After a dark period, marked by some sensational errors and lackluster communication, the arrival of Bayonetta 3 represented an essential light at the end of the tunnel for fans of PlatinumGames. It is true that that phenomenal action game also had a problematic development, but at least it confirmed how the prestigious Japanese team led by Hideki Kamiya and Atsushi Inaba is still full of notable talents, in addition to being capable of producing quality video games.
A single test, however, is not enough to guarantee the health of the house, especially for those who have heard the apocalyptic voices that spoke of terrible growth plans and serious internal production problems, only marginally resolved by a few "injections." providential monetary The fact is that, along with the rumors of doom, there were also much more positive comments circulating in which the dust calmed down by describing a simple period of organizational transformation and training of new recruits, as well as a decent list of experimental products in the works, ready to change the face of a software house now known almost exclusively for action games.
To such uncertainties and speculations, Platinum simply decided to respond with a new game, also linked to the Bayonetta universe. Only this time we are not facing a title pure emotion and adrenaline, but an adventure with the appearance of a fairy tale, which seems to want to narrate the origins of the most unstoppable witch in video games with a delicacy that is now considered. for many to be far from the offices of the Sky Building in Osaka.
Yes, because this curious spin-off called Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon, has a careful artistic direction almost capable of remembering the old days of Clover Studio (the unfortunate team from which PlatinumGames was born) and, although its unusual appearance has led many to consider it a secondary production, it is not. absolutely worth underestimating. Today we tell you why Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is anything but a skippable game. in our review.
The story of Bayonetta Origins between demons, witches and… fairies?
The plot of the third Bayonetta was a bit disappointing, partly due to the forced inclusion of a third "faction" in the universe created by Platinum and some important elements of the narrative relegated to secondary texts, if not completely left to themselves. . This had no great effect on the overall quality of that title, and in fact the fact that the writing was completely in the service of the player being played somehow allowed the developers to indulge the campaign beyond all limits. With Origins of Bayonetta However, the situation is very different.
That's a kind of prequel After all, with more sober rhythms and permeated by the clear desire to drag the players into their world; History It is, therefore, a much more central element in the production, and it is not difficult to realize this from the first lines, which put you in the shoes of a Cherry is still naive and fearful, who decides to become a powerful witch to save her mother from the imprisonment to which the other witches of Umbra have forced her.
Weak and isolated from almost all of her peers due to the taboo broken by her parents, the girl is welcomed by Morgana, an exiled witch who teaches her the basics of magic. Obviously, Cereza's quest for power leads the girl to get into trouble in record time, so much so that she drags her to the depths of a dark forest in the company of a demon summoned, for some strange reason, to her favorite rag. . doll. In a place where nothing is as it seems and magical beings have control of everything, this strange couple's only hope is a white wolf and the voice of a mysterious child.
They are simple events, treated with an atypical delicacy if we take into account that among the main writers there is still Kamiya (highly appreciated as a director, but certainly not a luminary when it comes to texts), and created mainly to cover some "holes". from Bayonetta 3, with special attention to fairies and their nature. Not everything has the same level of intelligence, it is true, due to some too banal choices and the inevitable tendency of the Japanese team to exaggerate in the end, but at least a multiverse that is now essential to carry the story forward. the brand is developed with greater meaning in the future. Even the presence of a main narrator is very pleasant, giving everything an even more magical and surreal tone during the peculiar interlude scenes, the latter represented as if they were pages from an illustrated book.
In short, we are looking at a title whose narrative is much more suitable for young players than the one Kamiya and his companions have accustomed us to, but the greatest care put into this aspect makes it one of the most enjoyable in the series in general. .
Gameplay: hair brothers
The complete change of direction of the game clearly implies the game, even if the transformation is less colossal than one might have anticipated. In fact, at its core, Bayonetta Origins is It is mostly still an action, despite the fact that its structure is completely different from that of the games that preceded it. The idea behind it is very close to that of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, the first work by Josef Fares, and exactly like that adventure. here you also control two characters separately, as everyone's movements are linked to one of the pad's two analog sticks, while the camera is fixed with an overhead view.
However, the similarities end there, as PlatinumGames' work is mechanically much more complex: Cherry and Cheshire - this is the name of their demonic companion - in fact, they have separate and completely unique abilities, which are intelligently handled through the dorsal triggers, and must be used in combination both in the middle of combat and during exploration, as they are rich in synergies or directly related to the numerous environmental obstacles spread across the maps.
But let's start with fight, because, although the game is full of puzzles, platform phases and pure exploration, battles take up a good part of the campaign, in addition to revolving around a very respectable system. For example, the intuition of the experience must be applauded: in an action game with two controllable characters at the same time, the gameplay can be confusing and difficult, however, in Bayonetta Origins the progression of skills and the aggression of the enemies They are calculated to perfection. , to allow any player to master each maneuver as best as possible. We start from very simple combinations of shots with few variations, where the only factor to manage is the positioning of the protagonists to avoid damage; However, in the future things become considerably more complicated and the number of opponents reaches such a variety that they require specific introductory "introductions", similar to those seen in the action games from which everything was born.
However, the differences are not just aesthetic; Requiring who knows what reaction speed to wield, combat here relies primarily on specific weaknesses of various powers, which Cheshire can use by transforming into four different elemental forms which are unlocked as you progress through the campaign. In practice, the battles are almost like small puzzles, where at first you just need to hit your hands randomly and avoid attacks to avoid getting into trouble, but gradually it becomes mandatory to sharpen your wits and understand exactly what to use and when to do it. overcome enemy defenses.
The good thing is that the Platinum footprint is also very noticeable in a system of this type. Each form, so to speak, has shot combinations with a specific range and movements that can freely cancel each other, while present in the game. a double skill tree through which both Cheshire and Cereza are strengthened, and more advanced maneuvers such as dodges and special combo attacks can be obtained when an enemy is paralyzed by the little witch's brambles. Ok, similar improvements don't add much to the base experience (far from it being difficult), but here too there's obviously more difficulty to face once everything is completed, and it's always nice to see this kind of care put into the mechanics even when they can be partially ignored. However, a different story for the bosses: They are few, but in several phases, and they are undoubtedly the most creative and challenging battles in the game. It's certainly no surprise, considering Platinum's mastery of creating memorable battles, but it wasn't obvious to hit the mark in a game so different in pace and approach from its classic projects.
If you wish to make a single criticism of the aspects we have just described, perhaps the progression It is even too slow and, while it ensures that everything new is absorbed without too many problems, it makes the first confrontations basic compared to what is faced at the end of the campaign. However, this is not a particularly serious problem and it is perfectly logical that the developers have opted for gradual growth.
Structure: the land of eternal youth
As already specified, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is not a pure action, but rather a more reflective title, where exploration and puzzle solving They are often as important as Cheshire claws. The game also represents a very nice display of talent, as it features a complex map very well thought out, very pleasant to navigate and retrace your steps once you have acquired the necessary skills to open previously blocked passages.
The progression of the game is reminiscent of that of the metroidvania: the direction to follow in the fairy forest is always clearly indicated by the steps of the white wolf, but it is possible to leave them alone and follow the numerous intersections available, or after reaching a certain point, even You will re-explore some areas already visited to reveal all their secrets thanks to the new powers of your demonic cat. Doing so will usually net you useful items (or crafting materials, as Cherry can mix potions in a cauldron at save points) along with the resources needed to acquire combat skills in development branches.
The collection of these materials is sometimes even too "laid back", but at least it blends well with the charming atmosphere of the game, and the design of the maps is brilliant enough to always give great satisfaction when overcoming an obstacle that was previously impossible to overcome. approve. In particular, the platforming sessions that require coordinated movements of both characters to advance stand out, and some very enjoyable puzzles that lead to using Cheshire to protect Cereza from certain dangers or simply allowing her to reach objectives using various combinations of powers.
Furthermore, most of these situations take place in an alternate dimension called land of the young, to overcome to dispel the illusions of the fairies and be able to freely continue the chase of the wolf that guides the protagonist's steps. The use of similar levels is very intelligent, because it allowed the developers to insert maps into the campaign that are very far from the typical aesthetics and conformation of the forest, and at the same time it fits perfectly into a series where "portal tests" are a constant presence.
