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E3 2008: Bayonetta Impressions

We check out a witch with mad hair powers take on freaky-looking angels in this first look at Bayonetta.

Bayonetta is an upcoming action game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that features a witch protagonist taking on strange versions of angels in a modern-day setting. Our first look at a preview build of the game today showed that it has many similarities in style and substance to the Devil May Cry series, which is probably no surprise considering that the director of Bayonetta is Hideki Kamiya, the brains behind the very first DMC game.

Think DMC with a woman instead of Dante or Nero and you're a long way toward understanding Bayonetta. The game's main character is the witch Bayonetta, a quite attractive sort who dresses in tight leather and has long black hair. She also packs some serious firepower, having twin pistols as well as guns built into her shoes. The level that was demoed to GameSpot at E3 2008 began with the title character running through what looked like a gothic building before heading outside into a large courtyard area with a big, central fountain. A quick cutscene then jumped in, showing several goblin-like creatures--but with angel wings and adorned with halos--swooping into the courtyard.

The fight that took place next was pure, stylish DMC-style action. Bayonetta seamlessly switched from melee, magic, and weapons attacks, and was racking up 40-hit combos on the large goblins. The melee attacks that we saw her dish out included a lot of standard punches and kicks, as well as a sweet-looking multifoot stomp on opponent's chests. Bayonetta also seems to have some sort of magical hair attacks, with her long locks transforming into giant fists and feet to help finish off combos. One magical move that stuck in our mind was the ability to slow down time for a few seconds to deal further punishment to enemies.

The game will also feature special finishing moves, some of which summon various exotic torture devices out of thin air to annihilate an enemy. One such move saw a guillotine appear--Bayonetta foot stomped an opponent into the guillotine before hitting the switch to let the device's blade fall. Sega reps tell us the game will feature different finishing moves for various enemies.

After the goblins were disposed of, a gigantic boss enemy armed with a two-handed axe appeared out of a portal. Bayonetta had to keep attacking the creature's flanks, given that frontal attacks proved too dangerous. The special finishing move here involved the witch turning her hair into a massive dragon's head, which promptly bit straight into the boss enemy's torso to finish him off.

Bayonetta is looking extremely promising at this early stage, and we're keen to get some hands-on time with it to see how closely it matches the frenetic style of the DMC games. Bayonetta will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009.

37 Comments

  • Raptor123

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 3:44 pm PT

    To all those offended by this: yes, it is an odd enemy and choice of protoganist. However, to me it is just going to be a repeat of Devil May Cry 4. Many of my Christian friends were offended by the fact that the primary antagonists were "angels", but after some cutscene-showing I was able to convince them that the enemies were actually demons that merely look angelic (Nero even says so).

    This game will be the exact same way. The enemies will look like angels, but it'll be pretty obvious as the story progresses that they aren't, and Bayonetta will shine as the only good character by comparison. It's just the style of these kinds of games.

    Just watch the trailer...they may have wings and halos, but those creatures definitely look ferocious and evil. Not angels in my book.

  • dareough

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 7:59 pm PT

    This looks pretty original.

  • boogieboy38

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 1:53 am PT

    You know if this makes you feel better i read somewhere that the enemies were posing as angels and they were not real angels just say poser demons and you have it happy now?

  • Jackyll87

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:49 am PT

    Cool. Its got just what the DMC lacked. A female protagonist.(for the whole game)

  • johnwillfindit

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 5:16 pm PT

    hey people, they could be fallen angels or something. from the preview trailer they dont look like they are sitting on clouds playing harps.
    and btw what the hell is up with all these people complaining about realism, this is not a ton clancy game its a hack and slash

  • ivanfred

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:36 pm PT

    If reviewers and gamers say that the gameplay is tight, I will buy. Beautiful women + interesting story * precise controls = video game bliss.

  • aduana69

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:38 pm PT

    cool game

  • leofiregod

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 7:43 pm PT

    looks great. A must for me

  • ognen

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 9:21 am PT

    not getting this

  • BontraXenderKyl

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    Pretty odd

  • TehFuneral

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 12:26 pm PT

    Might turn out to be intresting.

  • Macgyver40

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 12:02 pm PT

    could be very interresting

  • Animelover553

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 10:42 am PT

    Hm.. im not sure if I can settle with being a witch killing angels. Though the trailer that ive seen looked intresting, I think ill stick to DMC.

  • MadameCurry

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 7:57 am PT

    Only the ignorant would not know the legacy of angles and how nefarious they're stories are through history. I wouldn't trust one.

  • SkagFunk

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 7:26 am PT

    Only the ignorant would be offended by this.

    It's just a game people. Get a grip.

  • mathiasX

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 1:19 am PT

    Great idea, offend 86% of americans..

  • SomecallmeDave

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    So let me get this straight... You are a witch that kills angels? I saw the trailer and I gotta say I am bothered. That IS pretty twisted.

  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    Interesting.

  • volcomstoner180

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 11:58 am PT

    actually sounds good...the witch part threw me off tho

  • Xeuton_Mojukai

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 11:47 am PT

    Honestly, I'm very excited about this. In my opinion, this game is more a work of art than just another blockbuster action game.

    If anyone wants to try and say that the maker of DMC1 would never care about artistic quality in his games, and only drop-dead gorgeous action, I have one word for you:

    OKAMI

    Besides that, the fellow they have directing this isn't the one who designed DMC2/3/4, so actually he has never directed a crappy game at all. From RE2, to DMC1, to Viewtiful Joe, to Okami, the man in charge has made great games all his career.

    Not only that, but it appears that maybe you take offense at the idea of a witch shooting angels. Well, that just shows how little you can see outside of your little bubbles.

    Personally, I'm looking forward to this game more than I've ever done, if only because it is dripping with sex, violence, and dark magic, which are exactly what we need some more of (but this time with good gameplay)

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