Guide: Tips And Tricks To Get You Started In Bayonetta 2

Struggling to climax? Follow our advice

Bayonetta 2 is out today, and while there are difficulty options that accommodate players of all skill levels, that doesn't mean that you can't benefit from some pointers to help get you started. Below is a guide that should help provide you with an understanding of how to approach even the most-challenging of situations with a degree of confidence. All the included information and insight is based on our time with the game, and we hope you find it beneficial on your demon-slaying adventures.

---

Combat

Learn Combos, Memorize a Routine

Most character action games are typically combo-centric, and Bayonetta 2 is no exception. Although we aren't certain of the exact number of combos available, we can confirm that there are plenty of ways to slice, dice, and bludgeon enemies into an early grave. Like the original Bayonetta, developer Platinum Games has allowed players to learn and practice combos during the loading screens, and it's important that you use this time to experiment and determine a set of moves that's best suited to your skill level and play-style. Sure, you could likely button mash throughout majority of the adventure (as long as you're dodging, that is), but it's better to be aware of moves and combos that make the circumstances easier on you. Our recipe for success was finding a couple sequences of attacks that not only dealt substantial amounts of damage, but also worked to keep imposing enemies from laying into us all at once.

Dodge, Dodge, Dodge & Witch Time

In some beat-'em-ups and hack-and-slash games, it’s possible to aggressively lay into the attack button with complete disregard for any evasive or blocking manoeuvres and easily triumph over your opponents. If you think that kind of thing will fly in Bayonetta 2, you’re in for a real butt-kicking. What we’re getting at is that dodging is just as integral to success as offensive tactics, almost even more so. If a dodge is initiated at the last possible moment before taking a hit, Bayonetta will enter Witch Time, which degrades the movement speed of everything around her. This provides a momentary break from the surrounding chaos, and it allows you to deal a concentrated dose of attacks, free of risk.

The key to executing a perfect dodge is to be perceptive of your opponent’s attack patterns. Not only will they very clearly wind up or pull back an arm or a leg before taking a swing, but often there are sound effects and visual indicators to provide you with fair warning. From enemy to enemy, and from attack to attack, there’s a varying amount of time between audiovisual cues and the attack that follows, so pay close attention and make mental notes of each enemy’s habits.

Fill your Magic Gauge for Umbran Climax and Torture Attacks

Perhaps the most helpful of all the tools at your disposal comes from filling Bayonetta's Magic Gauge. This can be done by consecutively defeating enemies and by triggering Witch Time. Once the Magic Gauge has filled to a certain degree you'll have the option of initiating an Umbran Climax or a Torture Attack. The former grants Bayonetta powerful demon attacks for a short period of time and the latter is focused on dealing very large amounts of damage to a single enemy of your choosing. These powers are integral to success, and you'll want to utilize them whenever the circumstances aren't in your favour — which is fairly often.

Finding the Weapon Combination That Compliments Your Style of Play

As you progress through the story mode, you'll unlock various weapons that can be purchased from The Gates of Hell. Not only can a weapon be equipped to Bayonetta's hands, but certain weapons can even be attached to her feet. Having the freedom to mix and match these distinctly different weapons adds a sense of customization and helps players to compliment or define their own style of play. Some are designed to be swift and deadlier at short range, while others may be optimal for long distance yet deal noticeably less damage than other options. For example, Alruna (barbed wire-like whips) have a broad reach that allows many enemies to be hit simultaneously, while Takemikazuchi (a giant hammer) takes longer to swing but seems to deal more damage. Finding the balance that suits your strengths and weaknesses is important, especially on the highest difficulty setting.

Here are some of our favourite weapon combinations:

• Undine on hands and Alruna on feet
• Takemikazuchi on hands and Rakshasa on feet
• Kafka on hands and Alruna on feet

Recommended Techniques

Techniques are special moves that can be purchased while shopping at The Gates of Hell. There are many to choose from, and since it may be a little tough to decide which you should acquire first, we've rounded up the details on a few of the techniques we found to be the most beneficial throughout the course of the campaign.

• Witch Strike (press A immediately after jumping) — After knocking foes into the air, performing a Witch Strike — which can be best described as a tornado uppercut — lets you deal more damage while they're still vulnerable.
• Breakdance (hold ZR) — Want to disperse a fury of bullets all around you? That's what Breakdance is for. This technique doesn't seem to do all that much damage, but it helps to hit and potentially suppress multiple baddies at once, which can be extremely helpful.
• Bat Within (press ZR at the exact moment you'd normally take a hit) — This one's like a safety net. If you dodge an enemy's attack a bit too late, as long as you've pressed the button at the exact moment of impact, Bayonetta will transform into a flock of bats to mitigate damage. This will also trigger Witch Time.
• Crow Within (double tap ZR in mid-air) — Crow Within transforms Bayonetta into a crow and grants temporary flight. This can aid greatly for the capture of certain Umbran Crows (see Umbran Crows in the Collectibles section below).

