Let's shoo the elephant out of the room first. The problem stemming from this crucial distinctionBayonetta, as a character, originating from Japanese cultureis simply one of fit. Many of Bayonetta's critics are viewing her and the games through a predominantly Western lens. Now, there's nothing wrong with that; we're all inevitably going to view things from the perspective of our cultureespecially so when those things ask to be a part of it, as Bayonetta has by retailing in the United States, Europe, and so on. But calling something inappropriate or crude is one thing; calling it provably wrong or disparaging is quite another. The theory of cultural relativism suggests that any element of culture can only truly be understood when examined in its original context. A cross-section of a global newspaper's current events column will show this to be true. Understanding, however, does not equal acceptance. It's only natural for sexually conservative Westerners to balk at a character as openly sexual as Bayonetta; it's just a difference of tastes, like finding a shot of soy sauce in your martini. The key point to keep in mind here is that, when approaching the games, and indeed anything dealing with the cultural divide, the most effective mind set is not "How well does this align with my beliefs?" but "How does this differ from my beliefs?" Cultures and values should be examined and compared, not condemned for being different. The sexually open values of Japan that undoubtedly influenced Bayonetta are no exception.
A freelance games writer, you say? Typically battling his current RPG addiction and ceaseless perfectionism? A fan of horror but too big a sissy to play for more than a couple of hours? Spends far too much time on JRPGs and gets way too angry with card games?
Well that doesn't sound anything like me.
