Line #19 YMMV/Bayonetta


1	For the anime and the other games in the series.
2	* ''YMMV/BayonettaBloodyFate''
3	* ''YMMV/Bayonetta2''
4	* ''YMMV/Bayonetta3''
5	----
6	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
7	** Given that Bayonetta made a DealWithTheDevil and ''accepted'' eternal damnation in exchange for her powers, many fans like to interpret her confidence and cocky attitude as her [[StepfordSmiler coping mechanism]] to deal with the fact she doomed herself to Hell. The lyrics to her theme song, "Mysterious Destiny", support this, claiming that she buries her loneliness deep down in her eyes and that sadness lies in her smile.
8	** Enzo, ButtMonkey, perpetual goof, but knowledgeable informant and assistant working for two of the most powerful and dangerous people in existence, a human face representing some of the strongest of Hell itself. If he was among his peers instead of hanging around PhysicalGods, would he transform from the comic relief into a feared mobster?
9	* BestBossEver: The last three bosses, [[spoiler:Jeanne (for the final time), Balder and Jubileus]] are widely considered to be the best bosses in the entire game, and considering how one of the earliest bosses is a 2-headed, ginormous fire-controlling angelic dragon with a face on its chest that speaks in Enochian, you KNOW that the bar is already high, so the last bosses '''are''' gonna be freaking awesome.
10	* BrokenBase:
11	** The franchise becoming Creator/{{Nintendo}}[=-=]exclusive starting with ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'' has been a sore spot for fans. Some don't mind and are happy to see more Bayonetta games at all, since Nintendo funding them is the reason why there are even new games to begin with, while others dislike that the sequels are effectively locked on Nintendo systems, meaning fans who played the first game on other platformers are left out of the rest of the franchise unless they happen to have or buy a Nintendo system. Part of the backlash towards Bayonetta's exclusivity also has to do with the outdated, but still reinforced stereotype that Nintendo is inherently "[[AnimationAgeGhetto kiddy]]", feeling Bayonetta's more mature image clashes terribly with Nintendo's brand and that her games are better suited on the more "mature" platforms instead. It doesn't help that Nintendo gave the okay to ''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'' (a Platinum IP that is also published by Nintendo) being ported onto other platformers, making fans wonder why they couldn't do the same with the other ''Bayonetta'' games.[[labelnote:Note]]''The Wonderful 101'' was seen as a complete commercial bomb despite its positive reception, which likely made Nintendo more willing to part ways with it. In contrast, ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'', ''VideoGame/Bayonetta3'', and ''VideoGame/AstralChain'' have all surpassed one million units sold, so Nintendo is much more likely to hang onto those franchises.[[/labelnote]]
12	** The motionless models and still images used in certain cutscenes. Some argue that it was a creative way to make the game stand-out, and likely a way to save large amounts of the budget for actual gameplay sections, or a great way to slow down the pace to allow the over-the-top fight scenes to seem even more impressive. Others argue that it comes off as a lazy choice more than a stylistic choice. ''Bayonetta 3'' would addess this by removing them almost entirely, as with the exception of the moments of Bayonetta viewing flashbacks of her alternate selves, all cutscenes are fully animated.
13	* ComplacentGamingSyndrome: Despite the wide variety of weapons and accessories in this game, some are commonly used by players for specific purposes, such as situational recommended builds:
14	** Due to its general usefulness and added defensive/CounterAttack mechanics, the Moon of Mahaa-Kalaa is very popular that players label it as a "must-have" accessory.
15	** Do you want to farm Halos in the most efficient way possible? Take advantage of the Durga-Kilgore glitch to rack up lots of combo points in every Verse. Others even use the Gaze of Despair to increase the halo amounts even further.
16	** Since Witch Time is disabled in Non-Stop Climax difficulty, many players and game guides would recommend the Evil Harvest Rosary so that dodging will still have offensive benefits.
17	* CrossesTheLineTwice: Asides from everything else in the game, there's:
18	** One cutscene where Bayonetta has just defeated the boss and elects to blow it up by shooting a stream of gasoline coming from a peeing baby angel statue. When it fails the first time, she [[GroinAttack shoots the statue in the spout]]. When the head flies past in the ensuing (huge) explosion, it's crying.
19	** The first time we meet Joy, cue the gentle laughter when there's a little impromptu dance off. Drop your jaw in shock/horror/hilarity when Joy chooses to finally ''reveal'' herself. Then the line is tossed out of the window when you perform a torture attack on her.
20	** Bayonetta starts a motorcycle by [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything jamming her middle finger into the ignition switch]].
21	** Balder [[spoiler:nearly tearing Luka apart with four Affinity and throwing him out a window]] is disturbing on its own. Then he makes a BondOneLiner about it and laughs at his own joke, pushing it to [[BlackComedy darkly comical.]]
22	* CrossoverShip:
23	** [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]][=/=]Bayonetta is an unsurprisingly popular one, since both of them are sexy, gun-toting badasses who regularly perform over the top stunts and were created by Creator/HidekiKamiya. Jeanne isn't left out; she's often shipped with Vergil in the same works.
24	** Bayonetta is occasionally paired up with [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]] and [[VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw Juliet Starling]] as well. The latter is expected, since Juliet shares so many similarities with Bayonetta, it's not even funny.
25	** After her reveal trailer in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'', Bayonetta is getting a FoeYayShipping with [[VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising Pit]], usually with her teasing him but ultimately deciding he's too "cute" to kill despite him being an angel. This also extends to/includes Pit's boss, the Goddess Palutena.
26	** Bayonetta is paired with [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]]. Not surprising since both girls are some of the most famous and powerful ActionGirl and OneWomanArmy badasses in all of video game history that happen to be associated with Nintendo, are known to use guns and CombatStilettos in combat and have a tremendous amount of sex appeal.
27	** In a non-romantic example, the fandom starting treating Bayonetta and [[VideoGame/Persona5 Joker]] like a mother and son (either blood or adopted). In addition to Bayonetta having a secret soft spot for kids, they both have similar appearances, flashy personalities and appearances, summon demon-like entities (though Joker can also summon angels and gods), took on [[spoiler: all-powerful gods]], and are both owned by Sega. This only grew after Joker was announced for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', as well as Hellana Taylor [[https://twitter.com/hellenataylor/status/1118876961865195520?s=21 approving]].
28	* CultClassic: Even with the [[AcclaimedFlop low sales]] across all platforms, its got enough of a fanbase to give it a 3rd game in the series. That being said it is heavily debatable as to whether the franchise follows this trope anymore as it has become far more popular and commercially successful in recent years especially after the release of Bayonetta 3 and its prequel.
29	* DemonicSpiders: This game is a giant nest of DemonicSpiders that have a shameless disdain for MookChivalry.
30	** Fairness & Fearless: Quadrupeds that unleash very strong attacks with next to no warning, including a roaring stun for the former and a sting tail for the latter. Thankfully they're rarely fought together, unlike Grace and Glory and their stronger variants, Gracious and Glorious.
31	** Inspired: Hard to attack, for being quick {{Giant Flyer}}s. And every now and then will surprise by either biting or spitting fireballs.
32	** Joys: Incredibly fast, have swords that they can convert into whips, love to trap you in unbreakable combos, love to throw lasers and feathers your way, love to dodge and break your combos, and love to interrupt you with ranged attacks. And if left unguarded can duplicate!
33	** Braves: Very strong and fast, and can be combined into a Beloved, who hits much harder.
34	** Kinships: [[MacrossMissileMassacre Fire loads of]] [[RoboTeching homing]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre missiles]], and once you board them to attack the very visible weak point, unleash painful defense mechanisms.
35	* DifficultySpike: The difficulty of Angel Slayer Mode starts on Normal and increases progressively for every 10 levels, ending with Non-Stop Climax. The first levels are mostly a breeze, but the latter parts will punish you if you aren't careful. You can't even continue when you die, so you're expected to do all this in [[CheckpointStarvation one go]].
