Bayonetta's no fragile thing--look at the sparks fly as she decimates the angelic hosts.

I cannot put into words how excited I am for Bayonetta. From the month-old trailers showcasing the protagonist’s suggestive antics, to the spot-on costume that Sega put together for the girl at their booth at E3, to the constant lines to get a chance to play, to Hideki Kamiya and Yusuke Hashimoto doing the press meetings in person, my anticipation for this game has only increased over time. Here’s why.

First of all, Hideki Kamiya has an excellent track record. I’ll avoid discussing Devil May Cry, since that’s the first comparison everyone seems to make. Viewtiful Joe proved that Kamiya is able to do over-the-top, and do it well. Okami demonstrated his ability to bring an expansive world to life with the perfect palette and feel. Now that he has been freed from corporate control (to an extent) at Platinum Games, he is able to bring all of his talents together and make the game he really wanted to. When I asked him what the inspiration was for Bayonetta was and how she became the lively heroine that she is, Kamiya stated that he had created enough male characters for now and that Bayonetta was partially inspired by his “ideal woman.” The amount of fun they had making the game was evident during the press meeting, and it is evident throughout the game itself.

The game really does look great. While the Xbox 360 version was the one being shown to us at E3, I have no reason to doubt the PS3 version is equally dazzling. The attention to detail saturates the entire world–the game’s producer, Yusuke Hashimoto, created many of the enemy designs himself. The angel motif is one that has been explored a great deal in recent years, but the statuesque, cherub-faced monsters still show a great degree of variety in their presentation. Each of the many (many, many) combos unfurls beautifully on the screen, giving the combat a fluid beauty that is matched by the natural control scheme. Devil May Cry 4 (okay, I’ll let one comparison slide) may have come out only a year and half ago, but Bayonetta really does leave it in the dust. Essentially, it is a complete visual pleasure.

Finally, the game is FUN. My greatest complaint with Okami is that battles were an overall detraction from the experience. Being carried away to a limited battle area, being forced to carry out a set number of brush strokes to execute certain enemies, each additional transition took me out of the experience a little bit. Bayonetta really looks to be fun throughout. Cutscenes, combat, characters, all of it! The controls are really intuitive, and Bayonetta moves as you’d expect her to (yes, that includes the gyrating crotch). We can’t talk about everything we saw at E3, but it seems that they have woven in a significant plot that adds to the richness of the experience without weighing it down. Fans of the action genre will be pleased, and a few minutes at the controller will be enough to convert you to the genre. Dynamic and responsive always, intense at times, the game just feels right.

With one month having passed since E3 and another two or three until the game’s release, I recommend that all Xbox 360 and PS3 owners prepare themselves for this must-have purchase. This one can’t be passed up.

Bayonetta's attempt at Climhazzard. These angels don't quite have Sephiroth's salon primping though.

The massive heel formed from hair and the fading crotchline of her skinsuit inspire in equal measure.