By Chris Jackson
PLATFORM: SWITCH (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Ten-year-old Cereza is the product of a forbidden union between a Lumen Sage and Umbra Witch – the two clans who maintain the balance between dark and light. When her mother is imprisoned, a boy appears in a dream to tell Cereza that if she ventures into the Avalon Forest, she can gain untold powers that will help her to rescue her mother. Accompanied by her stuffed toy, Cheshire, and guided by her teacher and fellow witch Morgana, Cereza heads off into the forest, even though she’s fully aware that it’s filled with faeries who have a strong dislike for children…
Unlike previous Bayonetta games, Origins tells a family-friendly tale that is suitable for all ages, allowing those who might be too young for the saucy witch’s grown-up adventures to get a glimpse into her world. Moving away from the full-on action of the main titles, this is more of a puzzle platformer with action elements, catered towards those who might not quite be ready for all-out chaos. The hand-drawn storybook visuals back up the feeling that this is very much aimed at younger players, although this doesn’t mean that older fans of the series are left in the dark – there’s more than enough to keep everyone occupied throughout the 10-15 hour adventure.
Playing from an isometric point of view, Cereza is controlled with the left joycon and Cheshire with the right. Cereza does most of the exploration, and uses her magic powers to interact with the environment to create new pathways, while Cheshire helps with traversing obstacles and also doubles as Cereza’s weapon. There are plenty of areas that one or the other character isn’t able to access, so you’ll often be faced with puzzles that ask you to take each character along separate paths, but they’ll also need to work together in other areas as Cereza is able to use him in a variety of creative ways to help her reach otherwise inaccessible areas. As you progress through the game, Cheshire gains four additional forms which must all be quickly mastered as the puzzles and combat become increasingly complex.
When the faeries attack, both characters have their own unique abilities which can be upgraded through two individual skill trees. Cereza binds enemies with thorns to prevent them from attacking, while Cheshire claws and bites his way through his foes. Using the two together is often essential, with Cereza binding a shielded enemy to keep them still while Cheshire goes around for a chomp from behind. Controlling them both during the quieter sections of the game is simple enough, but remembering which thumb is controlling which character during fast-paced fights can take some getting used to. Luckily, if you do find yourself all fingers and thumbs and end up making some critical mistakes, generous checkpoints mean that you never lose too much progress.
The Bayonetta games are known for their secrets, and that’s no different here. You’ll collect a few different items along your travels that can be mixed together to create healing tonics, while the (very attractive) ethereal “Tir na nOg” mini-dungeons take place of the old “Alfheim” challenge rooms, asking you to tackle a bunch of enemies under specific conditions or pass a puzzle / platforming trial to earn a boost to your health or magic. Treasure chests, journal pages, lost wisps and more are dotted around each area, giving you plenty of reasons to spend time exploring. Many of these require a bit of puzzling to access, which means that – until you’ve acquired all of Cheshire’s additional forms – you’ll often come across areas that you’re not able to access. A few chapters into the game, you’re given the ability to fast travel between checkpoints, making the hunt for secrets a little bit easier once you’re fully powered up.
There’s a slight air of Harry Potter to Bayonetta Origins, with its storybook tale, cinematic soundtrack and (possibly unfortunately) almost comically posh stage-school voice acting. Those with a fondness for PG-rated fantasy are well served with Origins, which provides an enchanting and engaging diversion from the non-stop thrills of the main Bayonetta series. With some beautiful locations to explore, puzzles that test your brain without breaking it, some unique and enjoyable mechanics, and a narrative that fills in some of the gaps in Bayonetta’s backstory, it’s a really wonderful adventure that fans of the series – as well as younger newcomers – will surely be delighted by.