36	* EventObscuringCamera: Usually in crowded fights, the camera doesn't particularly give you any idea where the enemies are if they surround you and keep on moving. It's worse during boss fights, especially [[spoiler:Jubileus who fights you from above, but keeps the camera looking down on you]].
37	* EvilIsCool: Balder. He looks silly, but he's so badass and FauxAffablyEvil that he utterly steals the show.
38	* FandomEnragingMisconception: Claiming that Bayonetta is a Nintendo character because her games, starting with Bayonetta 2, are Nintendo exclusive. Her franchise started off co-created by Sega and Platinum Games, and was originally exclusive to the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360.
39	* FanNickname:
40	** The names of the Cardinal Virtues are rather cumbersome, so some fans use the nicknames "Forty", "Tempo", "Iusty", and "Sapo", or any variations of them.
41	** Bayonetta herself is commonly referred to as "Bayo", to the point that ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' uses it as a crowd chant. "Netta" also appears frequently.
42	* FashionVictimVillain:
43	** Jeanne is pretty bad with her red jumpsuit, poofy purple collar, and fuzzy gun tassels. Her weird eyelashes are somewhat unfortunate too, and her jumpsuit makes her look almost deformed. Oddly enough, Bayonetta can get in on the fun with the d'Arc couture bullet, which puts Bayonetta in a [[PaletteSwap black version of Jeanne's dress]], and it's sexy all of a sudden.
44	** [[spoiler:Balder's dead white peacock stole, single glove, and golden quarter-mask with piercing-attached monocle]] is even worse. For [[spoiler:Balder]] though, this trope probably was intentional.
45	* FetishRetardant:
46	** Maybe it's the beehive hairdo, maybe it's finding clothing made of ''hair'' less than appealing, etc.
47	** It's odd that Bayonetta's proportions and actions can end up so amazingly over-sexualized that she can become largely unsexy. Sort of like a sexy version of the UnintentionalUncannyValley: she's too sexy to be taken seriously, but not sexy enough to overpower the ridiculousness. Her head and torso are of normal proportions, but [[UnintentionalUncannyValley her arms and legs are freakishly long and skinny for a character rendered in a semi-realistic fashion]]. She's like a hyper-sexualized female version of [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]].
48	* FriendlyFandoms: With ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'', another StylishAction HackAndSlash game made by Creator/HidekiKamiya which also stars a snarky and badass protagonist.
49	* GameBreaker:
50	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpro2yaPEqo Durga-Kilgore glitch]], which lets you unleash an overpowered combo using a specific set of weapons, and thereby gets huge amounts of halo and combat score points.
51	** In the Wii U port, there's the [[BlockingStopsAllDamage Hero of Hyrule costume]]. While ''Bayonetta 2'' makes you shell out 100,000 halos to get the Super Mirror 64 and another 100,000 for the costume (the same price as the accessory it replaces), it's given to you ''for free'' in this game as soon as you visit Rodin's shop. Although generally useful for the whole game, the costume's parry removes practically all of the difficulty and danger from early chapters if you've mastered it -- ''especially'' the fight with Fortitudo in Chapter 1, whose powerful attacks are difficult to dodge but become a breeze to handle with the parry. It even allows your sword attacks to pierce the defenses of certain enemies with fire auras.
52	* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The game is beloved in the West and the titular heroine got her place in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' thanks to her Western fans, especially in Europe where she surprisingly ranked number one in an official poll organized by Nintendo itself. (She also was in the US top 5, and no word has been said about her place in Japan, so it has to be assumed she didn't place very well there. Some Japanese fan polls did place her in the top 20, but in a game with a very large roster, that's not saying a whole lot).
53	* GoddamnedBats:
54	** Dears, Decorations, Enchants, and Harmonies have a nasty tendency to get in your way and make comboing impossible until you've wiped them out.
