History VideoGame / Bayonetta

** The game starts with the Handguns weapon equipped in the prologue of the first game, whose moveset is functionally identical to the guns you get at the end of the prologue, except that Wicked Weaves can't be used for [[HandWave story reasons]], allowing players to get used to the combo system before permanently upgrading combo finishers in every subsequent chapter with flashy AoE attacks.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[{{Tagline}} "Nonstop Climax Action!"]]'']]

->''"Let's dance, boys!"''
-->-- Spoken at the end of each game

The original game got an UpdatedRerelease in 2014 for the UsefulNotes/WiiU, coinciding with the release of its sequel ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2''.[[note]]First-run physical copies of ''2'' came with the first game, with the digital versions of both games being available as a discount if bought with the other.[[/note]] It received a PC port via UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on April 11, 2017. A UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch version was released alongside ''Bayonetta 2'' on February 16, 2018. It was also released with ''VideoGame/{{Vanquish}}'' on the [=PlayStation=] 4 and Xbox One on February 18, 2020 in a 10th anniversary launch bundle.

* ImposterForgotOneDetail: In one scene, Cereza is picked up by a Joy angel masquerading as Bayonetta. The Joy forgets two details; it still has its halo, and it's fully clothed even if the real Bayonetta is currently summoning a demon with her clothes. In the Wii U version, there can be a third fault: if you're using the Galactic Bounty Hunter outfit, the visor will always remain in the 'raised' position.

* KickingAssInAllHerFinery: In the Wii U version, there are over-the-top outfits based on [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach and Princess Daisy]].

** When starting the game up, it begins with an opening cutscene unlike later games.

* KickingAssInAllHerFinery: In the Wii U version, there are over-the-top outfits based on [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach and Princess Daisy]]. Notably, Bayonetta herself would rather ''avert'' this trope, never leaving her mink on longer than she has to.
-->'''Bayo:''' ''(Prologue)'' You know, I try to avoid doing this in my Sunday best.
-->'''Bayo:''' ''(Epilogue)'' That's the second dress in a month!

* SensibleHeroesSkimpyVillains: Inverted. The titular heroine wears a skin-tight outfit made of [[GodivaHair her hair]], the same material she uses to channel her spells/powers, which means she tends to flash much skin, if not going all out naked, in combat. Her oppositions, meanwhile, are usually fully-covered from the neck down [[spoiler:(And in fact, moments before her HeelFaceTurn, Jeanne strips down to the same hair outfit that Bayonetta wears)]]. The same holds true for [[VideoGame/Bayonetta2 the sequel]], where her main enemy, the Masked Lumen, shows absolutely no skin until he finally gets unmasked.

* HighSpeedBattle: Angels can match the speed-boosting effects of Witch Time, allowing them to face you at "normal" speed while the rest of the world around you is virtually frozen. Remember the opening chapter where you first face Angels during an extended Witch Time moment? The angels are initially too slow to fight back, but after torturing two of them, a short cutscene depicts one angel powering up to match its effect. There are also few enemies that are immune to Witch Time entirely, suggesting that they innately move so fast that the ability is useless (evading their attacks won't trigger it).

** The Lumen Sages have "Light Speed" as a counterpart to Witch Time. Balder uses this against Bayonetta in Chapter XVI's opening cutscene after she fires a few bullets at him. He stops time and turns the bullets to face her before letting time continue.

* NoSell: Angels can counter the time-slowing effect of Witch Time, allowing them to face you at "normal" speed while the rest of the world around you is virtually frozen. Remember the opening chapter where you first face Angels during an extended Witch Time moment? The angels are initially trapped in slow-motion, but after torturing two of them, a short cutscene depicts one angel breaking free of its effect. There are also few enemies that are immune to Witch Time entirely (evading their attacks won't trigger it).

* PurpleIsTheNewBlack: Purple is associated with the dark magic of the Umbra Witches in general. Apart from being the general color for magic and the powerups that boost it, the ColorCodedTimeStop of Witch Time is purple, and activating Umbran Climax in the second game causes a large burst of purple energy to occur.

