4. Looks & Sounds
Now it pains me to say it (like, really pains me) but the Xbox360 version of Bayonetta is a whole hell of a lot better than the PS3 version. It stands to reason, what with Bayonetta starting its life as a 360 game and being later ported to the PlayStation, but even by last-minute port standards, Bayonetta suffers pretty badly on Sony's machine. Plagued by long load times that pop their heads up if you so much as want to pause the game screen-tearing and slow-down that's just frequent enough to irritate. But don't let that stop you. Because when it runs smoothly which is frequently, and for long bursts, if not constantly if you're playing it on Microsoft's box of tricks there's not another game quite like Bayonetta. Bright and colourful and full of light particles and explosions, every inch of your screen will be alive as you fight your way through the main campaign. Levels are well designed if not linear with a variety of stages that range from Eastern European cities, gothic cathedrals, and barely developed countryside, all the way through to steam-punk factories and science labs, and you never feel like you're fighting in the same place twice. Characters are also well designed. Angels the grunts of the piece look exactly how angels should, though not like you've ever imagined them before. The various demons and shadow monsters that make increasingly more frequent appearances are also beautifully done; dark and evil and thick and heavy. Platinum Games really hit a homer when they designed and animated their characters, and that's not even counting Bayonetta, who we'll get to soon enough. A quick note about the sound. The music is electric-pop, totally cheery, and something that you probably wouldn't usually listen to unless you're a fourteen year-old girl. It may sound ear-bleedingly stomach-churning, but it's not. It totally fits with Bayonetta, her style, and the way she goes about the business she takes so much joy in. Trust me, you're going to be humming these tunes long after you've switched the television off and packed her away for the day... whether you want to or not.