Bayonetta Preview

"This is a completely different game from Devil May Cry," insists producer Yusuke Hashimoto of Platinum Games, via a translator, as Bayonetta dodges, swivels and cartwheels her way through angel-mask wearing monsters. "It is in the same genre, so there may be comparisons made. Devil May Cry is continuously evolving. This is an evolution within that genre but it is a very different game, so it is not a continuation or an answer to Devil May Cry."

I've got to say, I'm not sure I believe Hashimoto-san. Either something has been lost in translation here at SEGA's behind closed doors booth at E3 2008 or Platinum Games has had a change of heart. And that's because, back in May, when Tom saw Bayonetta for the first time, Hideki Kamiya, Devil May Cry's legendary creator, said this:

"Seven years ago I created Devil May Cry. Many of you have said that it kick-started the action genre into 3D, but did it really? Have action games really progressed past what we accomplished seven years ago? I don't believe they have. We as creators have squandered the opportunity to make things better, smoother, more intense, more engaging; that is why I have come back to 3D action. It is time to make good on the promise of seven years ago and I feel that we are the only team who can do it. The era of style and action is over. Today we take action to its climax."

It's not like the Japanese to be so aggressive when it comes to talking to the press. It's not like the Japanese to dump on the efforts of others, even when they clearly aren't happy with what they've done. So, as I stand here catching a glimpse of Bayonetta being played live for the first time, I can't help but think that, actually, it is an answer to Devil May Cry, and Ninja Gaiden, and God of War, and any other action game that's got hundreds of bad guys to kill, giant monster bosses and more combos to master than a professional Street Fighter player.

It looks tremendous, gorgeous in fact. It looks like it's running 60 frames per second, and it's not even due out till next year.

So, an answer Bayonetta may be, despite claims to the contrary. But we still have questions. It looks tremendous, gorgeous in fact. It looks like it's running 60 frames per second, and it's not even due out till next year. It looks, we have to admit, better than Devil May Cry 4 by some distance, both in terms of character and monster detail and in environment variety, and better than Ninja Gaiden 2 too. But, from what we've seen, it looks very much like what we've seen in games of this type before.

Guns everywhere - on her boots as well as in her hands. Blood, gore - on a par with anything Itagaki-san's come up with. Gothic surroundings - the level we're watching, quite early in the game, reminiscent of the many courtyards we saw in DMC4. Enemy health bars - real-time armour destruction gives you a visual clue to how well you're doing against the game's stronger enemies if you don't fancy keeping an eye on health bars. Jar smashing - halos act as in game currency to be spent on upgrading weapons and unlocking special attacks. Combo chains - and the unflinching emphasis on the cool factor that permeates all games of this type. Bayonetta herself wouldn't be out of place on the shoulder of some skinny-jeans wearing rock star on a night out in Shoreditch.

"We wanted to create a strong and sexy female character," explains Hashimoto-san. "Someone even from a male perspective would seem very strong and cool." She certainly is that. Despite her tiny waist, swaying hips and ample bosom, she certainly packs one hell of a punch. We've spoken about her boot guns, firing as she jumps and cartwheels around her bamboozled enemies. But her hair looks like her most devastating weapon. Allow us to explain.

Bayonetta is a witch, and exists in a "different dimension". While Platinum Games is keeping the story close to its chest, we do know that her attacks on her enemies - demon types that wear angel style masks and halos - are "punishment". For what, we do not know. What we do know, however, is that her attacks are gory, gruesome and as eye catching as they get.

We see Bayonetta create a portal, her hair going through it to form a giant fist that pummels one enemy. A giant stiletto appears, kicking another. Bayonetta grabs weapons dropped by downed enemies - one a horn trumpet that shoots musical notes shotgun style - which expire after a short time. Enemy armour crumbles under the impact of Bayonetta's attacks, a visual aid for those who don't fancy keeping an eye on enemy health bars. Then her hair goes through a portal and forms a giant dragon, devastating a larger, incredibly impressive enemy, which we're told is merely a mini-boss. These hair attacks and hair monsters will change depending on the enemy she is using them on. We've only seen a few. This is only the beginning.

Bayonetta, however, is not done showing off. She has special, hugely imaginative torture attacks that are going to send Dante, Nero and Ryu back to combat school. We only see two. She summons a massive guillotine which, well, you can imagine what it does. Then, a minute later, in between tearing up multiple enemies, she summons an iron maiden. Yes, an iron maiden. And we don't mean the band.

It's spectacular to watch. It's frenzied, slick, fast (especially when Bayonetta uses her witch time ability to freeze enemies) and, most importantly, hugely imaginative. I mean, an iron maiden. Please.

So I'm excited, enthused and anxious for some hands-on so I can take Bayonetta for a spin of my own and feel the difference. It's obvious that SEGA and Platinum Games have a lot to reveal as the hype builds over the coming months. Hashimoto-san tells us that what we're watching, a 10 minute or so live demo of the game, is a "representative sampling of what the game will be", so we know the developer isn't tearing up the DMC/NG rule book completely. But, teasingly, he adds: "We're trying to create a genre we ourselves call 'climax action' and that is something we will be showing going forward."

This 'climax action' is what we're looking forward to hearing about, what we hope will make Bayonetta more than a hyper stylish version of DMC. Still though, Bayonetta is a game every fan of Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden and God of War should be very, very excited about.

Bayonetta is due out for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009.