Latest issue of EDGE has a review and they gave it a 10/10. Yowza! =o

Famitsu gave it a perfect score, too.

Funny how both outlets used to be renowned for their stringency and now they hand out 100% scores like condoms at reasonable high schools.

Yeah, how could a stupid game like Bayonetta possibly score 100%, right

Because it's not at all possible that there's just been some really good games released in recent years of course.

By the way, I really hope your reasonable high schools give out more than 11 condoms in 16 years, or 13 in 23 years (Edge and Famitsu respectively). This of course ignores the fact that you're putting entirely too much stock in a pure score anyway.

Also, worth noting is that a demo is due out next weekin Europe (3rd December): source.

Bayonetta party at Omagnus' house

Don't get me wrong; shit looks awesome and I'm probably going to buy it sometime in '10. With the abundance of A++++ 10/10 BEST GAME EVER reviews from the past few years, though, I won't have any way of knowing if it legitimately stands out without checking it out myself.

True, but they're getting a whole lot more liberal with the overly-positive reviews. Nine of Famitsu's thirteen perfect scores have been given out in the past two years. I'm really not sure if games these days are that much better-crafted than they were a decade ago, given overall industry changes.

Nah, my point is that I'm not. Quantitative review systems are utter bunk—I take issue with the fact that they're standing in the way of games being reasonably assessed. My skepticism over Bayonetta being HOLY SHIT THAT FUCKING GOOD is in that such an assessment from outlets like Famitsu and Edge is increasingly less meaningful. Review score inflation is the main reason I don't put much trust in that kind of games journalism anymore.

And my point is that you should actually read the review. You can't sit there and say "Quantitative review systems are utter bunk" and then follow it with "that such an assessment from outlets like Famitsu and Edge is increasingly less meaningful". Either you put stock in review scores or you don't, which is it?

Try reading the reviews, see what they actually have to say, see if you agree. If you don't, well then don't buy the game, but honestly I think we are seeing a lot more very good games these days as we're seeing a lot of developers who are getting very good at their craft. Whether or not these very good games fall into certain slots on some 10-point, or even 100-point scale, who gives a crap.

I used to. Now I do not. I believe review scores used to be useful, accurate, fair and worthwhile indicators of the quality of a game, but now that there's an expectation of review outlets to award every big-budget title a score somewhere between "pretty damned good" and "perfect", it's difficult to see what actually does stand out these days. Is pointing out that review scores are less important than descriptive appraisals really that controversial?

Right now I don't have any way of deciding how worthwhile either mag's review is seeing as aside from a few excerpts I found Edge's is only available in print, and Famitsu's isn't in a language I speak. I'm leaning towards a purchase, but I'm going to base whether or not I do pick it up on how much I like the demo.

I think the process it a lot more transparent these days, which I think makes us believe we know what's going on, but I don't really buy that review scores used to be more useful, but to each their own. And no, "pointing out that review scores are less important than descriptive appraisals" is in no way controversial, but that's not the point I'm picking up on. Right now you seem to be making a snap decision about the quality of Edge's and Famitsu's reviews based on an arbitary score assigned that you've indicated numerous times now that you don't put any faith in.

So tell me, if you can't really judge the quality of the game on the review score, why is it you can cast doubts on the quality of the review? My suggestion is that you go read the review. Now fair enough about Famitsu and the obvious language barrier, but Edge you can go buy a copy of and read it. Until then I'm inclined to suggest you're not really in a place to comment on how good or bad those reviews might be and whether or not they're trustworthy.

I'd love to know which other game to have got a ten from Edge you thought didn't deserve it, Krel.

I opined that either games have seen a massive leap in relative quality over the past few years, or reviewers' standards are slipping. I believe the latter, but I'm not going to push that. It wasn't so much a snap decision as it was voicing concern for the way they've both been assessing new releases lately—I've not dismissed either review completely, but that a nebulous, arbitrary score is readily available and the text accompanying it is not is another frustrating part of this, and a damning indicator of the state of games journalism as a whole.

I'll hold off on passing judgement on whether or not Edge's review is worth heeding until I've read the full thing. Shall probably buy the issue tonight in light of all this. tl;dr: I am skeptical about the review because Famitsu and Edge seem to have lowered their standards in recent years, but I'm reserving judgement.

Halo 3 and Littlebigplanet are the only two I don't agree with (although, that said, Q pointed out in chat that Edge's reasons for giving Halo that score were better laid out than those of most other review outlets).

I've been playing the demo for a little over a week now, and it's pretty insane. I don't know if it's quite deserving a perfect score, although it is extremely fun. The combat is nice and fluid, Bayonetta's moves are sick, over the top and loads of fun to watch.

There's a fairly big play difference between the difficulty modes too, it seems. In Normal mode, it's basically Ninja Gaiden with a better camera angle. On Easy mode, the enemies don't attack you all at once -- at least not that I've noticed -- and combos are extremely easy to pull off.

Last time I read a detailed preview on Bayonetta, the PS3 version was suffering immensely due to a terrible port job. The demo I've been playing is 360 one. Has there been any word on the PS3 version's progress, or is it going to be one of those shitty ports that come around every so often?

eight point eight

I was told Sega plans on "fixing" the PS3 version and that the Europe release would get a soundtrack with it, but that could be wishful thinking until I see a proper confirmation. I'm going to buy the 360 version anyway, but if more people'll buy the PS3 version if it's improved, as opposed to not buying the game at all out of some stupid protest, all the better.

For some reason as I played the demo, the music reminded me of Final fantasy X-2 Charlie's Angels-esque disco style.

After typing that I don't know if I should classify that as a good or a bad thing.


Right now, it's good.

Just try not to focus on the music and instead look at Bayonetta's clothing slowly dissipate as she uses it to kill monsters. That's what I do.

Slowly? SLOWLY?

either way i'm not complaining

Well, okay, it's not that slow.

The music adds to its ridiculous charm. Especially her fight music; it's so upbeat and happy while she's brutally and viciously slaughtering enemies by throwing them into those spiked coffins, or ramming her stilleto'd heel up an archangel's ass before guillotining its head off.

So pumped for this, maybe I'll finally get the taste of that POS DMC4 out of my mouth. Helps that she's got dat ass.

I just played the demo, It's pretty dang sweet. Being able to do gun sweeps anytime you want rocks, and I like the Witch time mode. I'm still trying to get a feel for the combos, though...

This game is ridiculous. It's like Godhand raped Devil May Cry. The demo is spooge worthy.

Did either of you play the PS3 demo? I've been playing the 360 one for a couple weeks now, but I heard the PS3 version of the game was suffering pretty bad technical problems.

Nah, I grabbed the 360 one off the Japanese side.

Worse textures, somewhat less details, but mostly the problem was the lower framerate. 360 version runs at 60fps, while PS3 seems locked around 25-30.

It still looks good, just not as smooth as the 360 version, as the animation is bee-yoo-tiful.