Cert: 15+
Platform: PS3/Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Bayonetta, SEGA's latest offering to the next-gen, tells the story of our heroine, aptly named Bayonetta, who, after a bitter war between the forces of Light (The Luman Sages) & Darkness (The Umbra Witches), remains the final Umbra Witch in existence. To say more is irrelevant; this is an action game - and in many ways, it's one of the most original around. But it's not without its flaws.
The action itself is easy enough to pick up - the main buttons are used for punch, kick, fire etc, but it's what the player is capable of doing where Bayonetta truly excels, mainly thanks to Witch Time, which is basically a re-rendering of the much used Bullet-time - leap in slow-motion while enemies move at even slower speeds. With the multitude of weapons that are available to pick up as the game progresses, this provides some incredible scenes and endless combos, especially considering you can also equip weapons to your feet which is a neat touch.
Presentation is slick, but there is some noticeable slow-down, and loading times can be a bit excessive, if at some points, unacceptable. But it's worth the wait just for the battles, which, being an action game is what you were probably after in the first place.
Rent or Buy: Rent
Graphics: 3/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Replay Value: 4/5
Overall: 3/5
Reviewed By: Simon Rubbathan
