Bayonetta is a PlatinumGames masterpiece with ultra-stylised action combat, hellish choreography and unabashed camp humour. Witch Bayonetta is iconic. Among the best action games ever made.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player16+
Description
Stylish action by Hideki Kamiya following the witch Bayonetta fighting angelic armies thanks to her hair powers. Published by Sega and developed by PlatinumGames, released in 2009 across Japan, Asia, Korea, North America and Europe. Virtuoso combos with four pistols including two strapped to her heels, Witch Time mode slowing time after a perfect dodge, panther transformations, spiritual heir to Devil May Cry.
Bayonetta review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Turbocharged action, a heroine stylish to the extreme and flamboyant baroque staging: the game chains climaxes with a furious elegance. The deep colours and the choreography of the combat compose a permanent visual opera. This graphic extravagance, sleek and unleashed, showcases all of PlatinumGames' talent.
Striking, the music combines supercharged jazz-pop and frenzied covers like "Fly Me to the Moon", in the service of extremely stylish action. The hit "Mysterious Destiny" embodies this unhinged elegance that sticks to the whirling fights. This unique sonic identity, chic and exuberant, is the whole panache of the game.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Dodging at the very last instant to trigger Witch Time, that life-saving slow-motion, rewards boldness and turns every clash into a stylish showcase. The combo palette is colossal, the pace frantic yet always readable. A benchmark for kinetic action, this festival of movement retains a speed and precision rarely matched since.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
An overpowered witch, unbridled combos and devastating slow-motion triggered by every perfect dodge: this action game runs on virtuosity and stylish excess. Chaining attacks with grace delivers an exhilarating satisfaction, elevated by extravagant staging. Snappy, spectacular and wildly fluid, a peak of the modern brawler that rewards mastery.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Dodging at the last possible fraction of a second to trigger Witch Time, then unleashing a devastating combo sets up a furious dance that pushes you to chase the Platinum rank on every chapter. Unlocking techniques and weapons reignites the urge to replay it all. Its excess won't suit everyone, but the depth of the system and the rush of movement linger long after the credits.
A frenzied Platinum Games action title turned cult, whose PS3 version stayed infamous for its inferior port: slowdown, load times and degraded image versus the competing version. This technical quirk paradoxically makes it the players' least prized cut, a point to know for collectors, the rival edition being the sought reference.
Memorable bosses
Between elegance and chaos, the climaxes staged by PlatinumGames turn each boss into a circus act: split-second dodges triggering Witch Time, colossal demonic summons and fiery duels against the rival Jeanne. The witch chains her counters with insolent flair. The precision of the system and an unbridled staging make these fights as exhilarating as they are theatrical.
Is Bayonetta still worth playing in 2026?
Bayonetta has not aged a day and remains an absolute benchmark for the stylish action game. The combat system, dizzyingly deep with its Witch Time rewarding the perfect dodge, stays among the most exhilarating ever devised. The delirious staging, the sense of rhythm and the heroine's camp swagger give an energy few productions have recaptured since. The PS3 version suffered some frame-rate dips at the time, but the heart of the game stays dazzling. For anyone who loves demanding, spectacular action, it is a peak to discover without fail.