55	** Enemies that are on fire can only be hit by ranged attacks, certain fire-immune weapons, or during Witch Time. Rather annoying as-is to be forced to switch from a preferred weapon set just to damage them, it's worse in Non-Stop Infinite Climax, since the option to get Witch Time off of another enemy and then whale on them is no longer given to you. Despite this, they are not that threatening, just mildly annoying to fight if your main weapon set does not involve Fire Durga (which is also very slow) or Odette.
56	* GoodBadBugs:
57	** You can save at least 2.8 million halos (and a lot of effort) by spending 5 million halos to unlock the Climax Brace before finishing Normal Mode and then use it to finish off Normal mode. The game will give you a total combo score of 9999999 and a total time of 00:00:00, unlocking the Bracelet of Time with no additional effort.
58	** The Durga-Kilgore glitch can shred through anything and give you the halos and rankings that normally require lots of finesse and work, making it a great way to unlock everything quickly.
59	** If you're playing as Jeanne, summoning [[spoiler:Queen Sheba during the fight with Jubileus]] will cause two swirls of white hair to summon the demon, but the majority of the creature's hair will be colored black, just like Bayonetta's.
60	* HarsherInHindsight:
61	** And HeartwarmingInHindsight, too. In her encounter with [[spoiler:Balder]], Bayonetta [[ThisIsUnforgivable spits in disgust that he can never be saved.]] [[spoiler:In the sequel, we find out that by killing him, that's exactly what she does.]]
62	** Luka's humorous YouKilledMyFather accusation that he throws at Bayonetta and then gets dropped for most of the game becomes a lot less funny when Balder shows up [[spoiler:and reveals that it was actually his doing, and that as a child, Luka saw his own father torn to pieces.]]
63	** Bayonetta's [[spoiler:fake funeral at the end of this game]] becomes harder to watch after she [[spoiler:dies for real]] in ''VideoGame/Bayonetta3''.
64	** When Luka first reunites Cereza with Bayonetta he assumes Bayonetta killed Cereza's mother and bewitched the girl to obey her, which Bayonetta doesn't even entertain the idea of. Cereza for her part truly believes Bayonetta to be her mother and declares that she'll grow up to be strong so she can protect her. [[spoiler: Then in Bayonetta 3, we end up taking control of the Bayonetta that Cereza grows up to be and she's then forced to kill an alternate dimension version of her mother after she gets possessed by Singularity.]]
65	* HilariousInHindsight:
66	** One of the things Luka accuses Bayonetta after she meets with Cereza is that Bayonetta might have killed Cereza's parent. [[spoiler:Cereza ''is'' Bayonetta, and by the end of the game, she really does kill her father, Balder, and even though her first attempt fails, it still counts.]]
67	** Nintendo was the only console company whose console at the time ''didn't'' have a port of the first game when it came out. Flash forward 5 years later, and the franchise has effectively become a Nintendo-exclusive franchise, not only having her sequels be Wii U and Switch exclusive, but the titular character herself appearing in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. The fact that Nintendo themselves funded the sequels also means that they effectively own and have control over more than half of the franchise. One wonders why Creator/{{Sega}} hasn't bothered to sell them the rights to the IP at this point.
68	** [[spoiler:Balder]] orders his angels to [[spoiler:kill Luka]] with a fingersnap that sounds strangely like the Platform/NintendoSwitch click sound, a good 8 years before that console was even released. What makes this even better is that the Bayonetta series got released on Nintendo Switch.
69	** In Chapter 6 after Cereza calls Bayonetta her mum and confusing Luka, Bayonetta teases him by claiming she has no interest in children but that she might be more interested in making them, making the poor man too flustered to give a consistent response. [[spoiler:Two sequels later and [[VideoGame/Bayonetta3 enter Viola]], their daughter (albeit from another dimension). Luka's phrasing makes it even funnier.]]
70	--->'''Luka:''' Woah! Woah! You're getting the wrong idea! I-I mean... it might be the right idea... But not right now right now. Right?
