Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

It isn't as action packed as other games in the series, but this title is a great story of perseverance, friendship, and self-assurance, and lays the foundation for the powerful spell slinging hero. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon doesn't focus on the flashy guns, revealing outfits, or assertive attitude and dances from the franchise. Instead, this is a coming-of-age tale with a young girl trying to grow into her own skills and abilities. At the start of the adventure, Cereza isn't like other game heroes – she's unsure of her abilities, the demon she's bonded with feels like she's weak and argues with her constantly, and she's often scared about the odds she's facing. But as she and Cheshire make their way through the Avalon Forest and successfully defeat threats and solve puzzles, she becomes more confident and comfortable in knowing that she's doing the right thing and can succeed in places that she's failed previously. Even when she and Cheshire fight (which happens often), it comes across similar to siblings fighting or friends disagreeing over their opinions, which eventually turns to care and concern about each other in dire circumstances. By the end of the game, there's a sense that both characters have become stronger, and are ready for whatever may come along in their lives.

Where Lost Demon stumbles is in the combat department. Since players control both characters at the same time, it's very easy to get characters lost on screen, especially when you're facing off against a large group of enemies. It would've been easier if there was an option to only control Cereza or Cheshire, with the other character directed by player commands or AI controls, but this isn't a make or break issue, especially because you can get used to this during play. Similarly, the kinds of enemies that you fight tend to be very repetitive over the course of the adventure. There may be a twist here and there when it comes to the attacks they use, but by and large, once you've seen the opponent in a fight, you know exactly how to defeat them, making combat simple. But since the focus is more on the story and the relationship between Cereza and Cheshire, this is something that can be overlooked as you play and enjoy the earliest chapter of Bayonetta's saga.