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REVIEW: Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Written by NPUK_Admin

More bewitching content, this time with a fairytale twist! 

To the uninitiated, Bayonetta is a story about the titular Umbra Witch as she fights the agents of heaven, hell and recently; the multiverse, to save the world and protect the order of balance. In the first game Bayonetta lost her memories, and now we finally get a whole game dedicated to exploring  the backstory of how that happened. Fittingly released on St Patrick’s day, Cereza is taking on the Irish folklore inspired faeries of Avalon Forest to save her mother!

SPOILER ALERT: Whilst this is an origin story, experiencing it will spoil the original Bayonetta’s plot twist. This story does go into more detail and explains things more clearly, so it’s really up to you on where you’d like to start. 

The game begins near Cereza’s 10th birthday.  Our hero and her friend/rival Jeanne are working together to find the former’s mother before she’s moved away to a bigger prison, when suddenly demons grab her and we’re saved by a mysterious figure in white.

We are told to go to Avalon Forest, and thus Bayonetta’s goal to save her mother is cemented. 

Time passes, and we rejoin a sleeping Cereza, now accompanied by her cuddly cat Cheshire, stealing themselves to enter the faerie filled forbidden forest as instructed in a dream, before swiftly called upon by our teacher Morgana. This is where the real game begins, doing chores and exploring the beautiful world at large. After failing to summon and bind a demon, Morgana expresses frustration and leaves Cereza for the night. Remembering the words of the boy in her dreams, Cereza runs into the Avalon Forest with a magic bracer and her toy Cheshire in tow.

Whilst this is still a Bayonetta game, there is a huge difference in the way the story plays out. We’re treated to both full voice-acting, but also narration! Platinum really stick to the charming storybook aesthetic here, and the narrator does a great job in delivering expository dialogue that further explores Cereza’s thoughts, helping to deepen our understanding of the fledgling witch.

Gameplay is akin to other entries in the series, though there’s much less of an emphasis on speed and reflexive play, and more on exploratory puzzle solving. Its world building and traversal remind me of classic adventure games like Monkey Island, especially since young Cereza does not have the ability to jump on demand, rather only in specific situations, such as when near ledges. It’s a refreshing touch and really helps differentiate the game from its predecessors. That said, movement is incredibly smooth and running around the fae filled woods is a great experience. While this game does not have the option to sprint through the grass as a panther, I never really got tired of waddling through the forest. Experiencing a more vulnerable Cereza is quite the contrast, as Bayonetta fans are used to seeing the super powerful, mad-quipping, flirty gunslinger, but it’s a totally welcome change. I actually really enjoy seeing this other side to her character. Cereza has a really endearing relationship with the unnamed demon later dubbed Cheshire.

Combat is completely overhauled in Bayonetta Origins. The flashy weapon combat is gone and Witch Time is a sweet memory. Instead we control both Cereza and Cheshire in combat using one joy-con each; Cereza bound to the left and Cheshire to the right. This makes exploration more engaging as they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. However, this also changes the entire scope of battles. Cheshire acts as your muscle, dealing savage chomps and slashes to the various feyfolk of Avalon Forest, whilst Cereza binds them in thorns, halting their attacks. I really love how the game branches into celtic mythology and uses an entire new folklore as inspiration for your opponents. It’s yet another breath of fresh air, and fans of the series will be pleased to know that each enemy gets their own introduction too! 

Another difference to traditional Bayonetta is the use of spells utilised by Cereza. Witch Pulse and Snagging Thorns are two new splendid tools in our arsenal and useful additions. In the spirit of fairness, accessibility, and enjoyment for all, there’s a Game Help menu that can automate the Witch Pulse if you struggle with your timing. This menu also includes options to help combat and exploration which is great to see even if I didn’t utilise them myself.

Concocting recipes returns in Bayonetta Origins, but is reserved for special areas that we find throughout our expedition. 

Everything in this game is utterly darling. The sleek, sexy and stylish designs of previous games have now been replaced with a watercolour world reminiscent of a children’s book. I felt I could get lost in it for hours. Sublime presentation has always been a strength of the Bayonetta franchise and Origins is no slouch either. Bayo is adorable, Cheshire looks equal parts cute and ferocious, and Avalon Forest looks like what I dreamed forests were as a child. Let me tell you about the gorgeous enemy designs. Each one is an imaginative little weirdo with strong emphasis on form and shape so that they’re easily distinguishable from each other, yet uniform. Bánánach was a particular favourite because even though it doesn’t have a goat’s head like it would in Irish mythology, it keeps the spear and has goat legs! It’s a really nice and respectful homage to the original inspiration for the creature.

Everything about Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon feeds into this idea of a storybook and as someone who studied illustration, I really love it! The 3D elements of the game are smooth and feel natural to the painted world; a difficult feat which Platinum mastered wholeheartedly. 

The sound design is also a perfect fit. The voice acting is stellar, Cereza is brilliantly cast, and while I couldn’t find the name of her actress, they did a brilliant job. The narrator too brings a distinguished depth to the story and world, whilst also encapsulating the feeling of a grandparent reading you a story whilst you’re tucked in bed. It’s truly a nostalgic experience.
 

The attention to detail here is impressive. Cheshire’s footprints are thudding in comparison to Cereza’s dainty steps, and the magical whooshing of changing Cheshire from toy mod to demon mode has a real weight and mysticism to it. I particularly enjoy that the Witch pulse and the Concotino both use sounds from previous journeys with Bayo. I do enjoy the almost palpable crunch of the enemies and destructible objects, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss all the gun sounds.  


I’d also like to take a moment to thank the developers for not only bringing Irish folklore to the world and creatures, but also to the music, which actually features ethereal and haunting Irish singing! I actually listened to “Together in the Moonlit Forest” before I was able to play the game and became enamoured despite not understanding it. Meanwhile “Overture” sounds like something out of American McGee’s “Alice” or a Ghibli film. BO:CatLD’s OST is mischievous and uplifting, and conveys themes of adventure, youth and hope. There’s so many beautiful arrangements in the soundtrack, each worth their own paragraph, but the best service we can give them is to simply listen. 

Lastly, I’d like to touch on performance. Bayonetta Origins runs at a silky smooth 30 FPS, looks superb in both docked and Handheld modes and isn’t much of a battery eater. Both the Nintendo Switch System and Joy-Con have it easy here. The lag free gameplay lets the watercolour visuals and animations shine, and I didn’t notice any input delay during my playthrough. The fixed camera angles make it much easier to ensure your attacks are going to land, and even when more effects and enemies are on the screen it doesn’t cause the Nintendo Switch system to chug.

Verdict

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon represents a strong beginning to an already great series.  A change in genre, and a departure in visuals and gameplay hasn’t dented Platinum’s quality. It’s polished to a mirror sheen, or should I say, painted to a master’s standard. This is an enchanting fairytale about a brilliant character, and her personal journey.. I’m glad it’s a fun, beautiful  game, but I know I’d love to have read this as a book too! Puzzle / exploration game fans will feel at home here, and it’s a great place for new Bayonetta players to start, and for series veterans to continue. Being available as a Physical release is great for collectors, and digital players will be happy to know the Nintendo eShop version weighs in at a very respectable 3.1GB install! I really hope Bayonetta Origins continues, it’s a fairytale I know I’ll be revisiting more than once.

Where to Buy

Prices correct as of posting this review.

Credits

Written by Luke Young

Edited by Mark McAllister, Paul L. Russell and Jen Griffiths.

Graphic by Paul L. Russell