Bayonetta

Bayonetta (2009) is a fighting game where you use fantastical guns and outlandish attacks to defeat hordes of enemies in bombastic combat. As you play, you attack enemies with oversized weapons and supernatural powers. It stands out for how outrageous outfits, extravagant action, and hyper-stylised fights combine with the joy of precise shooting and tough-as-nails combat to make for an exciting challenge.

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You play an amnesiac witch called Bayonetta who has been living alongside humans for years. When memories of your supernatural childhood begin to surface, you set out on a mission to discover your past and find a supernatural artefact. On your adventure that takes you from Earth to the gates of heaven, you fight off angelic foes and ancient monsters with your demonic devices.

Play involves traversing the world and fighting enemies. You use guns, melee weapons, and bizarre and unusual devices made out of your hair, such as an iron maiden or a chainsaw. Combat is as fast-paced as it is extravagant, and to deal the most damage, you need to pull off intricate and highly complex strings of moves in rapid succession.

The result is a strangely intoxicating mix of lopsided humour and over-the-top action paired with the need for high skill and experimentation. Some may be put off by its sheer strangeness (and guns and nudity) but it's exactly this peculiar joy in the bizarre that makes it so much fun.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Bayonetta 8 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 8 months ago.