* WalkOnWater: The game achieves the "running" variant in an unusual fashion. Umbra Witches possess the ability to slow time around them to a crawl with the use of "Witch Time", leaving SpeedEchoes in their wake as they move through their slowed environs. One application of this is to traverse water's surface; although from the player's perspective the speed is an unimportant factor (unless the body of water is large enough that you're not gonna make it across at a waltz, because Witch Time maxes out at around thirty seconds per dodge), it fits the speed necessity by effectively ''slowing down the water''.

The original game got an UpdatedRerelease in 2014 for the UsefulNotes/WiiU, coinciding with the release of its sequel ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2''.[[note]]First-run physical copies of ''2'' came with the first game, with the digital versions of both games being available as a discount if bought with the other.[[/note]] It received a PC port via UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on April 11, 2017. A UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch version alongside ''Bayonetta 2'' on February 16, 2018. It was also released with ''VideoGame/{{Vanquish}}'' on the [=PlayStation=] 4 and Xbox One on February 18, 2020 in a 10th anniversary launch bundle.

-->-- '''Bayonetta''' at the end of each game [[spoiler: or Viola]] in the third one.

* KickingAssInAllHerFinery: In the Wii U version, there are over-the-top outfits based on [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach and Princess Daisy]]. Notably, Bayonetta herself would rather ''avert'' this trope, never leaving her mink on longer than she has to.

* CameraScrew: 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]].

* AnimeThemeSong: [=MiChi=]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt9TRVlwm-I "Something Missing"]] for the live-action [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UttCvfYPHI commercials]]. The lyrics are a mix of Japanese and [[SurprisinglyGoodEnglish English]], due to [=MiChi=] being [[ButNotTooForeign born in England]] from a Japanese mother and English father.

* EasierThanEasy: Very Easy/Automatic mode, also nicknamed "Mommy mode" by [[https://www.platinumgames.com/official-blog/article/1799 Kamiya himself]] but also derided in some circles as "[[ADateWithRosiePalms Fap Mode]]."

** Rodin is a large, intimidating man with a bald head and a [[BadassBaritone deep voice]]. He can also use fire magic and was even once an angel himself, tying into the game's association of the heavenly side with fire and light.

* GrappleMove: The game has the [[WhipItGood Kulshedra, a demonic whip]] that the titular character can use as a ChargeAttack to lasso an enemy and pull them in for more punishment.

* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: The weapons that you can wield in this game include; Guns with BottomlessMagazines, {{Absurdly Sharp Blade}}s, [[ImprobableWeaponUser Weaponized ice skates]], bullet-firing nunchaku, [[MacrossMissileMassacre rocket launcher tonfas]], [[WhipItGood snake whips]], {{Laser Blade}}s, [[PlayingWithFire element]] [[ShockAndAwe shifting]] [[WolverineClaws claws]], [[SwissArmyWeapon and a shape-shifting angelic weapon]].

* WhipItGood:
** Bayonetta's Kulshedra and Jeanne's Vritra are mystical snake whips, or specifically, snake demons channeled from the hilt. Holding down the punch button allows you to [[YouWillNotEvadeMe grab the target]].
** The Joy angels can also use green glowing whips to attack you.

-->-- '''Bayonetta''' at the end of each game

** Angels are the only enemy type fought. Demons weren't introduced until VideoGame/Bayonetta2, and for that matter Homunculi in VideoGame/Bayonetta3. Jeanne however, being an Umbra Witch, is the closest to fighting a demon yet. Even then, [[spoiler: she was brainwashed by Balder.]]
** The Beast-Within is unlocked later than the other games.

** The first ''Bayonetta'' is much more difficult than the following games, with more punishing enemies, sudden quick time events that mean instant death if failed, and powerful angel mooks like Gracious, Glorious, and Joy (none of which return in ''2'' or ''3''). Witch Time is disabled almost entirely in the highest difficulty, which neither following game does.