is shoddy; somewhat repaired by increasing camera speed
• Bayonetta’s sexuality is flaunted ad nauseam

Raves

• Excessively mature themes may chase away many gamers
• Bayonetta doesn’t take itself seriously; once the player realizes this the game is truly enjoyable
• Lots of eye and ear candy
• Continues pick up at the most recent of many autosaves, making deaths fairly tolerable
• A decent number of collectibles increases replay value

Conclusion
Bayonetta declares early on that it is not afraid to play the sex and violence cards, and these elements have significant contributions to the very framework of the game. Quite frankly, these two factors sell, and they’ve already sold a number of different video games over the years. What Bayonetta does NOT initially reveal, however, is that there is a solid game under the sultry and brutal wrapping. Bayonetta is certainly risqué, but don’t let that scare you away from one of this year’s earliest hits. The flashy title glitters with the promise of gold for some, platinum for others, but beauty, of course, is in the eye of the beholder.

Score: 7