Bayonetta[d] is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Sega. The game was originally released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in Japan in October 2009, and in North America and Europe in January 2010. The game was later released on the Wii U alongside its sequel, Bayonetta 2, releasing in September 2014 in Japan and worldwide the following month. An enhanced port for Microsoft Windows was released in April 2017 with support for 4K visuals. The game was released on the Nintendo Switch in February 2018 worldwide, also alongside its sequel. A third game, Bayonetta 3, is currently in development and is set to release for the Switch as well. A compilation called Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle that includes the 4K remaster of Bayonetta, alongside PlatinumGames' other remastered title Vanquish, was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 18, 2020.[3]
Bayonetta takes place in Vigrid, a fictional city in Europe. The game stars the eponymous character, a witch who is capable of shapeshifting and using various firearms. She also possesses magical attacks, and she can use her hair to summon demons to dispatch her foes. The game features a rating system, which gives players a grade based on their performance, and a combat system that is similar to the Devil May Cry series, also created by Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya.
Development of the game was started in January 2007, with Hideki Kamiya being the game's director. According to Kamiya, the game was completely original, though he drew some inspirations from Scandinavian mythology, and played Devil May Cry 4 for reference. The game's theme is "sexiness” and “partial nudity”, and that the characters were designed to be "fashionable". Kamiya and artist Mari Shimazaki spent more than a year to create Bayonetta's design. Several demos were released for the game prior to its launch. Bayonetta was the third project released by PlatinumGames, which was founded by former Clover Studio employees. Upon release, the game received generally positive reviews. The game was praised for its combat, presentation and soundtrack, but was criticized for its story and quick time events. The game was awarded and nominated for several end-of-the-year accolades, and had sold over a million units worldwide by 2010. An anime film adaptation of the game by Gonzo, titled Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, was released in Japan in November 2013.
Vanquish[b] is an action third-person shooter video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Sega for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. It began development in 2007[1] and was released worldwide in October 2010.[2] A Windows port was released on May 25, 2017.[3] A compilation called Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle that includes a 4K remaster of Vanquish, alongside PlatinumGames' other remastered title Bayonetta, was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 18, 2020.
The game is notable for introducing several innovations to the 3D shooter genre, including a fast-paced style of gameplay reminiscent of 2D bullet hell shooters,[4] beat 'em up elements,[5] and an original sliding-boost mechanic.[6]
The game received a positive critical reaction upon release, with critics praising the game's fast-paced action, innovations to the shooter genre, boss battles and visual style, while criticizing the game's writing, voice acting and overall short length of the campaign.