However, in what we examined there are perhaps the only elements of the title that have disappointed us, starting with Cereza's abilities, undoubtedly much more limited than the powers of her partner. In fact, while in battle the simple handling of brambles is a perfect counterpoint to Cheshire's multiple forms, the same cannot be said in the midst of exploration, where the girl can only interact with certain elements through an elementary rhythm game which in the long run becomes quite repetitive. Some variations on the theme are introduced later, but the presence of double or extended notes below adds little or nothing to these "activations", confirming them as the weakest aspect of the entire game. These are operations that are fast enough to never get boring, but we're sure more interesting solutions could be found to Cherry's magic.
The other defect lies instead in thebalance between puzzle and combat, which in the last third of the adventure begins to gravitate too much towards the latter, mainly due to the numerous Tir Na Nóg that can be completed by overcoming simple arenas. They're satisfying battles that require concentration, but given the excellent results achieved, we would have liked to see Platinum's designers deal with more complex maps and puzzles.
Art and technique, between warriors, painters and musicians
Even with the minor hiccups described above, one can only praise the work done by the team on the Bayonetta Origins systems; Although the overall quality is very respectable, the feature that stands out more than any other remains the impressive artistic sector of the game, sometimes capable of surprising us far beyond our wildest expectations.
Considering how fluctuating the artistic direction of Bayonetta 3 was, it was difficult to expect work of this level, however, Platinum's work really left us speechless, to the point that it managed to surprise at all times with its bright colors and its magnificently essential appearance. configuration change. Bayonetta Origins is the demonstration of how stylized and cartoonish graphics do not necessarily have to follow the canons of other productions, and its characters and levels move away from both the "cartoon" aspect of countless independent productions and the aesthetics of well-known more works. sought after (and attributable to the history of the house) like Okami or Viewtiful Joe. At times, the game's colors are reminiscent of a digital version of a church window in terms of composition and balance; other times the textures recall the paintings of Gustav Klimt or the "cleaner" works of art nouveau, maintaining an enviable harmony that never fails even after drastic changes of setting.
Finally, the music further increases the overall impact, thanks to an absolutely exceptional soundtrack. From Nier Automata onwards Platinum has made leaps and bounds in this field and, although it was impossible to keep up with Keiichi Okabe's genius in that title, they managed to stand out by clearly relying on great talents both in Bayonetta 3 and here. In Bayonetta Origins, music represents a perfect accompaniment to every situation, from the dreamlike atmospheres of the quietest areas of the forest to the adrenaline-filled battles against the most difficult enemies. This is clearly one of those games that, thanks to its art direction and soundtrack, will never go out of style.
We close with longevity, which is certainly not extraordinary but should not be underestimated either. In fact, the game easily lasts more than ten hours and easily exceeds 15 if you take into account the numerous collectibles for the completionists or the presence of a short-lived extra that absolutely deserves to be played. There is also the aforementioned additional difficulty that is unlocked once the adventure is finished, although it is evidently not enough to offer replayability comparable to that of the rest of the Platinum games.
Conclusions
digital delivery Nintendo eShop Price 59,99 € Holygamerz.com 8.5 Readers (24) 7.6 your voteAbebe Tinari's work is a gem that demonstrates how PlatinumGames has not been idly in recent years, but has done an important job of cultivating talent. The new recruits have demonstrated their skill in all fields, from design to art, without forgetting a soundtrack that is sometimes even more sublime than the rest of the game's aspects. However, theirs is not a perfect work, due to a certain structural naivety and the team's tendency to step on the accelerator too much at the end of the work, but Bayonetta Origins is still a title that we hope will not be underestimated. , because in some ways it represents a return from PlatinumGames to the multifaceted creativity of Clover Studio, and we definitely want to see more such experiments from them.
PRO
- Artistically magnificent and the soundtrack is no different.
- Brilliant, varied gameplay and full of good ideas.
- Great map design
AGAINST
- Towards the final part the balance is broken in favor of the action
- Cereza's skills are too basic when exploring.
