Hideki Kamiya may have created the modern hack & slash adventure game with Devil May Cry, yet he didn’t get much time with his red trenchcoat-clad demi-human. So, he went and formed PlatinumGames with some other key ex-Capcom staff, then made his own hack & slasher that replaced demons with angels and the Son of Sparda with the Umbra Witch.
Bayonetta, both the game and its title heroine, became a favorite among fans. Its sequel was a must-have for the underperforming Wii U, and now its upcoming third entry, sensibly titled Bayonetta 3, is due on the Nintendo Switch at the end of October 2022. But what runs through fans’ heads when they see Bayonetta strut by? Here are some of the funniest memes that don’t require Incognito Mode.
7 In Other Words…
Outside Bayonetta herself, one of the most memorable parts of her debut game’s first level was its opening track. While most other games went for an aggressive rock soundtrack (Devil May Cry) or moody ancient horns and chants (God of War), this game went for jazz pop.
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ by Helena Noguerra is an airy, twinkly take on the Frank Sinatra classic that fits Bayonetta to a tee. Some fans are less keen on the tune, which might be Luka and Jeanne don’t look so impressed. But then their name isn’t the one on the box, so they’ll just have to deal with it.
6 The Long Wait
Bayonetta 2’s Wii U release in 2014 was quite controversial at the time as its predecessor was a PS3/360 game. But it couldn’t be helped. Sega stepped out of co-funding the series, and Nintendo stepped in, bringing exclusivity with it. The original game got a spruced-up Wii U port for owners to play both entries. Then both games got Switch ports in 2018, and Bayonetta herself turned up in Super Smash Bros for 3DS/Wii U and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Yet, there wasn’t a sequel in sight.
There was a trailer announcing that Bayonetta 3 was in development in 2017, but then there was nothing. Fans waited and waited, worried it would vanish into the ether like Scalebound or take an eternity to arrive like Shenmue 3. Luckily, a full trailer and release date were revealed back in July 2022, along with gameplay scenes and a new look for its lead.
5 “No-Glasses Bayonetta Isn’t Real”
Bayonetta’s glasses were actually a sticking point in development. Sega insisted PlatinumGames should take her glasses off. But they resisted, with producer Yûji Shimomura telling Kamiya that her “glasses are like her underwear, so don’t take them off under any circumstances.” Kamiya took that as a sign that Shimomura “knew Bayonetta better than even I did.”
Sega capitulated, and Kamiya ended up putting glasses on every key character afterward. But what would’ve happened if Sega won this design debate? What would Bayonetta look like without her spectacles? Would she still be able to see without them? Is she near-sighted, far-sighted, or are they just cosmetic? Whatever the answers, fans are perhaps glad they’re in a world where she kept her specs on.
4 Bayonetta’s Legs
Bayonetta was designed to be full of sex appeal. Just in case people didn’t catch that with her lascivious poses, flirty dialogue, and figure-hugging clothes that disappear the more she uses her magic. Sexy characters usually have one or more features ‘enhanced’ to pull players’ eyes in. With Bayonetta, instead of having crazy curves, she has crazy legs.
They’re longer and slenderer than her counterparts. Yet they have a purpose beyond eye candy. Their extra length is meant to give her more range to catch foes with her attacks. So, maybe her long pins would help other videogame game characters too. Maybe the Villager could race across his town faster with them? Or perhaps Dr Eggman could finally beat Sonic? If he doesn’t get his own pair of lanky legs first.
3 Her Delectable Set of Double-Ms
Bayonetta isn’t particularly bookish, but her glasses, sophisticated air, and witty comebacks do give her that ‘sexy librarian’ kind of appeal. Someone with a sharp mind and tongue to match. It’s a pretty common archetype. Perhaps a little too common, as some people have compared her to an anthropomorphic piece of candy.
Ms Brown is a female M&M, ‘the original milk chocolate’ as she calls herself. She has both specs and sex appeal. Seriously, the M&Ms Fandom Wiki(!) cites ‘Sexy Sophistication’ as one of her powers. Guess she is pretty curvy, given she’s a big circle with legs. She and the rest of the M&Ms gang appeared in a video game or two as well, so Platinum better watch out. This leggy piece of chocolate might be after their heroine.
2 A Happy Family
Though getting with her would mean getting to know her kids, and that’s not referring to her time babysitting Loki, Luka, and Cereza. Smash Ultimate brought in Joker from Persona 5, and people noticed he looked similar to Bayonetta. Especially with her short-haired Bayonetta 2 look and Joker’s bespectacled student style.
Given she’s 600+ years old, and he’s 16-17, the fan canon has taken to making them mother and son. Sometimes they get into fights; other times, he’s looking out for him like a particularly fussy parent. All in all, they make for a cute family, especially when they throw in Joker-Kirby as the baby for laughs.
1 “If Your Rivalry Lasts Longer than 600 Years”
But if she’s the mother, and he’s the son, where’s the daddy? Well, that’s a trickier proposition, as Bayonetta’s never really had a male love interest. Rodin is strictly business; she still sees Luka as a kid and Enzo? Forget about it! The only person who’s gotten a more emotional response out of her is her fellow witch and rival Jeanne.
Looking like a gender-swapped Dante from Devil May Cry, she helped Bayonetta regain her memory with the power of boss battles. Then Bayonetta went to hell and back to save Jeanne’s soul in the sequel. Thus far, they’re just best friends who go shopping together when they’re not fighting. Yet they do have some chemistry that suggests more than the average friendship. Whether Bayonetta 3confirms things one way or the other, Bayonetta has become a popular character in the LGBTQ+ community. Let's hope it keeps that appeal.
Bayonetta 3 is scheduled to release in October 2022 on Nintendo Switch.