I, like many, played the Bayonetta demo yesterday. However, as usual, I seem to have put myself in a minority group by not really enjoying it. Edge gave the game 10 out of 10. It is perfect in their eyes. Whilst I'm sure that they do indeed bum the hell out of the game, I feel that the main reason they scored it as 'perfect' was to further their efforts of becoming the western equivalent of Famitsu. The Japanese 'gaming bible' also gave Bayonetta a perfect rating (on the 360 at least) with a score of 40 out of 40.
I can appreciate the work that went into the game. It's animation is seamless, combat is both effective and deep and the latex-clad pistol-shoed heroine was a winner from the start. It deserves it's praise, I can't really dispute it's quality. The part I'm having a hard time coming to terms with is how no-one is marking it down for the sheer cheek of it's creator. I can imagine Hideki Kamiya's pitch right now:
"So, yeah, guys. Basically, it's Devil May Cry 6, only this time you're a chick."
Wow. What a fucking genius. What an inspired creative mind. If Capcom didn't retain the rights to Devil May Cry, I'm sure Bayonetta would have never existed. This game is Devil May Cry 6 in everything but name: the gameplay, the ridiculous plot, the tongue-in-cheek self reflexivity, the outrageous design and let's not forget, the ham-fisted mis-use of religious imagery.
I find it hard to believe that this guy also created two of my favourite games - Viewtiful Joe and Okami. Which brings me nicely to my finishing statement which largely undermines everything I just said. If this guy basically re-made Viewtiful Joe at Platinum Games, I would lap it up. I never liked Devil May Cry anyway.
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