A totally different experience, Bayonetta Origins gives us a different take on the young witch’s past and with it comes a completely different type of gameplay that still spellbinds you.
The review is based on the Switch version.
Bayonetta games are known for being sleek, flashy, and frenetic, while featuring interactive cutscenes, plenty of combos, and a confident protagonist for days on end. Based on the games that Platinum has distributed, you’d think Umbra Witch was born with all that sass, so it’s a surprise to learn that it started out very differently.
BENEFITS:
- Beautiful art style that is sure to put you to sleep;
- Inventive puzzles that require you to use Cherry and Cheshire simultaneously;
- Fun Metroidvania-style gameplay that encourages you to explore.
AGAINST :
- The fight is too easy;
- The puzzles eventually fade away;
- The commands can sometimes be confusing.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is the opposite of what you’d expect from a main series game, and that style fits the type of Bayonetta you’ll be playing as: a younger, innocent, less experienced witch who discover their strengths. This, combined with its unique combat system, storybook-like art style, and captivating level design, are ingredients that make for an engaging mix of a game.
a whimsical story
Right from the start, you’ll notice that the game’s art style makes you feel like you’re playing in a fairy tale. This approach, along with its color scheme and dynamic visual effects, bring your actions to life, whether you’re exploring your surroundings or fighting enemies. Its setting, the Forest of Avalon, is incredible to see by the small details that give it so much charm. Imagine an abandoned amusement park in the woods or areas where everything around you looks like stained glass.. A series of labyrinthine paths, the forest is also home to mischievous fairies who are the main antagonists of the game. Its many Irish folk influences along with its dreamlike visuals and soothing storytelling give Cereza and the Lost Demon a magical vibe that relaxes and intrigues you. while you play.
Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon, published by Nintendo
Throughout your journey, a friendly narrator will guide you as you learn about the young witch Cherry, who grows up to become Bayonetta, and her journey through the forest of Avalon in hopes of seeking answers and discovering her powers. . Cherry is not alone in her adventure, as she is accompanied by a demon who has taken the form of her stuffed cat named Cheshire. At first, the two don’t get along, but their relationship grows over time, and they rely on each other to make it through the forest and survive the threats to them.
VERDICT:
Cherry and the Lost Demon is an enchanting title that accompanies you for around 15 hours. He may not have the mature glitz of his main series counterparts, but he doesn’t need it to impress anyone. Its clever level designs are a delight to behold, and when you have to use Cherry and Cheshire to solve a unique puzzle, the game shines. Granted, it could be tougher and feature more varied combat elements, but fans and newcomers alike will surely find themselves lulled into its magic.
The cutscenes follow this book-like approach to telling the story, and you’ll often enjoy wonderful conversations between Cherry and Cheshire and other friends and foes you meet along the way. The voice cast is great and really makes you feel like you’re being told a bedtime story.. Cherry radiates innocence but also curiosity in her voice, and you can hear her grow more confident as the game progresses. Its haunting soundtrack ties it all together and makes it a Bayonet game with a unique art style that works for its theme and makes it one of the best looking games on Switch.
it takes two
Avalon is a giant forest and while the game follows a linear story and a path that you must follow, there are optional areas that you can explore for additional rewards, experience, and other collectibles. The game’s map also has a Metroidvania feel to it, as there will be areas you’ll need to revisit once you’ve acquired a special elemental power that lets you thaw ice, break rocks, or pull branches to open. new paths. The map itself is somewhat blurry, so it’s easy to get lost sometimes, but it’s nice to revisit an area and realize there’s so much more you can do now with the right tools.
Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon, published by Nintendo
Cherry is still learning to wield her witch powers, so she can only begin to bind enemies with her magic, while Cheshire is your primary means of attack. During the game, you control both characters at the same time, Cheshire with the right stick and Cherry with the left. This unique way of moving and fighting takes some getting used to, but it creates unique levels and puzzles that require you to work together.. There are areas, for example, that Cheshire cannot cross, so you must venture as Cherry to clear a path in Cheshire. Cherry can also call him back and return him to his stuffed animal form to walk him on a tightrope or throw him onto platforms he normally can’t reach.
This command combination is also present during combat, where Cereza uses her magic to bind enemies in place so that Cheshire lunges at them and damages them. You are gradually introduced to more complex enemies that require you to join a team and use these attacks to your advantage, so while the smash button sometimes works, it won’t work against an enemy that has a shield or a boss that has a particular weakness for one. Cheshire elemental attacks.
Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon, published by Nintendo
The fight can get confusing considering you’re controlling two characters at once, and it might take your brain a few seconds to adjust who’s who if Cherry and Cheshire swap places and you now control the young witch on the right side of your filter. with your left hand. Also, since Cheshire is the main attacker, Cherry sometimes won’t have much to do during a fight except run away if you can kill enemies faster than it takes to keep them in place. .
Puzzles and prizes
Defeating enemies also rewards you with experience points for Cherry and Cheshire, which you can use to unlock new attacks, combos, and boosts to your stats. Most of these abilities can be unlocked simply as you naturally rack up more experience points, but other stronger abilities will require unique items like Moon Beads that you need to locate on your map. The time it takes to locate these special items is well worth it, as the more skills you unlock, the more varied and fun combat becomes, even if it sometimes feels a bit too easy.
Following the magical theme of the game, there are areas throughout the forest that will warp your surroundings and force Cherry to enter special dungeons in the fairy world of Tir na Nog that act as challenge rooms where you must solve her riddle or defeat enemies to break the mirage The story-driven dungeons get more complex over time and feature some great puzzles that, while simple overall, still force you to think about your next move.. Some of them also feature clever ways Cherry and Cheshire need to work together, like using her to move a platform while she’s standing or having her switches only activate on her side of her. the map as she escapes from a dark cloud nearby her. .
Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon, published by Nintendo
The game also gives you optional Tir na Nog areas that you can find for rewards and extra experience, but these challenges are more dependent on battles that require you to use the Cheshire elemental attacks that you get from playing the game. -these change the flow of the fight slightly, as you have to trade attacks on the fly or beat enemies, but after witnessing fun puzzles before i wanted more. In fact, if these areas had been purely puzzle-based, they would have given the game a better, more balanced feel.
final thoughts
Despite gradually increasing in difficulty as you progress through the story, Cereza and the Lost Demon is still a very forgiving game with plenty of options to make it even easier. You can also collect and prepare items to restore your magic or health, but since it’s hard to die, I never ended up using them. The game also lets you set enemy damage to zero if you feel like enjoying the game at a very leisurely pace, which makes the game ideal for younger players who might need some help. The opposite would have been appreciated, because the game sometimes seems too easy, even towards the end.
Its limitations aside, Cereza and the Lost Demon is a pretty title that sticks with you throughout its roughly 15-hour runtime. He may not have the mature glitz of his main series counterparts, but he doesn’t need it to impress anyone. Its clever level designs are a delight to behold, and when you have to use Cherry and Cheshire to solve a unique puzzle, the game shines. Granted, it could be tougher and feature more varied combat elements, but fans and newcomers alike will surely find themselves lulled into its magic.
Giancarlo Saldana | juegopresion.com