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Mar 17, 2023While it can’t match the mechanical highs of Bayonetta’s fast action gameplay, that comparison is frankly unfair to make to begin with. It isn’t trying to reach those goals, it strives to reach different heights altogether. I didn’t think a Bayonetta story would ever get me emotional, and Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon managed to pull that off several times. The ways in which it shifts the focus away from Bayonetta proper have led to what I believe is a more consistent experience of the series yet, that never dips into the series’ most frustrating low points. While I don’t think this game will be for everyone, I think you’ll find it a hard game to hate. If you do fall for it, you’ll find it to be an incredibly easy game to fall in love with. I want more spin-off games to strive to do what Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon does, and if this team is involved in Bayonetta’s future I have to say I’m completely back in.
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Mar 15, 2023The adventures of mini-Bayonetta and her demon are a surprisingly well made and highly stylized puzzle-platformer with everything you'd never anticipate from the sexy-witch series. This title, exclusive to Nintendo Switch, is a very good starting point for gamers of all ages, but also a real treat for old-school fans.
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Mar 15, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon takes Bayonetta into Wonderland with 'Burtonesque' tones to tell the origins and formative years of the most badass witch of today. Judging the book by its cover, this prequel spinoff might seem like a cute game. And it's true that the poorly filled narrative and a combat system that's afraid of being challenging are flaws that interrupt the experience and may push away the franchise's most demanding fans. However, it's very rewarding to see the little Cereza take on the personality traits that are familiar to us and shape her adult version, something provided by the exploration of the beautiful Avalon Forest, by the interactions and growth of her relationship with Cheshire, and by the challenges and fights they overcome.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a pleasant surprise that Bayonetta fans will enjoy. Its game mechanics are entertaining and fresh, and the witch of Umbra origin story is charming and emotional. Cereza's voice acting is outstanding. PlatinumGames went above and beyond in creating a new experience in a universe that we thought had ended but now has many narrative doors to explore.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins shows you the umbra witch in a whole new way, and while you may feel skeptical about her going from heavy action to puzzles, Platinum Games nailed the transition flawlessly. While different to the trilogy, the gameplay is engaging, the world is stunning, and the story of Cereza and Cheshire is precious. I can’t recommend this game enough.
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Mar 14, 2023If you're a fan of the Bayonetta franchise, you're definitely going to enjoy it for being a breath of fresh air in terms of gameplay and exploring the origins of our favorite witch a bit more. On the other hand, if you have never read the series, I also recommend it, since spoilers regarding other games are kept as simple references.
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Mar 14, 2023Without a shadow of a doubt, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is an unexpected contender for Game of the Year. Already established Bayonetta fans are sure to be more than satisfied with its unique storytelling, tight controls, engaging combat, vast exploration, and fantastic visuals, while also being a great entry point for series newcomers. It even opens the door to those that may not have enjoyed the explicit sensuality of the mainline games, as its overall tone is more wholesome and inviting. As someone who really loved Bayonetta 3, I thoroughly enjoyed Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon equally as much, if not more, but for entirely different reasons.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon’s restrained tone and quirky dual-character mechanics won’t immediately connect with everyone, but you owe it to yourself to give the game a chance. Bayonetta Origins eventually comes into its own in a big way, delivering escalating action, compelling character development, and expertly-executed fan-pleasing moments en route to a satisfying finale. This tale of friendship is the perfect companion for Bayonetta 3 and may even win over those who haven’t been bewitched by the franchise in the past.
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Mar 14, 2023Those gripes are minor indeed. Bayonetta Origins is a far more brilliant addition to the Bayonetta character and mythos than I would have ever guessed it could be. It’s by turns sensitive, charming, exciting and dramatic. The game gives Bayonetta a depth of character that adds so meaningfully to the world and story of this incredible character. This is essential. It’s not a “spinoff.” It’s a critical addition to the franchise. PlatinumGames has truly delivered something both surprising and special with this effort.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins is PlatinumGames bringing its A-game to the table, delivering a beautiful adventure with some wild ideas, unique combat, and a superb game from start to finish.
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Mar 14, 2023You know you’ve just played something special when you’re left with a bittersweet feeling while the credits roll. As I closed the book on Bayonetta Origins, I kept thinking about how it was an absolute joy through and through.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and The Lost Demon is a testament to thinking outside the box. While I don't suspect Platinum Games will pivot to this new style of gameplay and storytelling in future Bayonetta games in the same way Breath of the Wild or God of War (2018) shifted the direction of their respective franchises, I cannot help but be thankful that the studio trusted the vision of its team enough to create this experience. Though with how fantastic every aspect of the game is, I understand why the developer did.
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Mar 14, 2023It might not be what anyone was expecting, but those that do give Bayonetta Origins a chance will be rewarded with an unforgettable journey.
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Mar 14, 2023The transition from saucy, mature action game to a family-friendly puzzle platformer is pulled off with surprising style and sincerity. 'Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon' is the perfect sweet treat to convince lapsed fans the series can still be something special.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins manages to stray from some elements of its core franchise to create a beautiful adventure in the form of a macabre but captivating fairy tale. With diverse puzzles and gorgeous visuals, Cereza and Chesire have made their way into our hearts with an unforgettable story full of nods to the legacy of the Umbra Witch.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins is a gorgeous look at another side of one of PlatinumGames’ most beloved characters. It’s a game that, at a glance, you might think wouldn’t work due to the unconventional control scheme. But it does, thanks to clever design decisions.
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Mar 14, 2023This game absolutely does not respect player boundaries when it comes to genre—you will fall deep into its whimsical embrace whether you are usually a fan of action-packed games or more of a cozy gamer. What seems to be a wholesome tale of two companions journeying together toward different goals quickly blooms into a deep, heart-warming story about the origins of one of gaming's most loved female protagonists.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins stands out as a very interesting metroidvania that, without reinventing the wheel, does quite well everything it puts on the table, with a technical showcase that sometimes will make you doubt if you're playing it on a Switch, even with a few hiccups on the road. If you like this subgenre, you'll enjoy it from start to finish.
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Mar 14, 2023Much like Cereza herself, Bayonetta Origins doesn’t look like much on the surface, but I smiled more and more as its potential bubbled up to the surface. This is an exceptional and refreshing change of pace for the franchise, and you don’t even need to be a fan of the series or the action genre to enjoy it. Don’t underestimate what this pint-sized spellcaster and her demonic partner have to offer.
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Mar 14, 2023Quotation forthcoming.
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Mar 14, 2023A truly unforgettable adventure.
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Mar 14, 2023Abebe Tinari's work is a gem that demonstrates how Platinum was not fiddling around in recent years, and was instead cultivating new talents. But this is not a perfect job, due to some structural ingenuity and the team's tendency to push a little too much on the "action element" in the final stretch of their work. Even considering that, Origins remains a beautiful videogame that we hope won't be underestimated , since in some ways it represents a return of PlatinumGames to the multifaceted creativity of Clover Studio.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is not quite a Bayonetta game, but it certainly does not lack quality either. It is pretty, satisfactory and it will move you. There are many ways to describe this game, but a good one is saying that it will appeal to most Nintendo Switch players, whether they are Bayonneta fans or not.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta isn't just about non-stop action, and she has shown that in Cereza and the Lost Demon with an adventure that puzzle-loving, story-driven, and exploration-seeking fans will absolutely adore.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is different from all previous Bayonetta games and exceeds expectations. It takes the form of a fairy tale book for children and has a similar story. While there is still action, it is more focused on the story and the friendship that forms between the two central characters. Additionally, the game surpasses expectations by offering a surprisingly long story campaign with an expansive world.
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Mar 14, 2023The story is told as if it were a small interactive fairy tale and the gameplay itself, with puzzles and fights, proves to be convincing, despite being characterized by a practically total absence of challenge from start to finish. Considering that Bayonetta is known to be a challenging saga, this is an aspect that could inevitably disappoint historical fans, but if they are willing to relax and enjoy an adventure unlike any other, here they will discover a narrative capable of delving even into the main plot. of the trilogy – and an adorably successful experiment.
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Mar 14, 2023There is a lot to like here, but expectations can be a double-edged sword. If you’re expecting fluid combat and myriad enemies, this is not that game. If you want to see how Bayonetta came about, and to learn some more lore about the games then this is the right game for you.
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Mar 16, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a very fun puzzle-platform game. It may not please all Bayonetta fans, but it's a great choice for newcomers to the series and fans of the genre.
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Mar 14, 2023A totally different Bayonetta than usual, told like a storybook but not without intense phases both from a narrative and a playful point of view. Cereza and her demonic companion Cheshire embark on a dangerous mission, as improvised adventure companions they will discover affinities that go far beyond their imagination. PlatinumGames proves once again that they have a talent for storytelling.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is an enjoyable experience thanks to its mix of puzzles and combat. While not inventing anything new, it exploits the cooperative element of the two protagonists in an intriguing way.
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Mar 15, 2023Fairy tale book to play yourself with an original game idea and a fantastic presentation, which enchants the inexperienced and the pros alike, but never demands too much.
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Mar 14, 2023I was surprised how different Bayonetta Origins is from the main series, with strong gameplay and a nice atmosphere. It's clear that PlatinumGames knows very well what it wants to do with the franchise.
