Impressions: Bayonetta

There's a lot of attention being placed on Sega's recent partnership with Platinum Games, and for good reason too. Platinum Games comes from the ashes of former Capcom devs Clover Studios, which met an untimely death after the lackluster sales of its critically acclaimed Okami. With a resume that includes games like Resident Evil and Devil May Cry, Platinum Games has a strong legacy to live up to.

So what did we think about their first PS3 game, Bayonetta? It looked strangely familiar -- probably because it's from Hideki Kamiya, the creator of the original Devil May Cry. His new creation looks almost like a carbon copy of the recently released DMC4. In fact, the engine and textures look identical, especially with the way the game renders light and particle effects. (We wouldn't be surprised if Kamiya "borrowed" some tech and assets from Capcom before he left.)

The gameplay looks rather similar too, as its focus is on kicking ass in the most stylish way possible. We have no complaints, but seeing angel-esque characters circle around the main character, as she dishes out combos had us recoiling in a bit of rather recent nostalgia (DMC4 released earlier this year. You also fought angel-like enemies in that game).

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There are a number of differences to be noted in Bayonetta that separate it from its DMC heritage. Instead of playing as a bishonen, you play as a well-endowed witch with a wicked sense of style. Her hair literally comes to life, as it can turn into a variety of death traps for monsters to fall victim to. This is where Bayonetta can show its devilish originality. There are a number of ways for enemies to die: we saw her behead enemies with a guillotine, kick a few into a deadly spiked coffin, and more. Once, we saw a giant monster simply land on an enemy, ripping it apart. These over-the-top animations are far from believable, but that's where the game gets its charm. Somehow, Capcom's games have lost their ridiculous sensibilities. Bayonetta reminds us the campy charm quirky Japanese games can have.

While the five minute presentation acted as a mere tease, we're intrigued by the potential of Bayonetta. The battle system seems to encourage a more risque kind of play style than DMC, especially with its focus on dodging and countering enemy attacks. For example, if you're able to successfully dodge an enemy's attack, the action will slow down as you move at lightning speed. This kind of risk-taking encourages style, and allows players to rack up 100+ combos rather easily. Hopefully, we'll be able to see more of the game before Tokyo Game Show later this year.