RipTen Videogame Blog » Bayonetta

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Bayonetta 2D

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:59 +0000

Maybe if Bayonetta had looked like this, I would’ve cared about it more. More than none, that is. None being how much I cared about it.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day, as well as 2011. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

jnkyboy is good at designing games that should’ve been.

UPDATE: No Bayonetta 2 Info Coming Soon To a Magazine Near You…

Justin Carter — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:35 +0000

Update:

Apparently Hideki Kamiya was trolling everybody.

We are disappoint.

Bayonetta was pretty much a hit, by the simple fact that it and Darksiders were smart enough to launch very early into 2010. We here at RipTen loved it, and a lot of people have been clamoring for a sequel. There have been rumors in the past, but it looks like we’ll be getting some new info soon.

Platinum Games director Hideki Kamiya tweeted that we’ll be hearing more about Bayonetta 2 “this week…in a magazine.” Of course, with all the magazines out there, gamers will have to keep their ears open for any news about the sequel. With that said, I’m going to check my mom’s subscription to Better Homes and Gardens to find out if the luscious Bayonetta will be gracing the cover.

Stay tuned to RipTen for more news about Bayonetta 2.

Girls in Games: Why Aren’t There More Female Leads?

Brandon Fenty — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:31:58 +0000

Name a recent game that featured a female lead. In the last year, there’s been Bayonnetta. And I think Wet was released in the last year too. Can’t come up with anything else? That’s because female leads are few and far between in games; and if large gaming companies have their way, it’s likely to stay that way. For instance, Activision hasn’t had a female lead character in a game that wasn’t licensed since 2005.

Gaming companies tend to look to focus groups and top selling games to make decisions about what they will support. Publishers put lots of money into developing a game, and they want to be sure to get their costs back. When all the top selling games feature a male lead, it seems to be a safer bet to go with a male lead. In focus groups, male leads tend to do better as well; but focus groups can be skewed, and the participants may have preconceived notions about video games. Relying heavily on focus groups can be a mistake when it gets in the way of creative game design.

Despite the focus groups, it seems that gamers tend to respond positively to female heroines. Just think of Lara Croft or Samus Aran. Both are strong female leads and both are wildly popular franchises. Gamers, male and female, don’t seem to have any trouble identifying with a female character. In an unofficial twitter poll of gamers, most said they don’t mind the main character’s gender, as long as it ‘fits the story’. Many gamers, male and female, even expressed a desire for more female leads, provided the character was a real woman and not a 7th-grader’s fantasy.

It would seem, then, that perhaps gaming companies are looking at an effect as a cause. The top video games being played right now feature male leads, this is true. However, would those games be any less appealing if they had female heroines? Would Assassin’s Creed be less appealing if the character was female? Almost all blockbuster games are created with male leads, and only smaller fringe titles tend to feature a female lead. Would Halo: Reach be any less anticipated if it featured a female Spartan?

The newest chapter of the Tomb Raider Franchise, as well as the Metroid both come out this month. I’m looking forward to both of those titles, and the fact that they feature female leads is actually refreshing. How do you feel about leading ladies in gaming? Let us know in the following poll:

New Vanquish Gameplay Video Delivers Swift Kick To The Robo-Nads

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:52:52 +0000

This game is already being hyped as Gears of War meets Bayonetta, and to be honest, I hadn’t been paying it much attention until the trailer below came across my desk. Well, like a swift kick to the nuts, Vanquish has succeeded to get my attention.

The third person shooting looks smooth enough and the sticky cover system is definitely Gears inspired, but the design direction, melee combat, and quick-twitch animations give this a totally different vibe than Gears.

Check out the trailer below and make sure to follow our E3 coverage for my Vanquish hands-on impressions.

Bayonetta Sexifies Her Way to 1.1 Million Unit Sales

Chad Lakkis — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:59:54 +0000

Sega’s voluptuous vixen, Bayonetta, has broken the 1 million sales mark with 1.1 million units sold on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 console. The economy hasn’t been too excepting of new IPs as of late, so it’s good to see that a half nude librarian witch can get a little love. I predict a Platinum Games sequel that features a fully nude Bayonetta who becomes clothed only when she performs special moves. Brilliant.

[Source: Gamasutra]

Ripten Review: Bayonetta

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:10:23 +0000

Let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the game- Bayonetta‘s eponymous Bayonetta is meant to be sexy. Reading the developer blogs and looking at the concept art, it’s clear that Platinum Games knew exactly what they were doing by creating a femme fatale with long legs and nude attacks, and they use it to their advantage.

