All we know right now is that it supports two players
Bayonetta is one of my favorite action games of all time. Not only is it legitimately challenging even on hard mode (who would have thought), but it offers up that frame-perfect technical action you’d expect from a studio like Platinum Games, with a ton of weapon variety to boot.
Although we don’t know much about Bayonetta 2, I’m still pretty excited given the team’s pedigree, and the multiplayer mode has me intrigued. Going into 2014 and the inevitable release of more information on the sequel, I’m starting to wonder what Bayonetta would be like with another person.
Competitive:
Astute Platinum fans will notice that the above screen is actually from Anarchy Reigns — one of my favorite games of 2013. As a cross-promotion of sorts Bayonetta was implanted into the game, which features a good old-fashioned rumble-fest with multiplayer arena combat.
This is easily how Bayonetta 2‘s multiplayer component could end up, as her inclusion in Anarchy could have been foreshadowing a full-on competitive mode for up to four players. Assuming that Nintendo and Platinum are able to get the game up and running online, both parties really need to address the immediate drop in the online community, a problem that plagued Anarchy Reigns.
With Nintendo at the helm and a bigger budget, they could work with Platinum to achieve a superior netcode, resulting in less dropped games. They could also collaboratively decide to cut down on the gametypes, so that players could easily jump into another session without too much trouble.
Nintendo showed their resolve by publishing Bayonetta 2, one of their only M-rated games on record. Now they can show that they have what it takes to back up Platinum and provide a solid online experience with a hardcore action game.
Co-op:
Playing nice is also an option, and co-op would easily work if Nintendo and Platinum decide to ditch online play entirely. I think this is the likely option for multiple reasons, including the ability to use the GamePad and a Wii U Pro Controller in tandem. Similar to Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, one player can use the GamePad as a screen while the other player gets free rein of the TV.
It would be perfect for ensuring that each player has an ample camera angle to perform their maneuvers, and very easy to engineer with only two players to account for, offline. In all likelihood this mode would feature Bayonetta and her rival Jeanne in a format similar to Dante’s Inferno’s Trials of St. Lucia mode, with both players battling off hordes of enemies.
While I wouldn’t mind an “endless mode” to tackle with a friend, I think specific levels and waves would be ideal, and it would be consistent with Bayonetta‘s “grade” and ranking system. In short, it could implement concepts found in Ninja Gaiden‘s Ninja Trials mode, and present a “mini-story” — even if it was just clips of Bayonetta and Jeanne bickering.
Personally, I’d find a well designed co-op mode to be superior to the competitive option, especially since we already got a taste of it with Anarchy Reigns. A truly well balanced co-op mode with the same technical action from the core game would provide endless hours of entertainment for myself and another like-minded friend.
Both?
Of course, this list is non-exhaustive, and doesn’t spell out every option for Platinum Games — just the more likely ones. It would be great if both of them were included, as well as local and online play. Leaderboards would also be perfect for either mode to add a friendly competitive element to them.
Either way, I’m hoping we hear more about Bayonetta 2 sooner than later.
