Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon review on Switch

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fresh take on the Bayonetta series. Featuring Cereza, a youthful apprentice witch, better known as Bayonetta, you’ll join forces with Cereza’s infernal demon partner, Cheshire. And, utilize their magical powers and ferocious attacks to explore the mysterious and treacherous Avalon Forest.

Let’s take a quick look at what fans can look forward to in this origin story of Bayonetta.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): PlatinumGames
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Action, Adventure
Mode(s): Single player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

The first page of Cereza’s story

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon ditches the breakneck action of the main series in favour of a more streamlined approach. With the goal of recounting Cereza’s origin story, I found this to be refreshing and a nice change of pace from what we typically expect in a Bayonetta game. The story begins with Cereza’s mother being imprisoned by the Umbran Witches and her father has been exiled, leaving the young witch to set things straight.

With Cereza’s mother’s love for a Lumen Sage, it led Cereza being ostracized and forbidden from learning the Umbran arts. However, she defied these restrictions and became highly skilled in them with the help from another Umbran witch who served as a mother figure and taught Cereza the ways of magic. The first hour or so of the game sets up the narrative for the rest of the game and is mainly highlighted through a nightmare in which Cereza fails to rescue her mother.

Visited by a mysterious young boy in her dreams, he assures Cereza that there is a way to alter her mother’s fate. Cereza must seek out a white wolf in Avalon Forest to guide her through the dangerous terrain. Accompanied by Cheshire, her first demon summon, they set off into the forest, eager to discover what lies ahead and to save Cereza’s mother.

Journey into the forbidden Avalon Forest

In this action-packed adventure, working together as a team means that you’ll control both Cereza and Cheshire simultaneously. And, by gathering elemental powers from the forest, including wood, rock, water, and fire, you’ll unlock new paths and gain an advantage in battles. In a nutshell, you use your left Joy-Con controller to control Cereza and your right Joy-Con controller to control Cheshire.

The game’s progression is mostly linear, which I didn’t mind at all. Although not every area is linear. Some areas contain hidden secrets off the beaten path. As you delve deeper into Avalon Forest, it’s imperative to collect Elemental Cores in order to proceed.

Each Elemental Core has a unique function. For example, the Wood elemental allows Cereza to pull parts of the environment towards her. On the other hand, the Stone elemental can be used to crush objects in your path. Additionally, some Elemental Cores have multiple uses, such as Water which can be utilized both in battle and to provide propulsion for movement through the environment.

There are also short dungeons that unlock new areas on the map and provide opportunities to increase health, upgrade magic, and boost strength. These dungeons feature puzzles that test the duo’s teamwork abilities, while others are more straightforward.

Storybook like visuals with a fantasy-inspired score

What really makes Bayonetta Origins stand out is how the game’s world is brought to life. By using vibrant, painterly colours, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon looks and is presented in such a way that resembles the pages of a storybook. The game boasts some of the most visually striking graphics among Nintendo-published games on the Switch.

Cutscenes are depicted through a series of static illustrations, lending the game a charming aesthetic appeal. The game’s soundtrack, which features a fantasy-inspired score, and the voice acting, primarily delivered by a different cast than the core Bayonetta games, also contribute to the overall experience.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is an excellent spin-off of the mainline series

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a wonderful spin-off of the mainline Bayonetta series of games. It offers a fresh take and drastic change that gives you something simple but unique. I think that fans of the Bayonetta franchise should definitely check out Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, despite the significant shift in gameplay style.

Even those who are not familiar with the series can still appreciate the game’s storybook presentation and its intricate attention to detail. There is something to love in this game for everyone, making it worth checking out.

Let me know in the comments section below if you are picking up or have picked up Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. And, if you are a long time fan or is this be your first entry into the series.

+ Great artistic design
+ Significant shift in gameplay
+ Simple but unique

– When a lot of enemies are on the screen controls can be a bit confusing

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF BAYONETTA ORIGINS: CEREZA AND THE LOST DEMON

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 4/5

Overall Rating 4/5 (80%)

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