Accessories Can Help if You're Struggling

Bayonetta has two slots in her inventory that can be equipped with accessories. These accessories can be purchased when shopping in The Gates of Hell, and they're designed to help you along if you're having difficulties. We beat the entire game on 2nd Climax difficulty without purchasing a single one, but if you get hung up, identify what you're struggling with and buy accessories to help balance things out. Just be prepared — they're costly.

Tips for Earning Medals

In each stage there are a set number of enemy encounters to participate in, and your performance during these battles royal will be rewarded with a medal. At the end of a stage, that's when an overall score will be tallied and a medal awarded based on how well you did from start to finish. Locating every one of these battles and earning the highest possible ranking in each one is how you'll be bestowed with the highest of honours: the Platinum or Pure Platinum medals. This will not be an easy task by any means, and it will require practice, stage restarts and possibly even broken controllers.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while high-score hunting:

• Be on the lookout for suspicious platforms and areas — While many battles take place on the clear path, there are plenty more that can only be initiated by exploring and venturing off course. These areas won't always be clearly defined, and you should expect your curiosity to be derailed quite frequently by invisible walls, but if you're determined, you'll eventually hunt down each and every battle.
• Keep your combos alive — If you can keep your combo alive from the start to the end of battle, chances are you'll be walking away with an impressive score. If enemies end up out of range, firing your gun while moving closer to them is a smart way to keep that combo growing.
• Don't get hit — This one explains itself. Just don't suffer any blows from those resilient angels or demons. Of course this is much easier said than done, but if you want a Pure Platinum medal, well, you can't risk a taking a single hit. You remember what we said earlier, right? Dodge, dodge, dodge.
• Finish off enemies as fast as possible — How fast you dispose of baddies and end each battle matters. Be as speedy as possible to earn maximum points.

Collectibles

Umbran Crows

Even if you’re not actively searching for them, you’re bound to stumble upon at least a couple of the Umbran Crows during your time with Bayonetta 2. These Crows serve as collectibles, and every time you check one off the list by catching it, a new Miiverse stamp will be unlocked. Those familiar with the original Bayonetta will know what to expect from these slippery birds and have a general understanding of how to catch them. Those of you that don’t, however, could benefit from some general pointers that should ensure you’re always keeping a keen eye and streamlining your efforts to track them down.

• Activating the “Panther Within” (which is basically Bayonetta’s means of running) is helpful in catching majority of the twenty Crows. This can be done by double tapping the ZR button. If it's doable, you can also creep slowly toward the Crows and they won't be scared off.
• You’ll have unlimited chances to catch each crow. If you've botched your capture attempt and the sly Crow has vanished from sight, simply walk away from the immediate area until it flies back into view, then try again.
• Listen for subtle audio cues indicating a Crow’s proximity. When they've been scared off, there's the faint sound of wings flapping, and when they return, listen for a "caw" as they land.
• While the Crows themselves are black, each one is encompassed within a red glow that makes them easier to spot. Pan the camera around in each new room you enter and keep an eye out for any hint of red.
• Crows are ALWAYS located within the environments. You won’t have to win any battles to unlock them, nor will they be tucked away in a chest. It’s also worth mentioning that they’re never found underwater.

Want to know the location of every Umbran Crow in the game? Check out our handy guide.

Angelic Hymns Gold LPs

Sometimes right out in the open, other times a reward for seeking out and conquering battles off the beaten path, Bayonetta 2 contains many Gold LPs waiting to be collected. Finding and grabbing these will lead to weapon unlocks that can be purchased from The Gates of Hell, so be ready to explore each stage to the fullest. Just like our advice in the "Tips for Earning Medals" section, you'll need to be committed to venturing off course and keeping both eyes peeled for suspicious platforms or ledges that might lead somewhere new. From what we could tell, these records also factor into unlocking costumes which, if you've seen the Bayonetta-themed Nintendo Direct or recent trailers, are sometimes based on popular Nintendo characters. Trust us when we say that, if you're a huge Nintendo fan (we're assuming you are if you're hanging around Nintendo Life), then you'll want to see the level of fan service that Bayonetta 2 brings to the table.

---

And that concludes our Bayonetta 2 tips & tricks guide. We hope that the information gathered above will be valuable to you during your time with what we think is "one of the Wii U's best games." Feel free to use the comments below to converse with other Nintendo Life members and offer any other assistance that we might not have touched on to those in need.