Bayonetta has been getting some amazing reviews throughout the gaming industry. I spent some time playing the demo and really enjoyed the combat sequences. I ended up getting Bayonetta through Gamefly about a day or so after release. I was pretty excited to get started as the reviews were glowing, the combat from the demo was fun, and it was essentially one of the first big releases since Modern Warfare 2 or Assassin’s Creed 2.

The first thirty minutes of the game was complete confusion for me. You’ll sit through long and uninspiring cut-scenes only to be confused about what the purpose of your adventure is. I didn’t measure it, but I would guess that of the first hour and a half, you’re watching a cut-scene half of the time. That wouldn’t bother me if there was a purposeful story being told.

Once you get past the introduction of the game and into the combat, you’ll find a gem of a game. I really enjoyed the combat mechanics. Everything was smooth and just flowed exceptionally well. The combat felt like less of a button masher and more like a game that required strategic combinations. In combat, there’s a mode called witch time where everything around you slows down and gives you an opportunity to do some serious damage. You can active this mode by dodging incoming attacks at just the last moment. That mechanic adds a nice little extra something and can really come in handy during some of the tougher fights.

The game looks amazing graphically and runs very fluid even in intense combat sequences. I didn’t notice any screen tearing or graphical issues to note. They really got the framerate nailed down and that’s important in an action game where timing is key.

What ruins the game for me personally is the over the top presentation. Some of the sequences can be aptly referred to as soft-core pornography. It’s such an unnecessary step to take in an otherwise interesting game. For example, instead of wearing clothing, Bayonetta’s “outfit” is her hair. During finishing moves she’ll summon a demon to destroy your enemy by using her hair. During which time, she’s partially exposed. It’s unnecessary decisions like this that take the game to a mature level and out of the hands of younger gamers who may appreciate and enjoy the real meat of the game.

You’ll also find that Bayonetta is very Japanese inspired, which isn’t something I’m a fan of personally. I was never someone interested in games targeted towards the Japanese market, such as Final Fantasy. Those games just never interested me. The music, the action cut-scenes, and even the humor will remind you of a stereotypical Japanese video game. Some reviewers out there love this about the game because they either enjoy JRPGs or don’t feel like Bayonetta is taking itself too seriously. I can appreciate those points but for me it just doesn’t work.

I put in a handful of hours with Bayonetta and was enjoying it when I was destroying enemies. The rest of the experience just was not interesting to me. Once I had an issue with a save, where I lost an hour of gameplay, it was time to go back to Gamefly. I think the game is worth a rent and most likely a buy if you’re a fan of Devil May Cry. For me, I’m glad it was a rental.

This review is based on the Xbox 360 retail version of the game delivered by GameFly as a rental for Skeptical Gamer.