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[Hypron]

Bayonetta 2 |OT| Nintendoes what Segadon't

Yeah pack it up, this is the winner.

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

With New Super Mario Bros. WiiU, ZombieU, Bayonetta 2, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country Returns Tropical Freeze, the next Fatal Frame, The Wonderful 101 and X the WiiU is a great buy for those games alone.

You're missing Pikmin 3, my favorite Wii U game.

 

[88random]

I guess I'll buy a WiiU...

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Ooooh yes, loving the reviews. With this and the demo I feel like I should buy it at launch now.

Hah at the Polygon review though. I am not sure how the game can be considered sexist.

It is sexist, in favor of females.

That's one empowered chick.

 

[Sayad]

Great reviews, I really hope sales in the west make up for the lack of sales in Japan, hate to see the genre die.

 

[Feep]

So, reviews should only be about the things you're interested within the game, and not about what the reviewer thinks is important, right?

Again, he can say what he wants. But he should understand that the people coming to read this review aren't leaving with what they wanted. Reviews typically give certain types of information...mechanics, technical elements, presentation, pacing, and so on...and this review did relatively little of that. It was all overshadowed.

I maintain that these opinions, while very valid, were better left for a separate opinion piece.

 

[JayEH]

Wow surprised by that Gamespot review. What was the last 10 they gave, Galaxy 2?

 

[King_Moc]

Why, in 2014, are gamers on Neogaf actually taking the time to discuss something that Arthur Gies has said? We've been over this guy before, no?

Other than that, great reviews. They tie in with what I experienced in the demo. It's just shame most people will ignore it.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Phew, this is fun!

Any major reviews I'm missing?

 

[roddjbrown]

Bayonetta 2 |OT| Thank You Mario, But The Queen Has Taken Over The Castle

Bayonetta 2 |OT| DisGiesting Pornography

 

[JesseEwiak]

The Transformers movies are bad though. And they're bad for plenty of objective reasons any film school student could point out. I'm talking about criticism of a quality inherent to the intellectual property. I reject your comparison.

They're bad, in your view. Plenty of people love them though.

That's my point. As long as a reviewer isn't saying something incorrect (ie. There are eight levels, when there are really ten), any criticism is valid, as long as it's backed up. If somebody wanted to give a movie a 6 out of 10 because say, they hate seeing blood and it's a gory film, that'd be fine. I'd take that into account when comparing into other reviews, but it wouldn't be an invalid review simply because of that fact.

 

[toastyToast]

Bayonetta 2 |OT| Nintendoes what Segadon't!

Something much worse is going to be the OT title

 

[T.O.P]

Bayonetta 2 |OT| Thank You Mario, But The Queen Has Taken Over The Castle

YAAAAAASSS

 

[CaptainTiptop]

Such a shame it's not going to get the sales it deserves based on the reviews.

With New Super Mario Bros. WiiU, ZombieU, Bayonetta 2, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country Returns Tropical Freeze, the next Fatal Frame, The Wonderful 101 and X the WiiU is a great buy for those games alone.

Hyrule Warriors, dude!

 

[CambriaRising]

Again, he can say what he wants. But he should understand that the people coming to read this review aren't leaving with what they wanted. Reviews typically give certain types of information...mechanics, technical elements, presentation, pacing, and so on...and this review did relatively little of that. It was all overshadowed.

I maintain that these opinions, while very valid, were better left for a separate opinion piece.

Reviews are opinion pieces.

 

[shouamabane]

Oh, Polygon.

 

[walnuts]

The Polygon review and all those complains about the game's sexual content reminds me of that Mario Kart 8 review, giving a lower score because the game was "racist":

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/05/mario-kart-8-review-wii-u.html

 

[Aostia]

for those interested, Italian review here:
http://www.wiitalia.it/2014/10/13/bayonetta-2/

Bayonetta 2 is one of the best action game of all time. Visually, it is stunning, has a good fluidity, the rhythm of the battles is insane, has great variety, the effort dedicated to details is crazy. Everything in this game scream "class", including the deal that is offering the entire series at a good price. Don't miss this gem. Just one tip: be carefull with the final boss..

 

[JesseEwiak]

Again, he can say what he wants. But he should understand that the people coming to read this review aren't leaving with what they wanted. Reviews typically give certain types of information...mechanics, technical elements, presentation, pacing, and so on...and this review did relatively little of that. It was all overshadowed.

I maintain that these opinions, while very valid, were better left for a separate opinion piece.

There are going to be 80 reviews focusing on all of that. Why is it so terrible there's one review focusing on something else? If people want a review about how pretty the game is and how awesome the mechanics are, every other review on the planet is going to focus on that, most likely.

 

[Acid08]

It is sexist, in favor of females.

That's one empowered chick.

what

 

[ALLseeingEYE]

I fundamentally disagree with Bayonetta being sexist and think a lot of people are confusing being sexy with perpetuating sexism. I don't see how anyone could walk away from Bayonetta respecting women and their right to choose their own path LESS. It might not be the kind of diversity Gies is looking for in a game, but a complete female power fantasy that completely ignores what males think is "cool" (just look at how many of them are ashamed of seeing female sexuality represented in such a dominant way) certainly isn't a theme that has been explored to death in video games.

That said, he's entitled to his opinion and if it bothered his enjoyment of the game, then he should certainly make that a part of his review. Honestly, I don't even care about reviews and especially not about games in this genre from people I generally disagree with (Gies being one of the top contenders). The only thing I was hoping for in reviews was that the game isn't a horrible piece of shit and that my Wii U purchase wasn't in vain. These scores and the demo put me at ease.

Based on what I've seen of Bayonetta 1, Gies' devaluing of Bayonetta is likely pretty disingenuous. It should be obvious from playing, that she isn't a character who is exploited, she is exploiting herself. If anything, seeing Bayonetta I imagine would empower women, and hopefully also show them that sexuality is not something to be ashamed of. In fact it can be fun, and that they can be in power and charge of themselves.

if anything, this likely just highlights Gies' own sexual immaturity, perhaps his lack of actual contact and understanding of women more than it does show Bayonetta as a sexist character.

The same thing happened with Bayonetta 1, you saw a lot of guys trying to white knight and hate on the game because of that aspect, while the reviews from women seemed to see them come away realizing Bayonetta is more than just a sex symbol, and that she wasn't just a cheap, exploited woman like she may have seemed from glimpsing trailers and fan art.

 

[MHWilliams]

Yeah, man. It's good shit.

My review at USgamer - 4.5/5

 

[RedEther]

Just as expected great scores for Bayo 2

 

[Feep]

Reviews are opinion pieces.

Opinion pieces that generally cover certain elements, and not others. If a reviewer wrote a diatribe primarily about how Super Mario 3-D World perpetuated negative stereotypes about Italians, it wouldn't really be the right place for it.

I reiterate that Polygon has the right to do whatever they want, and it may even be part of a strategy to differentiate themselves from other sites. But I was completely uninterested in the review, because I understand what Bayonetta is, and I'm okay with that.

 

[Inuhanyou]

The fact that you think it's politics and not legitimate criticism says a lot.

Its not a legitimate criticism of the game, no.

 

[runnin_blue]

They're bad, in your view. Plenty of dumb people love them though.

Fixed that for you.

 

[LinkMaster111]

I didn't get a chance to play the first Bayonetta when it first came out, but seeing the reviews for 2 is making me really excited to play both of them.

 

[Fady K]

Smash Bros. am cry

Oh man, missed that as well. I'm not a big fan of the game much but Im sure most gamers will love it!

You're missing Pikmin 3, my favorite Wii U game.

Not much of a Pikmin guy either but again looks like a game that many will love on their system anyway

Such a shame it's not going to get the sales it deserves based on the reviews.

Hyrule Warriors, dude!

And Captain Toad as well! Good stuff all around I really hope it gets excellent sales. Platinum and Nintendo both deserve it.

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

Need to squeeze a Microsoft parity conspiracy in here somehow, but how??............hmmm.

Not on Xbox or Playstation - parity achieved.

 

[CambriaRising]

Its not a legitimate criticism of the game, no.

It 100% is. Just because you don't want to hear it, doesn't mean it isn't legitimate.

 

[aspiegamer]

I went and read the whole Polygon review...
I mean he talks about this way more then anything else in his review. It seems like hes really offended by this so why is he reviewing the game when its clear he can't deal with sexualized women in video games?

I could make a case that a cry of oversexualization can be a cover for a disliking of strong female protagonists. An inner monologue along of "this game is fantastic but god do I ever hate her, so if I'm going to complain anyway I might as well try to sound like a good guy in the process". Example:

When standing in place her shoulders are bent back to point her chest at ... whatever.

Or, you know, it could be her raw character being expressed. This is absolute desperation in trying to find complaints. Something like this doesn't even register on "ways to add sexual content". This is her desired body language-- Confidence, aggression, style and all-around badassedness. She knows she's good, and she knows that you know she's good. These sorts of small details make her a stronger character, not weaker.

I doubt he gripes whenever a male character puffs up his chest or gets in someone's face to project himself. I eagerly await a Polygon review that complains of a overtly macho tone and gratuitous male exploitation.

Spoiler

It will never happen.

 

[ZeroX03]

Honestly curious...have you completed the game?

No, and in my original version of the post I'd written "what will likely be my greatest action game of all time". But between playing the demo, the reviews, PG's history and that it was clearly stated as my opinion I'm pretty confident in my assumption.

 

[Pennywise83]

Wiitalia: 9.5/10

Bayonetta 2 is one of the best action games ever released. Visually impressive, its relentless gameplay is fast and packed with tons of stuffs to do and experiment. This game is totally classy, and the first one included in the package is just the cherry on the top.Don't miss Bayonetta 2 (but be careful at the final boss!).

 

[Neo Dark]

Nice to see such good scores. Hopefully I find some time by the end of the year to play it.

 

[CambriaRising]

Opinion pieces that generally cover certain elements, and not others. If a reviewer wrote a diatribe primarily about how Super Mario 3-D World perpetuated negative stereotypes about Italians, it wouldn't really be the right place for it.

Sure it would. Reviews are an opinion of a game, and if something in the game bothered me, I'm sure as hell putting it in my review.

 

[NumberThree]

Yeah, man. It's good shit.

My review at USgamer - 4.5/5

 

[Aostia]

It 100% is. Just because you don't want to hear it, doesn't mean it isn't legitimate.

I want to hear it: among all those serious reviews, it's good to have some funny approach.

 

[Magic Mushroom]

Never really got the Bayonetta is sexist comments. Thought Leigh Alexander was spot on for once.

http://web.archive.org/web/20110607.../213466/bayonetta-empowering-or-exploitative/

Bayonetta takes the video game sexy woman stereotype from object to subject, and it's tremendously empowering. The title character uses the mantle of her sexuality as a power source. Between Bayonetta and her equally fierce rival, Jeane, it's a women's world -- the boys just play in it. The Umbra Witches aren't to be messed with. With this unique theme, the game itself is an artistic representation of the concept that female sexuality is its own kind of weapon. This stylized love letter to femininity is signed and sealed with all of the game's tiny details, from the kiss-shaped aiming targets to the subtle grace of Bayonetta's butterfly-shaped shadow.

To prohibit a character like Bayonetta, and rush to cover her up in disapproval, is a rejection of her particular brand of femininity. Why do that? Because she makes men uncomfortable? If men feel uncomfortable with Bayonetta, maybe that means she succeeds.

As a woman, I haven't often been satisfied by female character options that effectively boil down to "the same thing as a man, just with breasts and a ponytail." Thanks to its innovative approach to the idea of female power, Bayonetta is the first action game heroine that's made me directly conscious of how cool it is to be a girl.

I already know that women can do all the same things men can. This time, I get to see a woman do plenty of things men can't. And I love it.

 

[ramparter]

I had already decided I'll buy this game, the demo only made me 100% sure it is the right decsion, now I'm 200% because I don't care what reviews say but it feels good to have a so highly praised and acclaimed game.

Special edition 1+2 obviously for me, just don't know when, I have some other games to finish first.

Anyway, thse scores, FEELS GOOD!

 

[Nothing1016]

Yeah, man. It's good shit.

My review at USgamer - 4.5/5

"Beyoncé Can't Kill Angels and Demons"

Perfection. Well done sir.

 

[Feep]

Sure it would. Reviews are an opinion of a game, and if something in the game bothered me, I'm sure as hell putting it in my review.

All right, agree to disagree. I personally wouldn't be interested, and I would not read the review, and I would be less likely to visit the site in the future. #opinions

 

[Sephiroth_GR_]

Need to squeeze a Microsoft parity conspiracy in here somehow, but how??............hmmm.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Wiitalia: 9.5/10

"This game is totally classy"

 

[foxuzamaki]

Bayonetta 2 |OT| Nintendoes what Segadon't!

This.

 

[Shane]

However, the reader of this review wants to be informed of the quality of the game itself, and the Polygon review does a relatively poor job at this...everything is "tainted" by personal ideology.

The place for that sort of discussion should be in an opinion piece.

That's what a review is; opinion. It is not a used-car sales catalogue.

I'm a reader. I want to be informed. This review tells me if I had an issue with the "objectification" of the first then I'll have trouble here too. That's informative. It doesn't cease to be informative and/or entertaining because I disagree. That's my bias.

And as no one here outside of reviewers have played the full game, that means all comments here about it are being made in bias. Based upon the previous game.

In the other reviews, the personal ideology of those reviewers could mean they're not bothered by what the other reviewer found problematic. That's still as "tainted". It seems "opinion" has become a dirty thing only when the reader disagrees with it.

I'd recommend what I'd call respectful disagreement. I love cinema and there are a few reviewers I follow religiously. All of them have "bias", "tainted opinions", and review franchises they may not have liked previously ("keep an open mind"). At times they'll love a film I really disliked, or vice versa. However, I respect their opinion and understand how they got there. But this is by picking people and not outlets to follow; it's about following what you love (critical analysis + entertainment).

My advice is to stick to the reviewers - reviewers, not outlets - that you enjoy reading. Don't click on the rest.

Bayonetta 2 |OT| Nintendoes what Segadon't!

Best OT.

really disappointed with the reviews so far.

I was expecting 11's and 12's.

Best post so far.

 

[abstract alien]

Man that hurts lol

 

[Aostia]

"This game is totally classy"

 

[Feep]

My advice is to stick to the reviewers - reviewers, not outlets - that you enjoy reading. Don't click on the rest.

I am literally saying that. I am expressing my personal dissatisfaction with the quality and content of the review. I think it was a poor review. I did not get what I wanted from it. The end.

People need to stop taking disagreement as a condemnation.

 

[itchyass86]

Hold on I don't think that GIF is loading...

 

[weekev]

Not on Xbox or Playstation - parity achieved.

Nailed it.