I am very happy to write this analysis, not only because I really like the saga Bayonet, that too, but because I discovered a real gem in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. A game that before trying it I thought would be the typical title that isn’t much and is only here to add some more lore for Bayonetta fans. But it’s also a game that, after finishing it, I felt like: “Those at PlatinumGames don’t know what to do with BIG GAMES”.
Playing this title, for me, has been a journey that has gone from less to more, increasing satisfaction in the gameplay and emotions in the narrative with each passing chapter. Also, what usually happens to me is that I get addicted to games as soon as I start them, but towards the end of their story, I’m less addicted. With that The reverse happened to me. I tell you everything about this trip and other details in my analysis of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon.
Yes, it’s a Bayonetta, but very different
Since I’ve already posted my first impressions, it’s curious how I told my family and close friends that I was playing this new Origins of Bayonetta: Cereza and the Lost Demon and I said “I’m sure you’ll like it”. Almost every time they told me “I’m not a big fan of the Bayonetta saga”, which I kept insisting on.
The reason is obvious: this game belongs to the saga Bayonet, Yes, but it is extremely different in absolutely every aspect. They only share certain characters, like Cherry herself, but change everything else. On the one hand, what we already see in the trailers, and it is that the artistic style changes a lot (and I must admit that to a much more beautiful one, In my view). The gameplay is also very different, but add to that something that becomes more noticeable as you play, and this is the tone of the story, much more innocent and kind which comes from the pearls to the saga. Ultimately, the game is about our beloved Bayonetta when she was just a girl, isn’t it?
It is more, Music helps a lot. since it does not have the role that there is in the other games of Bayonet, but it has that perfect childish tone for our little cherry in the form of a wonderful songs. The soundtrack, in general, is another thing that gets better the closer you get to the end of the game.
You’ll love Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon if…
- If you like moving stories
- If you are looking for a game with a simple but beautiful art style
- If you’re looking for an action game that doesn’t reach for hack and slash
- If you like games with a story between two characters (like The Last of Us, It Takes Two, etc)
- If you like metroidvania
To all that I have said previously is added that yes I recommend this game to all players because it seems to me one of the most essential of the Nintendo Switch, but many will wonder what and if they played no Bayonetta. Well, nothing happens, because after all It is a prequel to the entire saga. There are other references, but practically nothing, you can play Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon without having played the series. Also, it is something that I even recommend doing.
The plot potential I didn’t see coming
Like I said before, with this game I went from less to more. At first, the story didn’t hold me so much, but as it progressed, He was improving by leaps and bounds. And logically, I’m not going to tell you about the final (or middle) parts of the plot, but I tell you that every minute that passes in the game, the story gets better, until having an end, in my opinion, absolutely round.
Yes, I will tell you a little about what is happening without spoiling you. Basically, Cereza is an apprentice witch who wants to find her mother. Through a series of events, enters a dangerous forest and, by the way, manages to summon a demon, Cheshire, which takes the form of Cherry’s stuffed cat. But Cheshire has her typical proud, fierce, angry, brooding demon personality, while Cherry is quite the opposite. Since he wants to return to Inferno and Cereza wants to find her mother, they both agree to take this trip.
So far so good, but what I liked the most about the game is the relationship between Cherry and Cheshire, which morphs very naturally throughout the plot, and is absolutely emotional. The story intensifies in every direction with each hour of play, until, after passing it on to me, I absolutely fell in love with Bayonetta Origins: Cherry and the Lost Demon.
Much deeper gameplay than it looks
During my first hours of play, the title I didn’t really like it because he seemed to have gameplay too simple More typical of an old game. But nothing could be further from the truth since, as I said before, As I progressed through the game, I became more and more addicted. And not only because of the progression of the story, but also due to the great depth of gameplay.
For those who still don’t know what the gameplay of this title is all about, it turns out that you control both characters at the same time: Cherry and Cheshire. and the gameplay is very surprising: with the left joy-con you control Cherry and her movements, while with the right Got the Cheshire checks and like I said, you can move them around and do their full abilities with all of them at once. It takes a lot of coordination, but you get used to it!
Like I said, the gameplay at the start is very basic, where Cherry can only entangle enemies to paralyze them for a moment (Cherry can’t attack) and Cheshire attacks, doing basic one button combos . But both characters have a skill tree, which are improving, especially in a Cheshire that is learning more and more combos and where its gameplay is very in-depth.
To the extent that Over the course of the story, Cheshire absorbs certain powers from certain elemental cores, until i have Cheshire with four different powers finally: Plant, Rock, Water and Fire. You can see an example of Cheshire Fuego below:
Combining Cheshire’s powers and the abilities you gain from it as you level up makes the fight more increasingly satisfying. But it is that the combination of elemental powers of Cheshire led me to the point that I leave below.
You won’t like Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon if…
- If you are looking for a fast action game
- If you’re just waiting for a Bayonetta-style game
- If you only like really long games
Open world…or metroidvania?
No, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is not a linear game like other Bayonetta games. It’s not that it’s open world in the sense that it’s a huge area where you can go anywhere you want, but it’s it looks much more like a metroidvania.
For those who don’t know what games are metroidvania, they are metroid saga oh Hollow Knight, For example. These are games that, although they are not open worlds as such, their entire map is made up of areas that you can return to at any time to collect collectibles. And if, this is how the map works Origins of Bayonetta: Cereza and the Lost Demon Also.
Your map is made up of areas that you can explore since you can come back, But there is blocked roads because you do not have the necessary skills, so it is necessary to backtrack as you get the relevant powers, like any good metroidvania. And yes, there are also collectibles that They serve to give you more context and history to the game and its characters.
All that has been said above leads me to say that It has a level design which surprised me. In the end, metroidvanias require a good level design, natural and blocking your path only when necessary, but without making you dizzy. This title is very accessible, which also helps Don’t stop too long to think where you should go, because there are very clear signs of this.
conclusion
It is usually very difficult for me to come to the conclusions of the analyzes because I have the impression of leaving a lot of things in the dark, but this time it happens to me in a more accentuated way. But I also want to emphasize that I always think of one thing: I prefer that you enter each good game knowing the minimum possible details, and with Origins of Bayonetta: Cereza and the Lost Demon the same thing happens to me.
I try to think of what kind of people will not like this title, but more and more I realize that while it’s not an absolutely essential masterpiece, it does This is a game that everyone who plays it will love very much. And I recognize that it has become My favorite game in the series. Yeah, above any of the other three, I guess because I like the genre better, but for some reason, I fell in love with this gem.