Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon review: stuck between worlds

released last year Bayonetta 3 It heralded a major change in the character action series. Combat is more forgiving than previous entries, with fewer barrage encounters and more variety of available playstyles. The platforming and stealth sequences are much more prominent, complementing the melee and boss fights that are the mainstay of the series. Features like Angel her mode, which covers Bayonetta’s ultimate undress move, and new, younger, less sexual characters like Viola leave behind Bayonetta’s provocative, sexy, and irreverent traditions. , in favor of a more family-friendly tone. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon It reinforces this broader, more familiar orientation.

We play as Cereza, a tween age witch (and early life Bayonetta) who rebels against Morgana, an Umbra witch who lives on the outskirts of society, accepting the protagonist and teaching her magic. Cereza has her dream that a strange boy and a white wolf help her develop enough strength to free her mother Rosa from prison. Accepting this fate, she enters the Forest of Avalon and attempts to summon demons to help her. From now on, she and Cheshire will explore the forest together, fight fairies, argue with each other, and eventually become close. and very simple combat (no extended combos or coffing guns).

This loop repeats throughout the 12 hour story. Enter the area, explore, fight fairies in battle stages, and seek out his four elemental his core hidden in the forest to increase Cheshire’s power. The individual zones are beautifully rendered with a soothing soundtrack, and some parts are ability-gated, encouraging players to come back later when they become more powerful. Not only will it become mediocre, but combat encounters with pions and bosses will also become mediocre. In developer PlatinumGames’ efforts to make Bayonetta more accessible to a wider audience (which I think it succeeded in doing), the rigorous challenge and excitement that initially drew me to the series faded away. Familiarity works wonders for attracting new players, but there’s a hole at the heart of it. Cereza and the Lost Demon Regardless.

As for those characters, can a Bayonetta game really be made without tight (and disappearing) costumes, overtly sexual dances, and heel guns?but Cereza and the Lost Demon You can never fill that gap. Platinum offers a glimpse into the witch’s early life and her unique relationship with the demons she wields, but also the “damn” attitude and shooting that made the early games so exciting. war is missing.The title feels like a family-friendly fanfiction trying to tie together a wild finale Bayonetta 3 Return to the childhood of witches. Is it sweet, bubbly, and (in the mechanical sense) the easiest starting point for someone new to the franchise? absolutely. But is it pushing the envelope, for better or worse, like previous games?

Image: Platinum Games/Nintendo

said all, Cereza and the Lost Demon It feels more like a compromise meant to appeal to all possible denominators (and age groups) than a fresh take on the series’ DNA. There were many other stories, relationships, and mechanics that could have been explored to make this title as detailed as the original, but also more rewarding for both series veterans and newcomers alike. Perhaps Platinum will continue to explore origin stories and strike a better balance. But for now, I’m not optimistic.

If you’re looking for a cute and cozy platformer with simple combat mechanics and a playful story, look no further Cereza and the Lost DemonFor those like me who are curious to see how Cereza attained her true power and harnessed the temptation and raw magical prowess necessary to become the ultimate Umbra Witch. , this game is not to be missed. And that’s fine. I hope this new approach excites me as much as the previous one. I appreciate the familiarity, but Bayonetta has always been a series that stands out, and there’s nothing to risk with this title. I hope it’s worth it enough to stand by.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon It will be released on March 17th on Nintendo Switch. This game was reviewed using a pre-release download code provided by Nintendo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.