Reviews

Season of the witch

Nearly five years after her debut on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the stylish gun-toting witch Bayonetta reappears in a long-awaited sequel, this time exclusively for the Wii U. Bayonetta returns to her demon-stomping ways in an effort to rescue the soul of her closest counterpart, Jeanne, after it gets sucked into Hell. Needless to say, the fight to save her is anything but easy.

Similar to the first game, Bayonetta 2 thrives on over-the-top action, as the witch will need every bit of ammunition and demon-summoning powers to pummel enemies big and small. Fans of Platinum Games' work (including Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising Vengeance) will be pleased to know this is easily the company's greatest accomplishment, a sequel that not only rises above and beyond the original, but helps define the Wii U as a must-have platform.

Killer assets

Players take advantage of Bayonetta's skills by achieving combos using her melee attacks and pistols, which she has firmly connected to her hands and feet. Because of this, she can put together a number of moves that send a demon back to its realm, whether it's a giant boot that appears from thin air and crushes a monster underfoot, or a spin move that lays waste to airborne foes in a matter of seconds.

What's more, players can expand Bayonetta's techniques by visiting a surplus store in Hell, unlocking new melee weapons and enhancers that increase her strength, as well as her manoeuvrability when it comes to taking out multiple enemies at once.

New to the game is the Umbran Climax. Once players defeat enough enemies, you'll be able to increase her strength tenfold, launching special attacks that can pummel even larger opponents within the game. It only lasts for a limited amount of time, but it's quite effective, especially in boss battles.

A vital feature making a return is Witch Time. Gamers activate this valuable technique right before a creature strikes, causing Bayonetta to dodge at the last possible moment. From there, she has precious seconds to dish out additional damage before unleashing Climax moves that result in satisfying and bloody deaths.

Overall, the gameplay is just as chaotic and exciting as the original, and the inclusion of the Umbran Climax – as well as shooting sequences akin to the classic StarFox games (this is a Nintendo published game, after all) – will keep gamers hooked.

A real looker

Bayonetta 2 benefits from a smooth frame rate and striking detail that only Platinum Games can deliver. The game looks absolutely beautiful at times, whether Bayonetta dukes it out with monsters while gods fight in the distance, or runs around on a sphere-shaped elevator while baddies come from all sides. The game moves at a swift 60 frames per second for the most part, and looks absolutely dazzling.

Audio-wise, the soundtrack is stylish and perfectly fits the tone of the game, with plenty of inspired jazzy tunes to fight along to. The dialogue is fun as well, although some of it, particularly in Bayonetta's case, is a bit cornball.

Friends that play together…

In addition to a very satisfying single player campaign – which you can extend by bumping up the difficulty settings – Bayonetta 2 also features online co-op, where a friend can tag along and take on waves of enemies alongside the powerhouse witch, in the hopes of earning new rewards and eventually unlocking new Nintendo-themed costumes, like a cool Fox McCloud outfit.

Although an offline co-op mode would've been appreciated, this is a cool extra, and a good extension of the game after players beat the main campaign. It also makes good use of the Nintendo Network, the first game to really do so since Mario Kart 8.

Potential game of the year

Despite some iffy dialogue and the lack of local co-op support, Bayonetta 2 is easily one of the best games to come out for the Wii U. It embodies the wild, wacky spirit of the original and quadruples it with new levels, costumes, combat techniques and a killer presentation that puts other sequels to shame. We strongly suggest letting this witch put you under her spell.

GAME's Verdict: 9/10

The Good

• Outstanding gameplay, between defensive abilities, new techniques and weapons.
• The presentation is easily among the best in a Wii U game.
• An online co-op mode lets you fight alongside a friend.

The Bad

• Co-op is online only.
• Some of the dialogue is too cheesy for its own good.
• Suggestive themes make it a no-no for younger players.