Bayonetta 2 Preview

Got a black magic woman…

When we last left Cereza, now known to everyone as Bayonetta, she was busy outwitting, outlasting, and generally kicking angelic ass. It should come, then, as no surprise that Bayonetta, along with her rival-turned-partner Jeanne, continues to kick angel ass in Bayonetta 2, the sequel to 2009's Bayonetta. But this time, there could be hell to pay as the Umbran Witch faces off against the forces of Heaven and Hell to recover Jeanne's soul.

Bayonetta 2 was one of the show's repeat offenders—games that were shown on the E3 2013 floor that resurfaced again this year—but what a difference a year makes. I played the hands-on demo both years and this year noticed an improved crispness and fluidity in combat, feeling almost like a graceful Batman: Arkham Asylum system. In no time, I was activating Witch Time with elegant evasive maneuvers, shoving enemies into Torture Devices, and letting the blood splatter down like it was a Quentin Tarantino film.

Platinum Games reported that Nintendo oversaw everything, but remained primarily hands-off during development, which is just how the studio liked it. This means Bayonetta's more outrageous elements will resurface in Bayonetta 2, so prepare for lots of blood, painful deaths, and nudity galore. The pacing felt like that of a well-put-together action flick; crazy and wild during combat without rushing through dialogue and exposition for the uninitiated. Fortunately for those who are unfamiliar with the witch's story, Bayonetta 2 will include a Wii U port of the original Bayonetta.

Throughout the console's launch, Nintendo has promised Wii U will cater to gamers looking for a more serious, mature experiences, and Bayonetta 2 was touted as the poster child to this campaign. From what we've seen on the E3 floor, Bayonetta 2 might actually demonstrate that the Mario Machine can offer more than just Mario.