Now, whether or not you consider Bayonetta to be nothing more than a portrayal of an oversexualized female meant to excite the male gamer crowd, there’s still a game behind her- a game full of weapons, witches, and way too many chapters.

But is Bayonetta worth your money? With games like Bioshock 2, Mass Effect 2, and God of War 3 coming down the pipeline, is there any reason you should check out Bayonetta? Hit the jump for my spoiler-free review.

From the very first second you pop the DVD into your disc tray, you get the idea Bayonetta is trying to be an action movie. You even get a credit sequence when the game officially begins, and most of the cutscenes are told within film reels. The gameplay doesn’t feel that way, but the flashbacks, quick time events, and cutscenes all make it feel like a high-budget action film. Despite what we saw about the game before its launch, Bayonetta has a plot. As a matter of fact, it has a very involved plot, and it’s pretty damn confusing.

Bayonetta, born from a relationship between the two opposing factions of dark and light, was cast into the sea in order to keep her from the dark arts forever, but when things run amok, she’s called forth (from a casket at the bottom of the sea, no less) to keep the order. The rest of the “plot” is uncovered in the 6th chapter, and it’s pretty unexpected, but in the end, I felt like the plot was secondary to the button-mashing/platforming aspect of the game. If the only hint of a plot the game had was that Bayonetta was a witch, it’d still feel the same. One of the game’s more interesting aspects is that you play within one of two dimensions in a single world, where you can see the faint outlines of humans, but not the humans themselves, and the humans can’t see you at all. Bayonetta also has the opportunity to transfer between dimensions on a whim, but rarely makes use of this ability.

The game offers normal, easy, and very easy difficulties from the start, along with unlockable Hard and Non-Stop Climax difficulties. When you start the game, you and Jeanne (who is discovered to be your enemy) are fighting angels as they attack you upon a clocktower that is plummeting towards the ground. It’s hard to play this part without any knowledge of the controls, so mashing at buttons until you get the hang of it is your only alternative to reading the game’s manual- something I haven’t had to do in quite some time. Throughout the introductory segment, you’re treated to a narration, describing the two opposing factions of dark and light (the Umbra Witches and the Lumen Sage), Bayonetta being part of the former. The narration offers a nice introduction to the game’s confusing plot, and contributes nicely to the game’s action film feel.

While it’s easy to rack up a combo in combat, near the end of a fight, you’re given the ability to execute a torture attack, used to inflict as much pain upon the angels as possible. The fight sequences are told in verses, and each verse is graded with a medal. Depending on the damage you take, the time it takes to complete a sequences, and the amount and type of attacks you execute, you can get a pure platinum, platinum, gold, silver, or bronze medal. In a similar fashion, each chapter is graded with awards, by similar criteria. After each chapter, you get a chance to play Angel Attack, a basic shooter where your only goal is to use your arcade bullets to rack up points by killing angels. You can use the points from Angel Attack to purchase cheap items, or you can convert them into Halos, Bayonetta‘s currency of choice (which I can only assume is a nod at Sega’s Sonic series.)

At different intervals within the game, you also get a chance to descend to The Gates Of Hell, a bar/shop managed by Rodin, a counterpart that proves valuable once you get enough halos to purchase anything. Rodin also provides weapons in exchange for the Angelic LPs you receive when new enemies are defeated- a fact I didn’t learn until I had a lot of LPs. Imagine my surprise when I made my second trip down to The Gates of Hell and waited for Rodin to craft new weapons, one by one. The trip was worth it though- new weapons add another dimension to the gameplay that make me want to replay some of the past levels. To be honest with you, the weapon variety combined with other things you unlock as the levels progress is what made Bayonetta really fun for me. It’s clear that Platinum Games poured their heart and soul into this one, just like they did with MadWorld.

The game is incredibly enjoyable, but one of the things that can get in the way of the enjoyment is the wonky camera system. It’s hard not to compare the game to the Devil May Cry series, especially when the games share a lead designer, but I’d be crazy if I didn’t mention that the game had some similarities. The fast paced combat, the aerial attacks and of course, the whole Heaven & Hell theme. The fixed camera system (although rotatable) is hard to manage in combat, and often gets in the way of the combat itself. It’s a small thing, but having to wait for Bayonetta to kiss open magic seals is surprisingly annoying for a game as fast-paced as it is- but not annoying to the point where I’d at all count it against the game.