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Mar 14, 2023Overall, a lovely little game. Not what we were expecting at all, and that’s a good thing. It’s wonderful to look at, tricky with its puzzles and helps to build out the Bayonetta franchise.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fun and unexpectedly fleshed-out experience that seeks to only better illustrate the potential of what Bayonetta can be beyond action games. Its combination of engaging puzzles, simple but enjoyable combat and inviting exploration more than outdoes its slow start and simple combat. While it's a story that didn't need to be told, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a bewitching experience overall.
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Mar 14, 2023A visually stunning storybook adventure that relies on atmosphere and varied features to balance occasional unimaginative plot and strenuous characters.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins is a lovely adventure puzzle game that’s perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with your Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. It might not have the show-stopping set pieces and over-the-top drama that the main Bayonetta trilogy has, but it’s still capable of inspiring awe with its unique control scheme, a captivating coming-of-age story, and one of the best visual identities the Switch has ever seen.
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Mar 14, 2023With Bayonetta Origins, Platinum Games is stepping out of its comfort zone to offer a more relaxed experience, and it's succeeded. Thanks to its sublime colorful art direction, Cereza's first adventure draws inspiration from storybooks to deliver a visual rendering that retains its charm until the end. Controller in hand, the title takes up elements of Bayonetta 3 by making us control two characters simultaneously for an approach as original as it is confusing at first glance. Finally, it is especially by its well-paced progression that the experience captivates the player, alternating fights and puzzles with great fluidity, even if we tend to see the structure repeating itself at the end of the game. For all these reasons, Bayonetta Origins is a friendly and charming adventure that takes pride of place among the Nintendo Switch exclusives.
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Mar 14, 2023I was genuinely surprised to find myself enjoying Cereza and the Lost Demon even more than I did Bayonetta 3. The laid-back exploration, the beautiful visuals, the unique control and combat scheme, and the fact that this is a fresh take on the franchise make it an altogether different experience, and one that furthers the series’ lore while ensuring it opens itself up to an all-new audience.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins ditches ridiculous spectacle for a puzzle-filled, combat-packed storybook adventure starring the young witch.
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Mar 14, 2023Overall, I highly recommend Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, so long as you approach it as it is. Not a mainline Bayonetta game, but as a largely optional (yet still incredibly delightful) spin-off, standalone title.
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Mar 14, 2023Not at all what any Bayonetta fan might have expected, but when freed from the expectations of the franchise, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon stands on its own two feet as a charming, worthwhile, indie-inspired puzzle adventure game.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins is a really breezy game to play if you're enamored by the storybook look and feel, which does some of the heavy lifting.
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Mar 14, 2023At the end of the day what seemed to me like a slow, average indie metroidvania at first, ended up putting a spell on me by combining a creepy fairytale with some fresh ideas under a gorgeous visual finish.
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Mar 14, 2023A very interesting addition to the Bayonetta universe that, far from what it seemed and in its own right, has ended up becoming a great video game.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is quite good - great, even, when it's firing on all cylinders. It's definitely one to check out for fans of the franchise even with the dramatic shift in gameplay style.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is one of the most visually impressive games that I've ever played. It may not offer much of a challenge but its undemanding gameplay will allow you to more easily appreciate its gorgeous storybook world.
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Mar 16, 2023This game that serves as a spin-off of the Bayonetta series dishes out a fun story dressed up with a charming and colorful visual style. In terms of gameplay, there is plenty to explore, were it not for the fact that the game is on the easy side and therefore not really challenging. Also, the camera can be annoying at times and so no and then it looks a bit blurry. Points to consider, but for the rest a solid title.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon bears little resemblance to a Bayonetta game. So don't get the game for the battles, which are quite one-dimensional compared to other PlatinumGames games. Origins excels rather with its puzzle-like platform elements and beautiful graphic style, which makes the game look like an homage to Okami at times.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a quirky little diversion from the main series. Replacing swift combat with slow-paced exploration and puzzles, it’s quite a different attraction. I love the storybook illustrations and narration, and exploring the atmospheric Avalon Forest with Cheshire’s various abilities was great fun. Issues with the forest’s discouraging mazelike map and the simplistic combat are easily trumped by the oodles of character and charm offered by this whimsical spin-off.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a nice prequel that mixes storybook with elements of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and suggestively parallels the Metroidvania genre, including a high focus on combat, by being much more linear than this. But there are many things providing the game to be a must-have. The main reason for that is the low aspiration for being at least half-way tough, especially in terms of fighting.
