Since its announcement at the Game Awards 2022, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon has been a topic of debate. Presenting fans with a game unlike any of its predecessors, Bayonetta Origins recounts Cereza's earliest adventure as a fairtytale-esque trek through a colorful forest. The timing of the announcement surprised fans, as Bayonetta Origins introduces Cereza's beginning, just months after her death in Bayonetta 3. February's Nintendo Direct offered fans a first look at combat in Bayonetta Origins, but combat appears to be a steep donwgrade from the series' prior entries.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon presents fans with the opportunity to experience Cereza's entrance into witchcraft. The narrative is set to follow Cereza as she first meets the demon Cheshire, years before she becomes the titular Bayonetta. The game's overall aesthetic and narrative stand in stark contrast to the mainline Bayonetta trilogy. After the latest trailer, Bayonetta Origins' combat can be added to the list of major differences.
Bayonetta Origins Combat Is a Far Cry From That of The Bayonetta Trilogy
Intricate combat is one of the Bayonetta series' most famous features. Combining a rich set of moves and combos with hack-and-slash gameplay, Bayonetta offers one of the most rewarding combat systems in modern gaming. Fans of the series are used to massive cinematic boss fights, pitting the titular Bayonetta against a plethora of demons, angels, and monsters. After seeing Bayonetta defeat these adversaries single-handedly in 2022's Bayonetta 3, the combat in Bayonetta Origins is a big change.
The Cereza of Bayonetta Origins is a child who journeys through a dangerous forest in search of her missing mother, with the help of Cheshire, the powerful demon possessing her doll. Cereza grows up to become the gun-wielding, demon-summoning, Umbral Witch Bayonetta, but Origins introduces her at a point when she is far less capable. The gameplay trailer officially reveals that Cereza can't attack enemies in Bayonetta Origins. Instead, she plays a supportive role, holding enemies in place while Cheshire defeats them himself. Players must carefully plan their approach to combat, as they strategically restrict enemies in tandem with Cheshire's independent combat. As the bond between Cereza and Cheshire grows, so will Cereza's ability to impact the course of battles, though it appears that she will not gain the ability to directly engage enemies.
Bayonetta Origins' Combat Could Be Essential in Telling Its Story
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a major departure from the series' roots, with its combat being the biggest change. However, this difference may be essential in telling the game's story, as Bayonetta Origins' Cereza fits a bigger trend within gaming. The title sees Bayonetta's backstory told in a new format, with characters, gameplay, and environments reflecting the character's current age and outlook. Origins presents its dangerous and demonic inhabitants as a colorful fairytale, seen through the eyes of a young girl. The title's combat is just as reflective, as Cereza is not yet ready to engage enemies, and is just beginning to discover her power.
Cereza's evolution over the course of Bayonetta Origins, is sure to be reflected in the game's combat and traversal. The game's director, Abebe Tinari, states that Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will explore how Cereza becomes a confident witch. Given her inability to face enemies directly, despite her later abilities, Origins is sure to utilize its combat mechanics to depict her growing confidence throughout the narrative.
By presenting Cereza as incapable of physical combat, Bayonetta Origins lays the foundation for her to explore alternative methods to deal with her enemies, and become a powerful witch. Bayonetta Origins' combat is a steep downgrade for one of Nintendo's most iconic heroines. However, this change may be exactly what the game needs to tell the story of Cereza's metamorphosis from a troubled young girl into the powerful Umbral Witch that fans know and love.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon releases for Nintendo Switch on March 17.