For a game as linear as Bayonetta is, it has a surprising amount of enemy variety. Sega themselves describes the game as an arcade-style button masher, and that’s probably the most spot on description of Bayonetta‘s genre that you’ll find. While the game influences you to use combos (there are hundreds shown during the loading screens, where you can also test the combos out) in the end, you’ll just start pressing Y & B in the hopes that your enemies will die soon enough.

The biggest gripe I had about Bayonetta was the cheesiness of the dialogue and how much I began to hate Bayonetta herself as the game progressed. I didn’t hate her because she was a bitch or anything, but her dialogue, combined with constant sexual pandering (although some awesome attacks come out of it) make me really wish I didn’t have to hear her talk. I did not see a single cutscene where we weren’t treated to an ass, crotch, or boob shot or a “subtle” sexual advance. While her taunts (classic phrases such as “You want to touch me?” as she gyrates and “Come on” as she sits on the floor spreading her legs) might entrance some gamers, I consider them to pass the line from “sexy” to “Yes, Yes, I get it already.”

In short, Bayonetta is a phenomenal action game. The poor camera system and cheesy dialogue don’t take much away from the experience, but the weapon and enemy varieties definitely add to it. At about 16 hours across 19 chapters, you not only get a great deal for your money, but plenty of replay value if you decide to go for all of the items. (estimated to take about 40 hours) If you’re ever given a chance to play Bayonetta, take it- it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

Video Game Winners and Losers of the Week: Jan 3rd -9th, 2010

Jonathan Zungre — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:39:01 +0000

Every week, I research all the best new video game releases to find the one game that you need to play and the one game that you need to stay away from: my Video Game Winners and Losers of the Week. On this week’s edition, we’ve got Bayonetta, one the toughest games ever to describe to someone who doesn’t know anything about it, and Turf Wars, a game that uses Google Maps to let you claim real world turf.

New Game Releases: 1/3 – 1/9

Rangebar Merani — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:28:51 +0000

The first official week of 2010 doesn’t bring us a whole lot of new videogame releases, but with Bayonetta finally hitting the 360 and PS3, it’s not that bad of a week. We here at Ripten are looking forward to a great new year of gaming in 2010, so be on the look out for our list of new game releases every week. Hit the jump for the full list of new game releases this week along with my pick of the week.

Pick of the Week: Bayonetta (360, PS3)

Xbox 360:

Bayonetta
Darksiders
Divinity II – Ego Draconis

PS3:

Bayonetta
Darksiders

Wii:

My Fitness Coach 2: Workout and Nutrition

PC:

Divinity II – Ego Draconis

DS:

Fast Food Panic

Bayonetta: 10% Plot, 90% Awesome?

Stephanie Gutowski — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000

While Bayonetta won’t be available to the general public until the fifth, official reviews are already live and teeming with praise. But why? The general consensus is that Bayonetta perfected the combat controls from Devil May Cry and swapped out Dante for a woman wrapped in her own hair. The foot you see above is also made of hair. While I still suspect this game is directed toward people with that kind fetish, the demo went over incredibly well on Xbox live, even though it really does come off as a button masher. A game of this caliber is a pretty big step up for Sega, but a nagging question remains: where the hell is the plot?!

Having tried the demo myself, I found the combat controls to be smooth and quite fun. Actually, I performed worse if I did mash the same buttons over and over again. Bayonetta does require some tactical diversity, but not much. The real kicker (HAH!) is that I have no idea what the hell is going on outside of the opening movie. So Bayonetta is a witch, right? From hell? No. Okay, she’s from… the U.K? Awesome. But really, that’s about it. Even if the city itself they’ve named is made up, props to them for trying to add a sense of realism. The rumors currently swimming across GameStops whisper of a fun, plot-less killfest. This game looks like it may end up a guilty pleasure rather than an innovative, though-provoking digital adventure. Of course, we should have discerned this ages ago when we first viewed the teaser trailer. Clearly, plot can not exist once you strap guns to your high heels.

Despite all this, critics are still grading Bayonetta in the A-range for its combat. Personally, I’ll forgive a game for lackluster plot as long as it makes up for it in game play and graphic quality. Bayonetta actually appears to be step back in visuals, unfortunately. The landscapes are the most crisply rendered and the character herself seems unpolished. I can almost count the pixels. The gray haze that permeates the game seems to make it worse. By attempting to unite all the on screen characters in one dull filter, the visual elements worsen. Matt Leone of 1up claims that the game looks considerably better on the Xbox than the PlayStation 3. Either way you go, though, it’s not incredibly pretty.

