This review contains spoilers
Right, so Bayonetta needs to get to Mount Olympus or whatever so she can enter the Gates of Hell and save her girlfriend's soul from a particularly salty Infernal Demon. Along the way she runs into some foul-mouthed teenager with chronic migraines who also needs to get to Mount Olympus so he can remember that he's the good half of God, or something. Also young Balder is here (because why not) and he has beef with Godkid for a decent chunk of the game because he thinks the kid killed his wife but it was actually the evil half of God framing his good counterpart because... Something, something, he wants to control the Eyes of the World. At least we find out why Balder is such a rambly old bastard by the first game... but also this isn't a prequel? Best not to think too hard about it.
Okay, but actually, I had a lot of fun times with this, just like the first. It has a different vibe though, probably owing to its more vibrant colour palette. I found the angle of the balance between the Trinity of Realities being out of whack, and thus having to fight demons as well as angels, really interesting and well-executed. I was genuinely shocked when Gomorrah, a demon we all know well, suddenly got out of control, attacked Jeanne and became a... Godzilla boss fight in that prologue chapter! A simple but effective way to set up how amiss things truly are.
Chapters in generally seem shorter than the first, but I personally think that's to this game's benefit. Much as I enjoyed Bayonetta 1, I found the pacing and camera there to be a little clunky and unrefined compared to Bayonetta 2, so I'm glad that's been changed for the better.
I like the Umbran Climax mechanic, but because of that and other changes to the combat system I find there's less opportunity to use Torture Attacks/Punishes, and I kind of miss that. At least Climaxes are still here. It's not a Bayonetta game without them.
In general I found the game to be almost too frenetic and a bit visually overstimulating at times, but I still had massive amounts of fun with it. Not a bad way to unwind after a long day at work tbh.
Okay, but actually, I had a lot of fun times with this, just like the first. It has a different vibe though, probably owing to its more vibrant colour palette. I found the angle of the balance between the Trinity of Realities being out of whack, and thus having to fight demons as well as angels, really interesting and well-executed. I was genuinely shocked when Gomorrah, a demon we all know well, suddenly got out of control, attacked Jeanne and became a... Godzilla boss fight in that prologue chapter! A simple but effective way to set up how amiss things truly are.
Chapters in generally seem shorter than the first, but I personally think that's to this game's benefit. Much as I enjoyed Bayonetta 1, I found the pacing and camera there to be a little clunky and unrefined compared to Bayonetta 2, so I'm glad that's been changed for the better.
I like the Umbran Climax mechanic, but because of that and other changes to the combat system I find there's less opportunity to use Torture Attacks/Punishes, and I kind of miss that. At least Climaxes are still here. It's not a Bayonetta game without them.
In general I found the game to be almost too frenetic and a bit visually overstimulating at times, but I still had massive amounts of fun with it. Not a bad way to unwind after a long day at work tbh.