The Bayonetta franchise has become incredibly popular, going from a niche series to one of the most well-known third-party exclusives on Nintendo consoles. The third entry in the series was recently released, but PlatinumGames isn't resting on its laurels for too long, already giving gamers a new title starring Bayonetta. This upcoming Switch game is a bit different from what fans might expect, however.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a prequel spinoff to the venerable action series, changing up the formula by showcasing the younger days of its protagonist. This is exactly what the franchise needs, especially given some of the more controversial elements of Bayonetta 3. Here's why Cereza and the Lost Demon could become the series' most bewitching entry yet.
Bayonetta Origins Tones Things Down for a Lighter Adventure
The mainline Bayonetta games are action-based adventure titles with puzzle elements, with protagonist Cereza/Bayonetta having all manner of magical abilities at her disposal. Some of these are more risqué than others, making the series a lot more adult-oriented than most titles on Nintendo hardware. This is all getting switched up for the newest game, which is definitely not a mere retread of what's come before. The art of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon evokes that of a child's storybook, which ironically fits the series' tone as a sort of dark fairy tale. As its name might suggest, it takes place in the past, focusing on Cereza as a child instead of as an adult Umbra witch.
Cereza is still the main one traversing and gallivanting throughout the game's forest levels, which have a somewhat more constrained look to them than previous Bayonetta levels. Instead of unleashing holy Hell via guns, however, she fights back by summoning demons. There also seems to be more emphasis on puzzles and such, making things less of a chaotic adventure. Again, this is a good direction for the spinoff, as it will keep things from feeling too similar to the still very recent Bayonetta 3. By showcasing more of Cereza's backstory, it will also deal with one of the third game's biggest criticisms.
Cereza and the Lost Demon Will Put the Focus Back on Bayonetta's Protagonist
Though Bayonetta 3 was very well-received, the game still had its fair share of criticism from fans. Most of this stemmed from the fact that despite being a supposed "grand finale" to the Cereza gamers had come to know and love, her final game felt somewhat unfocused on her. Thus, what should have been an epic goodbye instead fell completely flat. Thankfully, Bayonetta Origins is going in the completely opposite direction with its storyline.
By focusing solely on Cereza and her backstory, the game should guarantee that any dramatic twists it tries to take will be well-developed. Likewise, this keeps Cereza in the franchise's limelight and doesn't try to completely get rid of her, no matter how Bayonetta 3 ended. Plus, given that its rating is only T instead of the usual M, it may draw in newer, younger players to the franchise. Since it focuses on the iconic face of the franchise and gives her never-before-seen backstory, Bayonetta Origins is easily the best place for those individuals to start.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon releases on Mar. 17, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch.