• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Is Bayonetta supposed to be pretty hard?

Bayonetta 1 is amazing due to it's difficulty. The thrill and feeling that you get while fighting Grace and Glory and Gracious and Glorious is unmatched.

I was sort of surprised by Grace and Glory, actually. I went in aware of their reputation. Died first two times very quickly, but once I got a foothold on the fight, I actually found it... not too tough? I was expecting a protracted battle, but maybe I just got lucky with an initial torture, because after clearing one, the second wasn't all that bad.
 
That's cool, you don't like thing.

In my opinion though I feel that Bayonetta did execute most QTE's right where many other action games failed. I think it feels invigorating to mash while I watch my character pummel the shit of the enemy. The ones where you have to jump or die or kind of annoying though but hey whatever.

Bayonetta 2 improves on those mashy QTEs by making the sequence for shorter and easier to get full climax. I like them too.

Those insta death QTEs are just bad gamedesign, I agree.
 
In my opinion though I feel that Bayonetta did execute most QTE's right where many other action games failed. I think it feels invigorating to mash while I watch my character pummel the shit of the enemy. The ones where you have to jump or die or kind of annoying though but hey whatever.

God Hand did that first and best.

Smacking those buttocks lol.
 
Biggest difference is the required reaction times. GoW is slow compared to most Platinum Games' and you're gonna need to get accustomed to it if you want the best scores. Think of it like a DMC game. You probably suck when you start, but with time and practice you can get good enough to wipe everything on the hardest difficulty without even taking a hit.

It's fast and challenging but to the perfect point where it allows you play like a boss if you know the game in and out.
 
There's only several true boss types in the game (the ones like Fortitudo)... And while you fight different versions on a couple levels, the game is most definitely not 80% boss battles. A lot of enemies are introduced like bosses because they are supposed to be a challenge.

I guess it depends on the definition of a boss battle. Enemies that take numerous hits to kill that were introduced like bosses feel like bosses to me.

80% might be a high estimate, but it probably seems like more when I die a lot on certain fights, haha.
 
That's cool, you don't like thing.

In my opinion though I feel that Bayonetta did execute most QTE's right where many other action games failed. I think it feels invigorating to mash while I watch my character pummel the shit of the enemy. The ones where you have to jump or die or kind of annoying though but hey whatever.


except the ones that kill you, drop your rank, with unintuitive timing, and once at the very end of a chapter (thankfully not in the second one)

otherwise it's all the same shit. mash qtes are as pointless as GOW's cinematic ones.
 
My first time through Bayonetta 1 on normal wasn't particularly difficult, but there is definitely some challenge there. I don't remember entirely clearly but I'm sure I got like bronzes and silvers most of the time. The only enemies who had me real shook were Glorious and Gracious. You HAVE to learn dodge offset to beat those motherfuckers.

I couldn't do any of that Alfheim shit though. Not even chapter 1.
 
I've platinumed every God of War so you would think I would be blitzing this game. I am playing with the Gamepad though which probably is not the type of controller you want to use with this game.

LOL, that one got me, as it did so many others. Different ball game here my dude!

I just beat Bayonetta 2 lastnight, on 2nd climax. I'm anxious to play through again on a higher difficulty. I'm by no means good at this game. I'm average at best, well below average at worst. However, I don't see the Gamepad being the issue. I just need to keep my combos going, pay more attention to enemy tells and attack variations. Of course, gotta nail my dodge-offset more consistently, utilize witch-time more often, and cap things off with more wicked weaves. easier said than done, but that's how improvement with experience works. I, too, have gotten a a decent number of stone and bronze medals, but midway through saw a lot more silver and gold. I even managed a few platinums and maybe a couple pure platinums on the more brief segments and/or easy challenge levels. I can see myself improving exponentially. You will too, with more practice.
 
I had no particular problems in getting 1000 pts on Bayonetta It's not that hard

OP's talking about first playthough, which is pretty brutal.

To respond to the topic: I've Pure Platinum'd the game on both Normal and Hard (will do NSIC someday...) and remember getting crushed my first time through. Towards the end of the game I was averaging Bronzes/Silvers, but the beginning (Chapters 3, 4, and 5 specifically) are crazy difficult for their position in the game. You should be proud if you get higher than a Stone on any of them your first time through on Normal.
 
Bayoneta was easier than most action games. Talking about ninja gaiden and dmc here. Mgs rising was also more difficult than bayoneta for me
 
one of the reasons Bayonetta 2 is better than Bayonetta is that you don't have to spoil your first playthrough on a super easy difficulty level
 
I got the moon of mahaa-kaala and it was amazingly helpful with some angels like grace & glory, but I still suck so much for Bayonetta, I rarely got something different to stone for the chapters..

and in bayo 2 there seems to be less difficult..

second climax from bayo 2 is the "normal" from bayo 1, right?
 
The original is definitely way less forgiving than the sequel. Just keep at it. Don't worry about your end level rewards. They're only there for those who want to really master the game.
 
One thing I have always disliked about DMC and Bayonetta is that that game does not give you enough time to practice on the easier enemies. It throws hard hitting stuff at you pretty quickly which can be frustrating for new players. Also not everyone wants to play the game multiple times.

That being said, I don't like action games because they stress me out. I do make an exception for Bayonetta though because I like the game mechanics, setting, characers and enemies.
 
I didn't find Bayonetta much harder than God of War 3 tbh, both on normal felt pretty similar difficulty wise.

It's certainly no DMC3 or Ninja Gaiden.
 
You can always just re-play an older chapter or mission though for practice.

That is true, it is also encouraged by hunting for better scores. Still, I think the game could build up the difficulty a bit slower. Combo practice is so much fun. Players not learning the basics will get frustrated later on.
 
I've platinumed every God of War so you would think I would be blitzing this game.

tumblr_m70bzphqaR1rsevm6.gif
 
That is true, it is also encouraged by hunting for better scores. Still, I think the game could build up the difficulty a bit slower. Combo practice is so much fun. Players not learning the basics will get frustrated later on.

That is the one thing they did right in DmC, Ninja Theory put in a full on practice mode just for exactly that.
 
Yup, you'll learn to love it.

Also, the GoW series isn't that hard so you're probably just not used to the jump in difficulty yet.
 
It's hard the first time. You'll figure it out. Dodging is the most important thing to get down. You can't just spam attacks and hope your enemies will be hitstunned like most of GoW. You have to time your combos with dodging and witch time.
 
I thought Bayo 1 was easier than Bayo 2. But I used to play more action games back then. Not quite as bad as OP but I rarely got stone medals in Bayo 1 compared to 2. You wanna talk about Stone Medals and feeling like you suck? The Wonderful 101 seems the hardest for me to perform well with.
 
Sorry, OP. I had to laugh a little when you said you Platinum'd the God of War games. :P
It simply does not compare to Bayonetta. I'd even say it is probably a different genre.

About the Gamepad, I've bought a Pro Controller to play Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2, but I ended up only using the GamePad. I find the position of the buttons more comfortable to use, so I wouldn't blame the controller.

Just try to understand the combat, and how the combo system works. If you want to get Platinum medals for the combos you WILL HAVE to master the dodge offset, which is never taught or mentioned in the game. You can definitely button mash your way until the end of the game, as long as you can dodge, but you will be most definitely punished for it.
With that in mind, I'd say, yes, Bayonetta is a hard game. Not crazy or impossible hard (on Normal difficulty, anyway), but it does provide some challenge and I think the majority of the players will find a difficult enemy (or two!) while playing it. Which makes mastering this game even more rewarding. :)
 
God Hand did that first and best.

Smacking those buttocks lol.

Yes I think Bayonetta does most of its QTE's right like God Hand does.

except the ones that kill you, drop your rank, with unintuitive timing, and once at the very end of a chapter (thankfully not in the second one)

otherwise it's all the same shit. mash qtes are as pointless as GOW's cinematic ones.

Bayonetta's situational QTE's like the one where you have to jump off the falling clocktower are indeed annoying and not really fun because they feel like an unnecessary obstacle you have to hurdle over instead of an addition to the experience. I do find pleasure in the torture attacks/demon summon boss finishers though.
 
I was sort of surprised by Grace and Glory, actually. I went in aware of their reputation. Died first two times very quickly, but once I got a foothold on the fight, I actually found it... not too tough? I was expecting a protracted battle, but maybe I just got lucky with an initial torture, because after clearing one, the second wasn't all that bad.

so you died twice to them and it was "not too tough" lol
 
yeah stone4life.

Although i feel like the stuff i've unlocked at ch5 made things a bit easier.


And once i kinda understood how dodge offset worked (no where near mastery level, but i can use it decently with punch kick punch), things are getting a bit better.


still get womped by those claw bro's and i hear it gets worse later :X
 
Yes I think Bayonetta does most of its QTE's right like God Hand does.



Bayonetta's situational QTE's like the one where you have to jump off the falling clocktower are indeed annoying and not really fun because they feel like an unnecessary obstacle you have to hurdle over instead of an addition to the experience. I do find pleasure in the torture attacks/demon summon boss finishers though.

You can keep mashing the button after you reach the "Max Bonux" to go even higher!
Only found out about that when playing on the Wii U. :D

And that clocktower QTE was terrible. No excuses for that.
 
yeah stone4life.

Although i feel like the stuff i've unlocked at ch5 made things a bit easier.


And once i kinda understood how dodge offset worked (no where near mastery level, but i can use it decently with punch kick punch), things are getting a bit better.


still get womped by those claw bro's and i hear it gets worse later :X
Oh man I hate the claw bros and that big dude with the hammer. So annoying to fight
 
Durga got me through the game the first time, I generally gravitate towards the charge-up weapons in these games. Takemikazuchi in bayo2 was made for me.

Other than that - find a nice combo that works for you, practice it, and stick to it in gameplay. Once you stop mashing you'll feel more in control of the game. Even if you're not being fancy or flashy or whatever.

For example PKP is quick, simple and gets your wicked weave out for a ton of damage. But rather than just quickly mashing it out, try this:

1. Hit P, and hold it down
2. Dodge enemy attack while holding
3. Continue combo with K after the dodge, hold K and dodge again if necessary
4. Finish with P, wicked weave comes out

It's really simple but crazy effective. But if you're hardwired to mash in these games it can be hard to break that habit. Once I got used to it I felt like I really improved at the game.

Also short 3 hit combos are nerfed in bayonetta 2 so enjoy it while you can~
 
I'm playing through Bayonetta on Wii U for the first time ever on Normal, and I seem to be getting my ass kicked pretty badly all the time with the end of chapter trophy results. I've predominately got stone through the campaign with a few Silvers and Bronzes littered here and there.

Thank god I am not the only one. This is my first go with Bayo 1, and I feel like its beating me around quite a bit. I have dumped some serious time into W101 so I figured I would fare better going into this, but man was I wrong. Still enjoying the game and making progress,
just finished the fight with the angel on the ocean while surfboarding the plane door, which I admit was pretty awesome :)
, but I didn't expect to get my ass kicked this much, I didn't get this thrashed my first playthrough of W101. I will say the QTE deaths that ding my score at the end even more do irritate the hell out of me lol.
 
Wait until you fight the ones where
dodging doesn't give you witch time

sigh... thats when you pretty much have to master dodge offset eh?


I guess my biggest issue besides the dumb instant death QTE's is damage balance. The big lumbering babies does way less damage to me than a random fire ball that takes out 1/3 of my health.

And those claw bros combos can easily take out 70% of your health.

The game's scoring system also makes you feel like shit if you use items.


I feel like bayonetta could just be like 50% less squishy and the game would still be fun and challenging.
 
Ignore the elitist assholes that give "lol get good" advice. The game is hard even on normal, the QTEs are totally unfair and come out of nowhere, and even the accessories are pretty hard to use. As you progress, you'll gradually get better, but stone trophies are going to be pretty common on your first play through.
 
I've platinumed every God of War so you would think I would be blitzing this game. I am playing with the Gamepad though which probably is not the type of controller you want to use with this game.

This is harder than God of War.
I am also playing with the gamepad but it can be a pain at times, so I am looking to get a pro controller now.
 
The first run through is basically a tutorial for you learning to play the game. Platinum games really come into their own when you replay after that. It's certainly only on subsequent playthroughs that you can appreciate how well the game is designed. It will reveal things to you for weeks to come.
Some enemies are more easily beaten with weapons that you pick up later and don't even have at that point during your first run through.
 
Top Bottom