I can’t write this game off just yet, even though critics and friends urge me that the missing story elements really make this an empty experience. Judgment day will come soon enough. Like, tomorrow soon.

[Source: 1up]

Sega Describes Bayonetta As Old-School Arcade Button Masher

Chad Lakkis — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:18:28 +0000

Sega’s Wayne Shiu did an interview with MCNBC recently, in which he described Bayonetta as a game that takes things back to the “action arcade roots” of gaming with a “pick up and play” style accessible to those who want to “mash the buttons.”

At what point did button mashing become the equivalent of “arcade throwback” action? I played in the arcades during the 80s and 90s and not only did I never find myself smashing my head against the buttons to beat any of the games, I sure as hell never played anything that remotely resembled a hot chick in a hair suit that gets butt naked every time she unleashes a powerful attack on her enemies. I’d remember that. Trust me.

I mean, did someone at Sega just sit down and make a list of all the “hip” buzz words they thought kids would want to hear? Bayonetta is Twighlight! She’s totally rad with kung-fu grip! Bayonetta is Angela Lansbury with four shots of Tequila in her system! Wha? Who? Huh?

If I have to hear that another game is a “button masher” I think I will shoot myself in the head. “Headshot!” Seriously, every game has the potential of allowing you to sit there and mash buttons like a two year old who wants out of his stroller because he just went poopy — but the chances are you won’t get nearly as much enjoyment out of playing the game that way.

The landscape of games today is very competitive and Sega has a potential blockbuster game on their hands. While it may sound cool to say things like “throwback” and “old-school” I’m not sure that it’s the best way to market a unique and sexy character like Bayonetta. Come on Sega! The UFC sponsorship is cool. The latest commercial is cool. No more silly interviews with MSNBC calling the game a throwback ok? … Promise?

Source: MSNBC

Sega’s Marketing Department Goes “In For The Kill” With Latest Bayonetta TV Spot

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:19:32 +0000

Sega is pulling out all the stops in terms of marketing and promoting their upcoming release of Bayonetta, and I for one am glad to see it. In addition to the commercial below (which features a very catchy tune), Sega will also be tying the title’s name to the UFC 108: Evans versus Silva fight — meaning that every mention of the bout will be followed by the words “presented by Bayonetta.” The commercial and a full mp3 of the catchy “In For The Kill” Skream Remix song that appears in it can be found below. You go girl!

Ring in the New Year with Boobs and Bayonetta

Dylan Duarte — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:20:02 +0000

SEGA and Playboy, two companies that are very similar, are throwing a contest to send one lucky winner to Chicago to ring in the New Year with Bayonetta and Playboy.

To enter the contest, you’ll need to be a member of SEGA Pass, and over the age of 21. If you’re both of those things, go for it! There aren’t many details, but when you throw in lines like “this is your big chance to party with Playboy,” I really don’t think you need anymore details.

It also says that you can get some hands on time with Bayonetta, but I would much rather get some hands on time with something else, if you know what I mean.

(I mean all the ladies.)

Sega May Be Working On Bayonetta PS3 Fix

Chad Lakkis — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:30:37 +0000

It seems that the previously announced price difference between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version of Bayonetta was not enough to temper the PS3 owners of the game who continue to cite slow loading time, lesser graphic quality, and frame rate issues with the port. Well, a fix may be on the way.

A recently translated post on French gaming site Gamekyo, claims the following:

“Sega and Platinum Games have taken responsibility for the bad port before deciding to work with the assistance of an engineering team from Sony to guarantee a PS3 version equal to the level of the console’s power.”

I’ve emailed Sega in hopes of getting an official word on the matter and will keep you posted as soon as I’m able to confirm or deny the information.

I feel it’s important to note that while reading several of the translated comments myself, I did see a fair amount of individuals who stated that the port issues were not as bad as some were making it out to be. I haven’t played it on the PS3 personally, so if you have and would like to share your thoughts in the comment section below please do so.

[Thanks Wearetheinternetz]

Ripten Bayonetta Xbox 360 Beta Code Giveaway

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:55:27 +0000

We’ve got a bunch of Bayonetta Xbox 360 beta codes to give away to our readers in the US and Canada regions. Apologies to our UK readers on this contest, but we’ve been informed that they only work in the areas stated above. If you’d like a code, leave a comment below.

