E3 2013 Impressions: Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo Wii U)

Perhaps more surprising than the news that Bayonetta would be getting a sequel is the news that it would also be a Wii U exclusive. Especially since it will be the first time the franchise appears on a Nintendo console at all (as the first game only appeared on Xbox 360 and PS3). Adding to the list of surprises is Bayonetta’s new haircut as well as the addition of a multiplayer mode. While the multiplayer wasn’t on display at E3, I did get some hands-on time with Bayonetta 2. If you’ve enjoyed Platinum Games’ recent releases, you should feel right at home.

After a short tutorial introduction, Bayonetta 2 drops you right into the midst of combat. The game has two options for a control configuration: the standard buttons and an option to use the touchscreen on the Wii U gamepad. As someone who needs button feedback to play a game like this effectively, I opted for the former.

As with the original, you get punch and kick attacks, as well as the ability to jump and dodge. If you dodge an attack at the last minute, time slows down, giving more freedom to put the beatdown on your adversaries without much resistance. After awhile, you may get a prompt to perform a finishing move, including one that forces the enemy to run a treadmill with spiked rollers waiting on the other end. After a short button mashing session, Bayonetta will eventually kick them backwards, causing them to get ground up into pulp. There’s also a Climax meter that when full, can be activated to temporarily boost the strength of Bayonetta’s attacks.

The demo took place atop an airplane, with Bayonetta fighting off waves of enemies before culminating into a boss fight with a gigantic creature. Partway through the battle, Jeanne from the previous game appears to lend a hand, with the two characters sometimes teaming for some devastating moves. At the climax of the battle, Bayonetta summons a large dragon from her hair to finish the job, though the battle doesn’t end there. After getting separated from Jeanne, Bayonetta sprouts wings and takes to the skies to battle a boss in midair.

The overall experience with Bayonetta 2 was as intense as the original and I can’t wait for the final game to release, if only to have something to play on the Wii U. Unfortunate then, that there is still quite a wait on the final release. Bayonetta 2 releases in 2014 for the Nintendo Wii U.