71	** Luka is a reporter who is well known for his trademark escapes with a grappling hook. His voice actor, Creator/YuriLowenthal, would later be playing [[VideoGame/SpiderManPS4 a superhero who also is known for swinging around.]]
72	** One of the things Bayonetta does to troll Luka is to draw facial markings similar to that of [[Videogame/{{Okami}} Amaterasu]] on his face. Two games later and [[spoiler:Luka gets a canine form in Strider and ''Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon'' has Prince Lukaon take the form of a white wolf]]
73	* LesYay: Between Bayonetta and Jeanne, thanks to some rather ''[[HoYay close quarters]]'' [[HoYay style fighting.]]
74	* LGBTFanbase: With her levels of {{Camp}}, hypersexuality, LesYay with Jeanne, crazy fighting gimmicks, and delightfully bitchy attitude, Bayonetta became something of an icon among gay and lesbian gamers alike, as well as many transfeminine fans, with plenty of fans comparing her level of over-the-topness to that of a DragQueen.
75	* MagnificentBastard: Rodin, the Infinite One, is the smooth-talking, demonic owner of the Gates of Hell bar, and a skilled gunsmith who supplies Bayonetta with all the weapons she needs on her journeys. Once a feared ruler of Paradiso, Rodin was banished to Inferno after participating in a failed insurgency, forced to craft weapons for the angels in their war against the demons. After growing tired of war and bloodshed, Rodin escaped Inferno to hide out in the human realm, remaining hidden for centuries. Slaying the most powerful of demons to acquire their souls for his weapons, Rodin values Bayonetta as a customer first and foremost, choosing to act as an observer who only gets his hands dirty when necessary. Though still willing to help Bayonetta out as long as it serves his needs, Rodin’s smooth charm helps disguise one of the most feared, powerful demons in the Trinity of Realities.
76	* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound:
77	** The sound of a [[DemonicSpiders Joy]] dying.
78	** The sequence of sounds in a successful Witch Twist; time slowing down, then speeding up, then the meaty impact of a Wicked Uppercut putting the monster ''right'' where it needs to be for a combo.
79	** The choir that plays before Fortitudo's fight, named "Fortitudo Again". It's really uplifting when that's the first thing you hear when you continue after dying.
80	** The camera-snap and flourish when you finish a Verse followed by the smooch, crack and metallic pop as she breaks open the seal on the current fighting ground. Regardless if it was a long drawn out battle or a stylish curbstomping, it's always a satisfying moment. It says something that Bayonetta's victory fanfare in Super Smash Bros. ends with the Verse Clear jingle.
81	* MemeticMutation:
82	** "Bayonetta's son(s)" [[labelnote:Explanation]]This phrase also doubles as a FanNickname, is mostly used in other related fandoms, and is relevant with the ''Bayonetta'' games due to characters being compared to the titular witch.[[/labelnote]]
83	*** "Sakamoto is Bayonetta's son" [[labelnote:Explanation]]Sakamoto from ''Manga/HaventYouHeardImSakamoto'' is sometimes referred to as Bayonetta's son thanks to his dark, stylish appearance and flamboyant gestures. He even has short hair, glasses, and a mole on the right side of his face. The joke becomes HilariousInHindsight due to Sakamoto's [[Creator/HikaruMidorikawa voice actor]] playing Marth in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', meaning the two characters actually interact in spirit as of said series' [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU fourth installment]] onwards.[[/labelnote]]
84	*** "Joker is Bayonetta's son" [[labelnote:Explanantion]]With the release of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Joker from ''VideoGame/Persona5'' is seen as Bayonetta's only son because [[spoiler:Joker also kills a false god]] as well as both being video game characters owned by Creator/{{Sega}}.[[/labelnote]]
85	** "Biblically-accurate Angels" [[labelnote:Explanation]]Since late 2020, there are videos and articles (such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40KcrrfbJ6o this one]]) comparing the oldest Abrahamic depictions of angels ([[EldritchAbomination/MythologyAndReligion traditional Eldritch Abominations]]) to the modern Christianity depictions (beautiful and [[FluffyCloudHeaven fluffly cloud angels]]). ''Bayonetta'' fans would usually be reminded of how the game depicted the Angels of Paradiso just like those early Abrahamic depictions, and thus comment using quotes from the game, or mention that ''Bayonetta'' has Biblically-accurate Angels in retrospect.[[/labelnote]]
86	** "Bayonetta is just JustForFun/{{Bowsette}} Creator/HideoKojima" [[labelnote:Explanation]]Following the Bowsette/Super Crown trend on 2018, Bayonetta is joked as a genderbent Hideo Kojima, especially since her hair is short in the second game, and she wears eyeglasses just like Kojima. The full version of the meme is: ''"bayonetta is just a bowsette kojima" is a sentence I had to read and now you have to, too.''[[/labelnote]]
87	* NarmCharm: It's incredibly campy, to the point where spotlights appear out of nowhere when the title character reveals herself. Like its spiritual predecessor, it's done in a way that gives it a lot of charm and appeal.
