Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 carries on the action-style gameplay of its predecessor, in which players control the eponymous Bayonetta as she fights against various angelic and demonic forces using combinations of melee attacks and gunplay. Dodging enemy attacks at the last second activates 'Witch Time', slowing down enemies around Bayonetta and allowing players to easily retaliate and solve certain environmental puzzles. Players are also able to use special moves called Torture Attacks, trapping opponents in infernal devices for extra points. Weapon customization from the first game also returns, allowing players to equip combinations of new weapons on both Bayonetta's hands and feet.

A large array of weapons can be equipped, including the character's signature guns, a bow, swords and other forms of projectile weapons. Players earn grades during combat, with the highest 'Pure Platinum' grade achieved by performing high numbers of combos, in the fastest time possible, without being damaged. As with the previous game, Bayonetta can use Torture Attacks on her enemies, conjured torture devices that finish off single enemies in gruesome ways and grant a bonus to the player.

Most of Bayonetta 2 takes place on the fictional sacred mountain of Fimbulventr and the nearby town of Noatun, both located in the Middle East. The main character Bayonetta (Hellena Taylor / Atsuko Tanaka) travels to the mountain to find the Gates of Hell to save her friend Jeanne (Grey DeLisle-Griffin / Mie Sonozaki).

Returning characters include Rodin (Dave Fennoy / Tesshō Genda), the bartender of Gates of Hell who supplies Bayonetta with powerful weapons; Luka (Yuri Lowenthal / Daisuke Namikawa), a journalist who provides Bayonetta with valuable information; and Enzo (John Kassir / Wataru Takagi), an informant who provides comic relief. New characters include Loki (Mark Daugherty / Junko Minagawa), an amnesiac boy who guides Bayonetta to the mountain; the Masked Lumen (Crispin Freeman / Takehito Koyasu), a powerful Sage and Bayonetta's new rival; and Loptr (TJ Ramini / Takumi Yamazaki), a mysterious Prophet apparently allied with the Masked Lumen.

Shortly after the release of Bayonetta, Hideki Kamiya discussed with Yusuke Hashimoto ideas for sequels and spin-off games from the title. Despite these discussions, Kamiya believed they would never release a sequel. However, Kamiya's Twitter account later stated that he might release the sequel if Bayonetta sold well. Bayonetta 2 was revealed during a Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2012.

The reason for the game's Wii U exclusivity was because Nintendo stepped in with additional funding after it was shelved by Sega. PlatinumGames producer Atsushi Inaba, responding to complaints by fans of the original game, stated that Bayonetta 2 would not exist if Nintendo had not partnered with the developer to make the game. Sega remained as the game's consultant. Work on Bayonetta 2 was based on feedback the staff received from the original Bayonetta to bring various improvements.

Bayonetta 2 received critical acclaim. It received an aggregated score of 91/100 on Metacritic based on 80 reviews. The Japanese magazine Famitsu's four reviewers collectively awarded the game a score of 38 out of 40. Edge awarded Bayonetta 2 a score of 10 out of 10.

The magazine's reviewer described it as "a riotous, spectacular work of the highest order of camp" and praised the game for the extent of its customisability and for refining problematic elements from the first Bayonetta, with tighter pacing and the removal of "sudden, mid-cinematic, instafail QTEs". The reviewer concluded, "This is a game that you can complete in ten hours, but play and replay forever. … It is a masterclass in combat design, in videogame variety, in the balance between accessibility and depth." GameSpot reviewer Mark Walton said the game "will be remembered as an absolute classic" and awarded it a perfect 10/10, the seventh game in the site's history to receive that score.