Review by Samantha Lienhard
Bayonetta 2 is hands-down the best game of 2014 as far as I’m concerned.
For those of you unfamiliar with the series, Bayonetta is an Umbran Witch who fights angels by summoning demons through the use of her hair, which doubles as her clothing. If you’re still with me after that description, the game’s humor and zany charm should appeal to you.
The over-the-top action and style of Bayonetta returns in full force, and Bayonetta 2 improves upon the original in just about every way. Gone are the instant-death QTEs! Gone is the harsh penalty for using items, replaced instead by a bonus if you don’t. Gone is the need to incessantly backtrack in case a portal has appeared, because your journal makes the new Muspelheim portals easier to keep track of.
As with the original, you have a variety of weapons, collectibles, and transformations, as well as unlockable costumes. Combat is fast-paced and based around 
combining punches and kicks in various ways. It’s easy to learn, difficult to master, and comes with the best loading screens ever, as they let you practice combos while you wait.
In general, Bayonetta 2 is an easier game. After an enemy’s attack, you have a larger window in which to trigger Witch Time and slow down time, and a new mechanic known as the Umbran Climax gives you something to use your magic on other than Torture Attacks. Enemies are less challenging and Bayonetta seems a little more powerful.
To compensate for these changes, Bayonetta 2 begins with a harder difficulty option available right from the start. Therefore, you aren’t out of luck if you want to return to the original’s more punishing style.
You’ll face many new enemies, both angelic and demonic. Bayonetta’s mission to save Jeanne pits her against the forces of Hell, and the story grows into a wild ride epic enough to rival that of the first game.
While the story is more straightforward and accessible, it is also best experienced after Bayonetta. The two stories intertwine in ways you wouldn’t expect, making each a stronger experience. Fortunately, another great thing about Bayonetta 2 is that it comes with a copy of Bayonetta.
Its only flaws are that it doesn’t get too deep into the Umbran Witches’ predicament—their souls are doomed to end up in Inferno when they die—as its premise suggests it might, and the new character Loki can be rather irritating.
Bayonetta 2 is a perfect example of a sequel done right. It took everything the original did well and made it better. It even added a multiplayer mode, which mixes cooperation and competition. I finished Bayonetta 2 with one pressing thought on my mind: I want a Bayonetta 3.
Now, the Bayonetta games have seen their share of controversy due to their subject matter and sexual content. If you have concerns of this nature, I addressed them during my earlier review of Bayonetta. With that out of the way, I can’t recommend this game highly enough. Action, humor, and an involving storyline make Bayonetta 2 a must-play experience.
10/10
Trade in your copy of Bayonetta 2.