Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Review

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a wonderful little spin-off set in the Bayonetta realm.

Watch our view review of Bayonetta 3: Bayonetta 3 is GREAT for Fans – But What About Newcomers? 

We all know Cereza from the main games, but we don’t know her like this – young and unsure about herself and her abilities, and reliant on others to get by. She is in the process of learning her craft, and for all we can see, she is having a hard time at it. In an attempt to prove her worth, she ventures off in search of magic in a forbidden forest, and soon finds herself in a spot of trouble.

Firstly, the game is beautiful on the Switch OLED, it’s told in a storybook manner, with illustrations on pages seamlessly switching over to actual gameplay. The colours and design of the environments pop off the screen, and in my opinion, this is one of the most unique looking games the Switch has in its impressive library.

The story that you adventure along with Cereza on is interesting and will keep you entertained, but not for long.

The game took me about 10 hours to complete. To some, that would be more than enough, but to most, and fans of the original Bayonetta games, it can be a bit of a let down. As well as being a short foray into this new world, there is little to no replayability, so be sure to know where your money is going.

The gameplay system itself is very interesting, taking a twin stick approach. This did my head in for probably most of the game, as you control Cereza with one joycon, and her demon (previously plushy) Cheshire cat with the other. Add to the fact that they should both be on the screen at all times, and you need them to work together to overcome battles, platforming and puzzles and you find yourself with what could either be seen as a challenge or a frustration.

It is 100% possible to couch co-op, and have one person play as Cereza and the other as the demon, but I found solo play very challenging – my brain just isn’t wired that way.

Overall, if you want to experience a beautiful world and you are a Bayonetta fan, definitely give this a go. Just keep in mind the length of the game and the twin stick element, and don’t expect the Cereza you know (just yet).

Cozy gamers may also find some joy in this game, so this might be just the revival Bayonetta has been needing.

More about Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon:

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a spin-off game in the Bayonetta series, developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch.

It is a prequel that follows the young witch Cereza and her demon companion Cheshire as they explore a mysterious forest full of faeries and dangers. The game has a storybook style and a twin-stick control scheme that lets you control both characters at once. It was released on March 17, 2023.

More about Platinum Games:

PlatinumGames is a Japanese video game developer that specializes in action games. It was founded in 2007 by former Capcom employees Shinji Mikami, Atsushi Inaba, Hideki Kamiya and Tatsuya Minami. Some of its notable games include Bayonetta, Nier: Automata, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Astral Chain. It has also collaborated with Nintendo and Sega on several projects.

Watch our review for Bayonetta 3 here: