All Bayonetta games are weird—after all, she's a witch who fights demons with her hair. But Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon ($59.99) is especially strange. Mere months after Bayonetta 3 wrapped up a terrific trilogy of explosive character action games, Platinum Games now turns its marquee franchise into a lo-fi indie game. That contrast never quite resolves, as if the game’s roots aren’t fully comfortable with this puzzling new direction. However, charming storytelling, an awesome aesthetic, and cool combat twists make Bayonetta Origins a great Nintendo Switch game. A Simpler Bayonetta You'll immediately notice the difference between Bayonetta Origins and previous Bayo games. Developer Platinum Games exchanges absurd action set pieces for a children’s storybook aesthetic. The soothing narrator gets you up to speed on the opening chapters of Cereza’s life (Cereza is Bayonetta’s real name) before introducing monsters. The change of pace may prove jarring for veteran ...
Bayonetta Origins ditches ridiculous spectacle for a puzzle-filled, combat-packed storybook adventure starring the young witch.
Clever puzzles; Approachable, in-depth combat; Charming, storybook-style graphics; Cohesive narrative
Some repetitive encounters; Surprisingly linear