Without spoiling too much, I was happy to see some events of the past in greater detail here, and it felt quite thrilling to finally set foot in this game’s version of Hell, simply called Inferno. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give Bayonetta 2 in terms of story is how well it expands on the world built in the original game.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of new faces throughout the game to enjoy, so I didn’t mind the absence of some of my favorites all that much. The old cast of colorful characters has completely returned for another adventure, even though some of them are not getting enough screen time. I don’t necessarily mean that as a negative thing, since the game, while of a similar structure, maintains its own unique flavor. Bayonetta 2 can feel a bit too familiar for the fans of the original, and it is because certain story bits are repeated in the sequel. So, just relax and enjoy a lighthearted tale full of in-jokes, your favorite video games references, and a lot of creative cinematic action. Like the majority of Platinum Games titles, the narrative in Bayonetta 2 can be both very tongue-in-cheek and dramatic when needed.

Can Platinum conquer the hearts of a new audience, while still bringing an improved sequel to the already excellent Bayonetta 1? Let’s just say Bayonetta can do some magic. Releasing a new installment exclusive to a whole new platform can also be considered quite a challenge– especially since Nintendo consoles usually don’t happen to hold a lot of “character action” games.

After all, it’s the first traditional sequel the team has developed since the days of Clover Studios and Viewtiful Joe 2. With Bayonetta 2, Platinum Games has a lot to prove.

Bayonetta 2 pure platinum download