Review: Bayonetta 2 – Wii U

There are not many action games out there that tend to set the bar extremely high. Most titles these days tend to be carbon copies of one or another title. While this has been a bit of a notorious trend in video games lately, Bayonetta 2 attempts to break this rather vicious cycle of repetition.

Developed by Platinum Games and published by Nintendo, Bayonetta 2 sees the return of one of the most stylish, charismatic, and influential video game characters to date – exclusively on the Wii U.

If you can’t wait for Bayonetta 2 on the Wii U, be sure to check out the first title in this epic series, which is now available on the Nintendo Wii U.

Bayonetta 2 is essentially set a few months after the events that occurred in the first title. The game kicks things off with a rather amusing intro sequence that sees Bayonetta doing a bit of festive season shopping; however, things heat up when a group of Angels attack the city. Determined to end Bayonetta once and for all, the Angels attack in full force. Bayonetta retaliates; however, in order to end the conflict she performs a rather traditional demon summoning. Once summoned, the demon obliterates the Angels; however, things go wrong when Bayonetta loses control of it. Setting its sights on Bayonetta, the demon deals a devastating killer blow, which is intervened by fellow Umbra Witch – Jeanne. Jeanne saves Bayonetta, but finds herself having her soul claimed and dragged back to hell. After dealing with the demon, Bayonetta is told that she can save Jeane; however, she will have to travel to hell and back in order to do so.

Bayonetta 2’s storyline is quite honestly over-the-top and most definitely something that any Wii U owner should experience. Let’s face it, the first title in the series pushed the limits when it came to presentation; however, Bayonetta 2 pushes the limits even further, which ultimately results in most probably one of the best experiences on the Wii U to date. Just keep in mind that while Bayonetta 2 does grace Nintendo’s family orientated console, it is a title that features some extreme sexual innuendo as well extremely strong language. This is not necessary a bad thing, as Bayonetta 2’s over-the-top antics make it the absolute spectacle that it is today.

When it comes to gameplay, the team over at Platinum Games has taken everything we loved about the first title’s combat system and polished it to perfection. This can be seen in the games extremely impressive free-flow combat system, which never fails to impress. Additionally, Bayonetta 2 runs at a smooth 60 frames-per-second, which really intensifies the action.

Players will also have the opportunity to deal out devastating combos as well as use a myriad of new weapons, which include the Chernabog Scythe and the Rakshasa blades. To add to this, each weapon feels rather distinct to the player and has its own set of branching combos that can be mixed and matched depending on your play style.

While Bayonetta 2 is mainly aimed at hardcore players, it does open things up to the casual gamer. Button bashing works well; however, with enough practice you will soon be laying waste to multiple enemies around you in no time.

When it comes to graphics, Bayonetta 2 looks absolutely fantastic. The game runs really well at 60 frames-per-second, but seems to dip slightly when there are far too many enemies on screen at once. The dip is not that noticeable, but it present if you watch carefully. One thing I can say is that Platinum Games has done a fine job when it came to modelling Bayonetta as well as the enemy models that populate the world. In addition to the well-crafted characters, the set pieces featured in Bayonetta 2 are absolutely stunning to view.

When it comes to sound, Bayonetta 2 features a fantastic voice cast. Each character has been voiced to perfection and each character really sets the mood for a little hack n slash. One thing I will note is that Bayonetta 2 does feature strong language. So best not to let the little ones get hold of it. In addition to strong language, be prepared to sit through a few rather entertaining conversations that usually end up heading towards the gutter.

Conclusion:
While I was slightly worried about the game being a Wii U, Bayonetta 2 has definitely found a new home on Nintendo’s Wii U. Overall, Bayonetta 2 can be summed up as roller coaster ride of epic proportion, which not only brings an iconic video game character back to life – but also offers thrilling gameplay from start to finish.

While the game is essentially aimed at hardcore gamers, it can be easily picked up by casual gamers. To add to this, the game offers a fantastic replayability factor, especially if you are looking to collect all the outfits and weapons. When it comes to overall presentation, Bayonetta 2 is sleek, sexy, and most definitely what the Nintendo Wii U needed.

Bayonetta 2 officially launches on the Nintendo Wii U on the 24 and 25th of October 2014, depending on your region.

Bayonetta 2 was reviewed by Darryl Linington on the Nintendo Wii U.