Fans of PlatinumGames' action-adventure series Bayonetta may have been surprised when Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon was unveiled, as the next entry in the beloved franchise signaled a huge departure from the previous games. Instead of a fast-paced, action-packed experience, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a whimsical prequel story that follows Cereza as a young girl before she comes into her full power. In addition to a change of pace and narrative focus, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon also has some interesting influences, like its references to Lewis Carroll's Victorian classic Alice in Wonderland.
Although Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon looks and feels vastly different from its predecessors, there are still some similarities. The cat-shaped demon Cheshire, also known as The Lost Outcast, is a recurring character from Bayonetta 3 and continues some of the literary nods established in the previous game, exploring them in new depth. By building on references, influences, and aesthetic elements from other Bayonetta entries, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon both creates something new and maintains links to the series, like through the character of Cheshire.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon's New Direction
Bayonetta 3 may have only recently come out, but fans of the franchise are being treated to another entry hot on the heels of the last with the next game set to release in a few weeks. However, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will explore a completely different chapter of Bayonetta's fan-favorite heroine. Although previous games have delved into Cereza's past in various ways, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will be a proper prequel that focuses on the powerful Bayonetta's origins as she ventures into the forbidden Avalon Forest in an attempt to save her mother.
From the very first glimpse of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, its fairy-tale vibe was clear. With an art style that looks like it's straight out of an illustrated fantasy storybook instead of Bayonetta's previous anime aesthetic, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon was setting itself apart. Players must solve puzzles as they traverse the dangerous new environment of the forbidden forest, fighting enemies with their demon companion Cheshire. Although Cheshire also appeared in Bayonetta 3, its role in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon really compounds the upcoming title's Alice in Wonderland influences.
Bayonetta Origins And Alice In Wonderland
The protagonist in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon has many obvious parallels to Alice in Lewis Carroll's literary classic. Both focus on a young girl who is exploring a new and dangerous world that she doesn't understand at first, but with her growing resourcefulness the challenging environment becomes more and more manageable. With elements of the magical and bizarre intermingled within the narrative, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon and Alice in Wonderland show a heroine somewhat out of place who uses slightly creepy and strange companions to help them along their journey.
Cheshire is the first demon that Cereza summons and possesses her stuffed cat doll, serving as both her partner and protector as they battle through Avalon Forest's tricky areas. The perpetually grinning Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland may not be the constant companion that its demon counterpart is for Cereza, but it's no less helpful to Alice by guiding her and cropping up when needed. The Cheshire Cat is helpful, sure, but it's also a fairly unsettling presence that mirrors some of Cheshire's demonic qualities. Both characters are a conduit for their protagonist to the wider world they're exploring, as Alice and Cereza undertake their transformative journey.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon releases for Nintendo Switch on March 17.
