Baby’s First Monster
Not even gonna lie, I was more than a little disheartened when they showed Cereza and the Lost Demon. Not because I dislike the character, but quite the opposite in fact I love Bayonetta. While I didn’t unlock everything in the original or best the hidden boss in Rodin like a friend of mine, I did fall in love with the combat and smoothness of it all. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will ask you to forget what you know, and instead of seeing Cereza at the height of her power instead shows her as a girl, struggling to learn even the most basic spell.
In Cereza and the Lost Demon we get a glimpse of what helped shape a young Bayonetta, we learn that her mother has been taken from her and locked away in a basement. This weighs pretty heavily on a young Cereza, but mostly due to the fact that she feels frustrated that she doesn’t possess the power to rescue her mother herself. Its this frustration that pushes her forward into this adventure, following a mysterious boy from her dreams who promises he can free her mother deep into the Avalon Forest. Within the forest Cereza masters the summoning ability and binds a demon to her favorite stuffed cat, Cheshire.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Switch
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
The beautiful way the story is presented using a storybook format helps to sell this game as a type of ‘children’s tale’. The artistic design was especially striking to me as the developers employ subtle movements for the characters on the page but has a wonderful narrator who is reading this story to players. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautifully scored soundtrack, the music is quite sublime and differs for the usual techo/rock beats of the mainline Bayonetta games.
For me the growing bond between Cereza and Cheshire was the highlight of the adventure. Cheshire starts off angry at his predicament being stuck, and begrudgingly goes along with Cereza if only to meet her teacher Morgana who can hopefully free him from his stuff form. But in Cereza and the Lost Demon each of the protagonists plays a part in the progression of each level. Cheshire will handle the combat this time around, being a hulking stuffed cat with teeth in claws he’s a bit better equipped than our young Cereza. While his attacks never evolve to the point of the usual ‘Bayonetta” games, Cheshire is more than equipped to handle what is thrown at the pair. His combos are all simple to pull off using the ZR trigger and movement with the right stick. Alternatively, Cereza is controlled with the left stick and players will utilize her various magic spells using the ZL trigger. Cereza can bind enemies in place which helps to control the crowd while Cheshire delivers the killing blows. It took a little bit to get used to but quickly became second nature.
In Cereza and the Lost Demon players won’t just be fighting enemies, as there are quite a few puzzles to solve as well in this one. Unfortunately combat quickly takes over as the puzzles will start to lesson by late game, nevertheless they are a welcome change of pace. As players move through the various levels, they will utilize Cheshire’s stuffed form as well as his hulking demon form. With the press of a button Cereza can call him back to her arms to be carried around, or up a ladder. Early going navigating in this manner was a bit confusing, only because there are pathways that only Cereza can traverse and then others where only Cheshire can. Some of these are obvious, but others will require a combination of the two to get through and some were a little difficult to figure out.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a big departure from the mainline Bayonetta games usual formula. Instead of leaning on fast paced combat, scantily clad lead, a loud soundtrack and a story with a lot of killing and revenge. Instead, this is a family-friendly story, one that is told like a grand storybook and even has themes of love and friendship throughout. Quite the change of pace for our Umbra witch but quite the welcome one if you have your eyes open as to the type of game this really is; Cereza and the Lost Demon is a delightful adventure that thoroughly surprised me.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