88	* NoYay: Bayonetta is a MsFanservice who generates subtext almost constantly. Unfortunately, this includes mention of "pillow talk" with Temperantia.
89	* OffendingTheCreatorsOwn: Some female gamers strongly dislike the appearance of Bayonetta, finding her highly sexualized design to be objectifying and demeaning. However, Bayonetta's character design was made by a woman, Mari Shimazaki, and her creator, Creator/HidekiKamiya, has stated that [[https://www.destructoid.com/platinum-only-a-woman-could-design-bayonetta/ "the costumes and accessories show the touch and detail that could only come from a woman’s sensibility."]]
90	* OlderThanTheyThink:
91	** According to its [[FlavorText description]], the Eternal Testimony accessory is said to be made by a witch queen named "Aizen". Anime and Manga fans might easily remember the [[ViewerNameConfusion male]] ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' villain and think that it might be a [[ShoutOut reference]] to that manga, but there's actually a Buddhist deity named Aizen Myō'ō, and the Aizen of ''Bleach'' is even named after that deity.
92	** The enemies' tendency of attacking you immediately after their MookDebutCutscene is seen as an innovative cutscene-to-gameplay transition that's popularized by this game, but the first ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' game directed by Hideki Kamiya already did this trick way back 2001.
93	* PolishedPort:
94	** The Wii U release works just as well as the Xbox 360 release, on top of having exclusive Nintendo-themed costumes that actually change some things up (like the Wicked Weaves becoming Bowser's limbs while in the Princess Peach or Princess Daisy costume). It also helps that it comes free with the disc release of ''Bayonetta 2'', and gets a massive discount if you buy the digital version of ''Bayonetta 2''. According to [[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-bayonetta-wii-u-face-off Digital Foundry]], the Wii U version has similar performance to the Xbox 360 release, but with added bonuses such as vertical sync and higher quality shadows.
95	** The Switch version has everything the Wii U version has to offer, on a console you can play on the go no less, making it the first truly portable version of the game.
96	** The PC version doesn't have any of the Nintendo-centric content (for obvious reasons), but it allows a fully-customizable keyboard-and-mouse setup, has enhanced visuals, and support for ultra-wide resolutions. This version is also well-optimized, allowing the game to run smoothly even on mid-to-lower end machines. On top of that, modding possibilities are also open[[note]]Which could mean that the Nintendo-centric content such as costumes could be made manually for this version[[/note]].
97	* PortingDisaster: From a performance standpoint, the Platform/PlayStation3 port is inferior to the Xbox 360 version. [=PlatinumGames=] developed the game using 360's hardware and handed over the code to Sega for the finalization process on the [=PS3=], which lead to noticeably reduced frame rates, poor textures, extremely intrusive and long loading times, and other technical issues without offering any kind of advantage over the 360 version. Because of this, Platinum now flat-out refuses to outsource their games to outside studios for porting ever again. The [=PS3=] version later received a patch that allows you to install the game to the [=PS3=]'s hard drive, cutting the length (but not frequency) of loading times. However, the other most glaring issues with frame rates and textures remain unaddressed.
