Bayonetta Origins for Nintendo Switch in the test: Cereza and the Lost Demon

The Bayonetta franchise is known for the presence of the tough witch of the same name, Bayonetta. Armed with magical hair, two pistols and gun high heels, the protagonist has been shooting her way through all sorts of action-adventure spin-offs since 2009. Well, with Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost DemonDeveloper studio Platinum Games shows a completely different side of the strong heroine. Before becoming famous as Bayonetta, the witch was known as Cereza. A trip to the past shows players how it all began.

Young witch apprentice Cereza dreams of one day becoming a great and powerful witch. But what Cereza wants more is to free her mother Rosa, who is being held captive. As a member of the Umbra clan, Rosa fell in love with the Lumen Sage and gave birth to Cereza. An act for which she was imprisoned for life.

Troubled by her teacher Morgana, Cereza decides to search for her mother alone and ventures into the dangerous forest of Avalon. An unexpected collaboration arises when one of Bayonetta’s rituals backfires. Instead of summoning a demon, the demon suddenly takes possession of her little stuffed cat, Cheshire. Unhappy with the situation, the demon tries to attack the witch, but it quickly becomes clear that both their fates are intertwined through the ritual. If Cheshire wants to return to her hometown of Inferno, she must accompany Cereza on a journey through the dangerous forest.

The journey through the forest is presented in a fairy tale-like presentation. A narrator’s voice accompanies players on Serezha’s adventure and records all events in picture-book-like cutscenes, and the soundtrack and the visual design of the game world always give the impression that we are walking through a colorful fairy tale.

The unusual combination of two different characters is not only in the foreground narratively, but also playfully. While Cereza is controlled with the left Joy-Con, players take on the role of Cheshire with the right Joy-Con. The two-part control takes a certain amount of time to get used to, especially with the static camera work, which can lead to some frustrating moments. If you’re not careful, you’ll quickly lose one of the two characters from the camera’s field of view, or you’ll lose track of the paths you’re given in the game world. But once you find your way around the vibrant, colorful world, you’ll soon be absorbed in exploring the forest.

Despite the story’s setting, battles between the two unusual companions and the forest’s malicious fairies take up a large portion of the game’s time. While Cheshire takes on the physical part of the fight as a demon, Cereza supports the demon with her magic. With the Thorn Shackle, Cereza holds enemies captive for a period of time, allowing Cheshire to attack them with charged attacks or even eat them outright.

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Two separate talent trees ensure that Cereza and Cheshire’s skills can be constantly developed over the course of the game. In addition, there are elemental cores distributed throughout the game world, which not only give Cheshire a distinct appearance, but also provide additional abilities. The demon can use a sticky tongue to remotely manipulate the game’s elements and breathe water or fire.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon So it’s not only stylish to look at, but also offers a reasonable challenge in terms of play, with which players can have many hours of fun. Another positive aspect here is the unusually deep selection of so-called game support settings, with the help of which each player can set their own level of difficulty. Elements such as damage, magic consumption or enemy strength can be quickly adjusted in the menu. With the superb presentation and the fact that the title can be enjoyed entirely as a couch co-op experience, Platinum Games’ focus is clearly on creating a family-friendly adventure for young and old alike.

The journey through the mysterious forest is divided into different areas such as Jade Hill, Lightbush Grove or Lake Nimueh. As Cereza and Cheshire’s powers continue to grow, more and more opportunities for exploration in the forest become apparent. The elemental cores that can be discovered open up new paths to old areas that reveal previously locked secrets. This shows that Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Not just as an action-adventure, but as a Metroidvania title as well.

The fast travel ability, which unlocks after the first few hours of play, makes it much easier to re-explore individual areas. Free exploration through the wilderness world slows down gameplay and gives players a say in whether the focus should be on exploration or on advancing the narrative.

As already mentioned, Bayonetta Origins includes not only combat, but also puzzle sequences that take place during the journey through the forest of Avalon along the so-called Tir Na Nogs. A Tir Na Nog is a puzzle dungeon in which Cheshire and Cereza must work together in combat or platforming sequences to complete tasks. In terms of gameplay, these are reminiscent of the temples in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (test report), but require less brainpower. Instead, the focus is on the cooperation of the two characters, which particularly requires the coordination skills of the players. Players have to navigate Cheshire to switches with their right hand, while Cereza has to navigate an obstacle with her left. The fun of completing Tir Na Nog is not necessarily the mental challenge, but the motor challenge, which provides a very entertaining respite from fighting fairies.

He Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon A particularly colorful adventure can be seen at first glance. Not only colorful, but also rich in visual effects, this is a particularly dynamic image that Nintendo’s hybrid console will have to master.

However, interested readers can breathe a sigh of relief here, as there were no frame rate drops or other defects during our play time. Even during battle scenes against multiple opponents, filled with all sorts of visual effects from Cereza and Cheshire’s attacks, the picture always remains fluid in both TV and handheld mode. Graphically, the title, with its brightly colored design that resides somewhere between surrealism and a watercolor painting, is a wonderful experience that cannot be compared to any other video game on the Nintendo Switch.

At the time of launch on the market, the game cost a minimum of 45 euros. Today buyers can already get it 28 Euros Purchase from Amazon plus shipping.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon A fairytale-like action adventure for young and old, which can be turned into a local co-op experience at any time if required. With its drawing style and charming storytelling, Bayonetta Origins is particularly family-friendly, even if the two-part controls in combination with the static cameras have their flaws in some places. As a Metroidvania title, the latest Bayonetta offshoot promises not only a great atmosphere but also playful variety.

Combine battle sequences, puzzles, and free jungle exploration Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon It’s a must-see not only for fans of the genre, but also for parents looking for a family-friendly adventure. Like many other Nintendo titles, there’s a free demo available for Bayonetta Origins to get your own personal impression of the magical title.