Review of Bayonetta Origins: flocking great
Our Verdict
Bayonetta Origins shows you the umbra witch in a whole new way, and while you may feel sceptical about her going from heavy action to puzzles, Platinum Games nailed the transition flawlessly. While different to the trilogy, the gameplay is engaging, the world is stunning, and the story of Cereza and Cheshire is precious. I can’t recommend this game enough.
The sorceress has returned. In the space of many months, this is the second time. But this isn't the Bayonetta you are familiar with. Actually, the events of Bayonetta Origins occur before to the umbra witch's well-known moniker. Rather, she is only Cereza, a little child who hasn't yet mastered her magical skills, and it's safe to assume that her life hasn't started off very well.
Her mother's incarceration for having an affair with Cereza's father, the enemy, is where the narrative starts. Because of this, the tiny child must grow up with her mother imprisoned. Despite being told not to, Cereza sneaks in and sees her mother on a regular basis. That is, until the umbra witches decide to transfer her to a more severe jail, where it's possible that the unfortunate kid won't see her mother ever again.
Fortunately for Cereza, she is taken in by Morgana, an extremely strong umbra witch who their people also avoid, who plans to teach the little girl how to use her magic. The game starts at this point. Before Morgana gives Cereza her lesson for the day, there are a few things you need to do for her. When everything is finished, it's time to learn how to call forth a demon.
Fans of Bayonetta for a long time will know that a witch's hair is essential to calling out a demon, but after her disastrous first effort, Morgana rejects the child, believing her to be too young to master this kind of sorcery. Unwise move, because Cereza exhibits the obstinacy and determination of her adult self even as a young kid (despite her kind and bashful demeanor and lack of confidence). She enters Avalon Forest, which is said to possess great power, together with her plush dog Cheshire.
Cereza is even more driven to find the truth since she keeps having intense nightmares in which someone calls her to the forest. It should come as no surprise that the jungle is quite hazardous, and the little girl can only use so much magic to protect herself. She summons a demon as a last option when she finds herself in an especially difficult battle with no way out. It works this time, and the beast dispatches her assailants.
The demon must take up residence in her stuffed animal in order to survive in her world, but the novice witch doesn't know how to send the creature home. The game then shifts into overdrive as Cereza gives him the nickname Cheshire since he doesn't have a name of his own. Together, they must travel the jungle and locate the power that would allow Cereza to rescue her mother and send Cheshire back to his home world.
The forest itself is gorgeous, even though Cereza and Cheshire may perish at any moment due to the genuine threat. It exudes an air of ethereality and grandeur that demands for your admiration. I can't help but stare in astonishment at my lush surroundings whenever I explore a new place, and the puzzle gameplay brilliantly enhances this feeling. I respect that you have no option but to absorb everything around you in order to go forward.
You may have to manage Cereza and Cheshire at the same time in order to traverse this environment. Although there is only one path for the young witch to go, the demon might have to find another, and vice versa. This game has several amazing riddles, but if you find it difficult to master Cereza's magic usage, you may change the settings to have her use it automatically while you hold down a button. Should the battle overwhelm you, this is also quite helpful.
When it comes to fighting, Cereza and Cheshire both have their own skill trees where you may buy skills for the two using separate monies. You may select which talents to use in fight based on your preferred strategy, but I strongly advise you to use the dodge ability for both of them. In terms of health, Cereza is the only one you truly need to be concerned about; nevertheless, in the event that Cheshire loses a fight, he transforms back into a stuffed animal in Cereza's arms and may quickly return to full demon shape.
It also motivates you to repeat regions and pay great attention to your surroundings because as the game progresses, you may unlock other forms for Cheshire to adopt. These forms let you to explore previously inaccessible spots in the forest. Cheshire's many guises may help you fight the various kinds of fairies as well as obtain access to diverse locations. Although all of his forms are amazing, my personal favorite is the fire variant—but maybe that's just the pyromaniacal side of me showing.
Cheshire is the one who can defeat your adversaries in a combat, thus you must simultaneously control the two of them independently. When fighting, Cereza may utilize her powers to seize opponents and hold them still so Cheshire can wailing on them. It is simpler to do this if you are not concerned about using her powers. Because PlatinumGames obviously wants as many people to enjoy the experience as possible, I commend them for making the game accessible.
In addition to changing the way magic works in Bayonetta Origins, you may also alter damage output, damage sustained, and other aspects of the game's plot if you want to relive the endearing tale of a girl using little battle effort to rescue her mother. You may customize the experience whatever you like, which is a very nice feature of the game in my opinion.
I couldn't help but be a bit nervous about the controls when I first started the game, particularly when it came time to use both characters simultaneously. My worries are misplaced, however, since it functions flawlessly. I never feel like I can't manage anything since everything happens simultaneously. It may seem a bit less overwhelming with the modifications you can make to the game's functionality, and I really value not having to worry about button presses while using Cereza.
The accessibility of a game may sometimes be limited by a control constraint, especially in games like Bayonetta Origins where you have to utilize the left side of the controller for one character and the right side for the other. This kind of system has the potential to seem overpowering, but it doesn't in this instance. An excellent illustration of this is seen in Tír na nÓgs, which are unique places with varying degrees of difficulty similar to dungeons. Some may just give you a fighting assignment, while others may ask you to solve a series of riddles that call for the simultaneous employment of both characters.
Moreover, Tír na nÓgs are breathtaking. The first time I encountered one, I was in wonder, and even after finishing the great majority of them, I still feel that way. This is because of the variation in expectations they have of you. Let the game steal your breath away while enjoying the goodies found in these mostly optional places, which also provide some fantastic perks like permanent health increases for Cereza.
Both characters have good control. They move deftly and skillfully. When they collaborate, neither holds the other back. It seems as if PlatinumGames has produced a magnificent work of art. Actually, that's the ideal phrase to describe it because of how beautiful it looks and how evocative of paintings the visuals are—especially given the location in which the game is set. Even better, Bayonetta Origins uses book pictures to narrate key tale points to you. There are moments when I feel like I'm setting off on a magical voyage.
I have no complaints about the game at all when you take into account all of it and the fact that I haven't had any performance issues with it yet. The ultimate follow-up to the Bayonetta trilogy, Bayonetta Origins is a fascinating look at a young Cereza that, in my opinion, adds even more nuance to the Umbra witch. Essentially, this is an opportunity to see the girl behind the alluring seductress, and I wholeheartedly urge you to take advantage of it. Fans of all ages should definitely give it a listen.