This giveaway is first come first serve and only open to registered Ripten users with valid email addresses. If you aren’t registered for Ripten yet (shame on you). You can do so by clicking here or on the message in the upper left hand corner of the site below the logo.

Good luck, and make sure to let us know what you think of the Bayonetta beta at a later date.

Bayonetta Demo Coming December 3rd

Sam Naylor — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:46:45 +0000

The Xbox Live and PlayStation Network demo of Sega’s Bayonetta will be coming to the US and Europe on December third, Sega announced today. They’re particularly proud of this one, since highly respected publications Edge (from the UK) and Famitsu (from Japan) have both awarded the game perfect scores. Bayonetta is the 11th game to receive a 10/10 from Edge, and the 12th to get a 40/40 from Famitsu.

The game has been released in Japan already, but the US release date is January 5th, with the European release shortly afterwards on the 8th January 2010. If Edge and Famitsu are right, it seems these are dates to put on your calendar. I’m sceptical, though; it must have something to it other than being a brawler like Devil May Cry. Surely a game like this can’t live up to the legacy of games like Ocarina of Time or Half-Life? I guess we’ll have to wait until next year to find out.

Bayonetta Early Demo Access Codes Free to Sega Pass Members (First Come, First Serve)

Chad Lakkis — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:11:58 +0000

Sega is offering early access to the Bayonetta demo to registered Sega Pass Members. Signing up for the Sega Pass is free and takes about 10 seconds (I did it while posting this).

They have a limit of 40,000 codes and they will be given away on a first come first serve basis. If you aren’t a Sega Pass Member, you can sign up right here.

Bayonetta Evolution Video: Sketches, Wireframes, & Lots of Flowing Hair

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:29:36 +0000

If you like your women without body hair, Bayonetta is probably not for you. But, if you are willing to compromise your high standards, take a few minutes to check out the video below. It’s a pretty cool glimpse into the creation process of Sega’s latest heroine.

Thanks Scrawl

Bayonetta PS3 Port $5 Cheaper than 360 Version

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:47:50 +0000

According to GameStop’s online pricing, the much discussed PlayStation 3 port of Bayonetta will apparently be available to consumers at a discounted price of five dollars ($54.99) over its Xbox 360 counterpart ($59.99).

If you are late in joining the conversation, Sega’s Bayonetta title was developed for the Xbox 360 and then ported over to the PlayStation 3. The pixel crunching scrutiny then began, and arguments as to which version was “better” ensued.

A slightly discounted price (if true) may help those who are on the fence about purchasing a ported title, however it may also reaffirm their notion that the port is inferior.

I’m personally not a big fan of ports knowing first-hand that there are many companies out there that take the time to develop a title individually with dedicated teams. That said, I am a big fan of Bayonetta and look forward to picking it up when it hits stores on January 5th (January 8th in Europe).

What do you think? Would discounted prices on ported titles make you happy in the end or is a better solution needed?

Source: Siliconera

Bayonetta US & Europe Release Dates Announced

Chad Lakkis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:51:43 +0000

This news won’t matter much if you live in Japan because you’re likely already playing the game, Everyone else will have to wait until early January 2010. Sega announced this morning that their Platinum Games’ title Bayonetta will be hitting store shelves in the United States on January 5th and available in Europe three days later on the 8th.

The news also comes with promise of pre-order exclusives but sadly no specifics were given. However, considering the attention given to sex appeal with this character, I’m going to guess a free Bayonetta blow up doll, a box of tissues, and some KY jelly.

Bayonetta Developer Diary Explains Some Design Decisions

Sam Naylor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:20:45 +0000

The above video is the first in a series of video developer diaries for SEGA’s upcoming Bayonetta. The video discusses the concepts of Bayonetta’s character and enemy design, and the decision to create a world of angels for Bayonetta to fight through. Like almost every dev diary before it, it’s got a lot of insights and a lot of game footage, so if you’re looking forward to Bayonetta it should be of interest.

I’m still on the fence about Bayonetta, for some reason. When I played it it felt like it wasn’t something I would want to play, but everything SEGA has been putting out to advertise it makes it look really quite good. I guess I’ll just have to make my decision when someone isn’t waiting for a turn behind me.

Would You like to see more Female Lead Characters in Games?
	Yeah, bring on the ladies!
	No, guys rule!