98	* ScrappyMechanic:
99	** Out-of-body fights. They're tolerable in the story mode where you're given tools to whale on angels with and Cereza isn't constantly in danger, but when they're made an Alfheim challenge, you have to leave your body behind to fight; that won't stop the angels from going after it anyway (which will hurt your regular lifebar), unless you waste one of your two accessory slots on an item that forces Angels to attack you but also makes them ''[[TurnsRed stronger]]''. That very mechanic forces you to use a ''lightpole'' to fight Affinities while protecting Cereza, since they are not in the same dimension. Not only is the "weapon" painfully slow, it slips out of your hands if you stop to dodge an attack. Granted, you can use [[spoiler:[[SwissArmyWeapon Rodin]]]] to attack them directly but that thing is not exactly [[NintendoHard easy]] to get.
100	** The mini-game to send Jubileus into the sun isn't so bad in Normal mode. In Hard and Climax mode however, the planets are harder to avoid, and failure is counted as a death, which can completely ruin an otherwise perfect score. Considering how long and difficult this fight can be, this is frustrating to say the least.
101	** Insta-Death Quick Time Events in general, because it's sometimes damn near impossible to know exactly when to push the Square/X/B button, the game only gives you about half a second to react, and each death counts against your score. They were so hated that they were basically removed from the sequel, largely replaced with climax style button mashes that ''reward'' quick reflexes, but don't necessarily punish missing them.
102	** The MookDebutCutscene of almost every Angel type ends with them sending an attack towards the player. While this trick may be innovative for a hack-and-slash game allowing seamless transitions between cutscene and gameplay, others dislike this idea as you'll have to react quickly as soon as the cutscene ends. This is especially notorious in harder difficulties as your enemies will technically have an easy chance to shatter a large portion of your HP.
103	** Hidden encounters and Alfheims being included in your chapter ranking means it's easy to get a bad grade due to an encounter you never even saw. This is compounded by the fact that some Alfheims are very well-hidden, often requiring {{backtracking}} to a previous section of the level, and you'll have to repeat the walk plus the fight (which can be challenging in itself) every time you replay the level if you're after a higher ranking.
104	* ScrappyWeapon: The regular handguns are a deliberate example of this. Unlocked by beating the game at any difficulty, they're just like the Scarborough Fair, except worse, as they have no Wicked Weaves. Expect these to be used as a challenge run only.
105	* SelfImposedChallenge: [[spoiler:Rodin]] is already NintendoHard as-is, but some players go even further by trying to defeat the boss with just the Scarborough Fair guns and the Gaze of Despair accessory.
106	* ShockingMoments:
107	** Most, if not all, of the cutscenes will have you saying 'Holy shit' about as often as you say "What the HELL is going on? And why is it so AWESOME?" The first ten minutes of the game in particular will lock the visual cortex of your brain into overload, but it's [[CrazyIsCool so awesome you won't care]].
108	** The new motion controls that the Switch port adds to the ''Space Harrier'' level really make it feel like you're handling a joystick on an old arcade cabinet, which means they're ''extremely'' sensitive and responsive, and for some reason, come with a rate of auto-fire that human fingers cannot replicate. If you're trying them for the first time after being used to the regular button-and-stick setup, you better be ready for things to get intense.
109	* SpiritualAdaptation: Could serve as an effective ''ComicBook/LadyDeath'' video game.
110	* SignatureScene: The Records of Time level for serving as an excellent introduction to the game's extremely epic scope; Bayonetta and Jeanne fighting together against a legion of angels on the rotating pieces of a shattered clock tower as it plummets hundreds of miles down an obscenely tall cliff. It's the definition of RuleOfCool and perfectly sets the tone of the experience that follows. This intro was so iconic that ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' made it her stage and the sequel revisits the scenario midway through the game.
