The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2: Platinum’s Deadly Weapons
Platinum Games (as well as Clover Studio, the place where many of Platinum’s creative heads came from) is one of the rare developers that can deliver style and substance simultaneously. Games like Viewtiful Joe, Okami, Bayonetta, and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance all manage to juggle unique beauty, chaotic madness, and rewarding mechanics in a way that few projects ever can. This is why Wii U owners should feel safe pushing their chips in for The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2, Platinum’s pair of upcoming Nintendo games.
I got a chance to play the duo at Comic-Con, and despite their vastly different levels of violence, gore, and softcore pornography, I was surprised by how similar the two were. Both feature stylish, combo-driven battle systems that judges you at the end of a skirmish in a way that just screams “Japanese developer.” And then there’s the way each game creates a sense of awe and grandeur while still having you feel like you’re in control of the action. Finally, both demos culminated with a high speed train becoming the unfortunate recipient of some collateral damage. But while Bayonetta feels like a tentpole summer action movie drenched in blood, sweat, and hair, 101 displays comedic timing and a willingness to break the fourth wall in a way reminiscent of classic Looney Tunes shorts.