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Mar 14, 2023I wanted to love Bayonetta Origins. And I do, sort of. This is a beautiful game set in an enchanting world. You get a deeper look at the troubled past of a fascinating character. Everything is fed through this fairytale lens, one that cranks up the charm and wonder. The writing is whimsical, the art design is impeccable, and the mechanics are terribly clever. But the game loses something in its execution. Repetitive design and breezy challenges kept me curious, but not compelled. Still, this is a unique, unusual experience. If it's fairytale wonder and whimsy you're looking for, then Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is what you need.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fresh dawn for the franchise, spinning expectations on their head to great effect. It's a bright and charming storybook blast.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins initially feels like a twisted fairytale (faerie tale?) from Cerezas childhood. By the end, it also feels like a companion piece to Bayonetta 3. Origins changes up the familiar Bayonetta hack-and-slash with an action adventure in a similar vein to the Legend of Zelda series whilst still keeping the spirit of its predecessors. While I have my issues with the game, Cereza and Cheshire’s adventure is endearing and it is fun to see how they grow closer in a world where Witches don’t make friends with Demons.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins tells a cute coming-of-age story about an initially powerless girl discovering herself. The game itself almost mirrors that, beginning with some simplistic, repetitive play but slowly evolving into something complex with its own distinct identity. It’s not just an origin story for Cereza, but for a new spinoff series with promising potential. The little witch we see in the game’s final moments isn’t the fully formed angel of death we meet in Bayonetta; there’s still some growing she needs to do to fully get there. Bayonetta Origins ends in the same place, leaving me excited to see where the adventure goes from here.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins shows a great new side of the Umbral Witch, in a tale that's heartwarming as it is enjoyable. Combat and puzzles are a great one-two punch, but Cereza's restricted role and Cheshire's unfaltering nature undermine a little of the former.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a delightfully stylish origin tale that sees young Bayo take her first steps on the road to becoming the bad-ass Umbra witch we all know and love. This is a graphically stunning fairy tale with plenty in the way of atmosphere and charm. However, long-term Bayo fans beware, it's also a game that's aimed squarely at a young/casual audience, introducing plenty of fun puzzle and combat mechanics but never really evolving them to a point where they become in any way challenging. Repetition creeps in later in the game and, although it ends with some stylish boss sequences and some nice shoutouts to the main series, it feels like a little challenge, inventiveness and puzzle and combat experimentation could have made this one absolutely essential for all ages.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins is a sub-par experience marred by sloppy combat and only somewhat redeemed by an incredible visual style.
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Mar 14, 2023Revealed to little fanfare at last year’s The Game Awards, Bayonetta Origins was the game that no one expected, and even fewer wanted. For some then, its mere existence is akin to Bayo blasphemy, yet in truth, this spin-off is far from the disaster many expected. While it never comes close to the highs of last year’s Bayonetta 3, it’s still a charming curio for fans and more importantly – a fantastic introduction to the genre for younger players.
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Mar 14, 2023Bayonetta Origins sometimes feels like an idea half explored. In combat, two sets of fists are better than one, but adventuring never ignites in the same way. There’s a level of invention and style we’ve come to expect from the studio, but this isn’t quite Pure Platinum.
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Mar 14, 2023A peculiarly pitched spin-off that has almost nothing to interest Bayonetta fans and instead offers an Ōkami Lite experience that is so undemanding it almost seems to run on autopilot.
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Mar 14, 2023A beautifully crafted exploration game brimming with combat and puzzles. [Eurogamer Recommended]
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Mar 14, 2023If you’re looking for a cute, cozy platformer with simple battle mechanics and a playful story, look no further than Cereza and the Lost Demon. For those, like me, hoping to see how Cereza truly gained her power, and harnessed the seduction and raw magical prowess required to become the ultimate umbra witch, this game is a miss. And that’s fine. I just wish this new approach excited me as much as the previous ones did. I appreciate approachability — but Bayonetta has always been a series about toeing the line, and nothing about this title took a risk. I hope the next approach is worthy enough to stand on its own among the series’ best games.
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Mar 14, 2023While they’re very different beasts, playing Cereza and the Lost Demon in 2023 feels a lot like playing Capcom’s Ōkamiden for the original DS back in 2011 in the sense that the new game is a technical triumph that’s still almost certain to rub many fans the wrong way simply because it’s different from the games that came before it. To be fair, Cereza is undeniably making a bold gamble by taking such a beloved character in a new direction that reads as kid-friendly first and true to Bayonetta second. But with its charming story, clever expansion of the franchise’s multiversal mythos, and a healthy selection of unlockable costumes, Cereza and the Lost Demon is pure Bayonetta at its core, and after the controversy surrounding Bayonetta 3, it might be exactly what the series needs.
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