111	* {{Squick}}: The Torture Attack animation against a Joy is completely gratuitous and kind of unsettling.
112	* ThatOneAttack:
113	** Jeanne's ''goddamn'' missile during the fourth fight! The QuickTimeEvent requires a hyper-fast reaction time, and failure causes ''a lot'' of damage.
114	** Jeanne's Wicked Weaves from her second fight onward, especially in Hard and Infinite Climax where the tell happens almost instantly before the attack itself, giving a fraction of a second to prepare for it. Her Madama Styx heels and fists appear near you no matter where you are from Jeanne, and they don't hit lightly either. The one upside to the Weaves is that they're one of the few ways to get Witch Time while fighting Jeanne, but in Non-Stop Infinite Climax, that no longer becomes an option.
115	** Jubileus has an attack where she punches the barrier, creating a black hole. If you're caught in it, [[OneHitKill say goodbye to your HP bar]]. Luckily, the wind-up of the attack is rather long and it is telegraphed by her piercing wings with red crystals to the ground. You can actually stand behind these wings to avoid the gravitational pull, but once you're out of cover, the Panther Within would be your ''only'' hope.
116	* ThatOneLevel:
117	** Anyone thinking they have the hang of the game after beating Fortitudo could easily get hit hard in Chapter V right after. It's a MarathonLevel (the second-longest in the game) that introduces several DemonicSpiders (Grace, Glory, Fearless, Harmony, ''and'' Inspired) and has rough platforming segments with instant-kills. Topping it all off is the second Jeanne fight at the end, and she follows up her WakeUpCallBoss status from Chapter II in the exact way one might expect.
118	** For some, the rocket ride section at the beginning of Chapter XIV goes on just a ''bit'' [[MarathonLevel too long]]. It doesn't help that [[GuideDangIt the game never tells you how to un-invert the camera]]. The entire screen also spins every time you DoABarrelRoll, which can be nauseating when you have to dodge the enemies' projectiles, and it gets worse on harder difficulties where this segment turns into a BulletHell. To top it off, after you complete the segment, you have to fight [[spoiler:Jeanne for the last time, and she's harder than ever]]. Even those who like the sequence due to their nostalgia for ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'' feel that it should've been its own chapter rather than having an extremely hard boss fight at the end.
119	** The double Kinship fight. Dear God, those fuckers take BulletHell to a whole new level. It takes a good level of Witch Time skill if you don't wanna be pelted by ''[[MacrossMissileMassacre a dozen missiles at the same time]]''. This is somewhat alleviated by the fact that you can actually board the Kinships and smash their wheelhouses, and their corpses remain as a platform to board the others.
120	** The beginning of Chapter 8 and the "disappearing platforms" part in Chapter 15 also qualify on [=PS3=], mainly because [[GameBreakingBug the framerate operates a breathtaking drop in these two specific parts]].
121	* ThatOneSidequest: Getting a Pure Platinum Medal requires you to finish the Verse with a Platinum-grade score and time ''and'' [[FlawlessVictory take zero damage]]. Getting a Pure Platinum ''Award'' for the Chapter requires you to get a PP on every Verse, and this means you cannot take a single hit throughout the entire Chapter. It's entirely possible to 100% everything else, but never get a Pure Platinum Award ever. Good luck!
122	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Isla del Sol looks impressive... from the very few views you get of it. Chapter 14 is spent zooming towards the city across the sea with the skyline in the background, and then a cutscene puts Bayonetta on a roof and later the side of a building as she fights a boss there, Chapter 15 is set entirely in and on top of a skyscraper, Chapter 16 is a boss fight set around said skyscraper, and the epilogue is spent ascending beyond the planet's atmosphere. There's no chance to actually explore the very beautiful metropolis and see how it all relates to [[spoiler:the angels' plan to resurrect Jubileus]], whereas Vigrid is explored in comparatively ample detail, along with Noatun in ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2''.

Context YMMV / Bayonetta