2010 | Bayonetta

Fond of hack n’ slash games like God of War and Devil May Cry series? Want to try something new and very fresh? try out Platinum Games’ Bayonetta. Bayonetta is named after the sole-protagonist of the game. Bayonetta is a witch and is suffering for her amnesia. Actually, I posted this game very late. The game competed against other popular hack n’ slash games the were released just recently, God of War and Dante’s Inferno, the latter I have finished and PLAT-ed a month ago. Bayonetta is originally planned as an XBOX 360 exclusive, however, game publisher SEGA decided to make PS3 version with the games’ developer, Platinum Games’ permission. This is Hideki Kamiya’s first game after leaving CAPCOM and his work for Devil May Cry series.

Developer(s): Platinum Games (Team Little Angels) (XB360); Nex Entertainment (PS3)
Publisher: SEGA
Designer Hideki Kamiya (director)
Platform(s): PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre(s): Third-person hack and slash, action-adventure
Mode: Single-Player
First Released: October 29, 2009 (JPN)
Native Resolution: 720P
Played On: PlayStation 3

Got my copy from Ate Christine, a TipidPC member. If you want to read the story, check this out. Anyway, I managed to take some snapshot on my R3 copy:

EDIT: Try to watch this music video I made just now (101028), using Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 and Girls’ Generation’s new song, Hoot:

or watch it directly in YouTube

Now it’s time for the judgment.

Packaging: 9/10 – It’s as simple as your girl’s pantsu. Clear and very detailed. Although my copy is R3 and most of the text written on the back are in japanese hanja, still the cover is ver SEXY ^^. It contains 2 manuals. English and the other is Japanese. The English manual is purely black and white colored and the other is full-colored.
Graphics: 9/10 – 720P is enough for games like this. Not the best graphics but enough to show Bayonetta’s thighs, legs, chest, and whatever she can summon during witch time.
Sound: 10/10 – The background music is very good. I love how the theme song titled “Fly Me To The Moon”. Try downloading the full OST of this game here.
Gameplay: 9.5/10 – The game utilized almost the best controls. It is laso fast-paced, just like Hideki Kamiya’s earlier game Devil May Cry. In fact, they share most of the gameplay.
Story: 8.5/10 – the storyline of the game is a bit controversial, for me atleast. The game features Heaven and Hell fighting, with Umbra Witches (Bayonetta and Jeanne) against Lumen Sages (Father Balder and ???) to balance the world. Also, they call the creator named Jubileus? It’s a bit dissappointing, but anyway I will try to forget that. On the other hand, I love the sad part of the game. Like the parts of Bayonetta and Cereza.
Overall: 9.2

Right now I’m trying to hunt trophies until I achieve Platinum. Currently, I’m replaying the game in Normal difficulty.

|> Fly Me To The Moon – Brenda Lee

2010 | Dante’s Inferno

Alright, so yesterday, I had a very good training day in ACI. Around 3PM, I was searching TipidPC for almost all my interests (PC parts, programming, and PS3 games). I found something really interesting. That is, someone is selling off his Dante’s Inferno! I got excited coz’ he’s selling it for 1.2K only. It’s Region 3 and the greatest thing is, it’s a Death Edition one. So i rushed up, sending the seller a message, inquired about the blu-ray game and ta-da! deal set. Around 6PM, training’s done. I remember I told the seller that the meeting place should be in Gateway Mall. He said he’ll be a little late so I should wander around the mall for a moment. I tried windows shopping at Odyssey record bar and saw a lot of my favorite K-Pop artists’ CDs. Also, I saw a lot of my favorite metal and punk bands in that record bar, and there’s even Lamb of God’s latest release, Wrath. There’s also some copies of Trivium’s Ascendancy, Faith No More CDs and other rock n’ roll bands. I told myself, isn’t it 7:30PM already? So, I came out of Odysey and tried sending another sms message to Sir remotecontrolweekend of TipidPC. Later on, I started to feel like I should pee for a moment. On the way to the nearest comfort room, I received remotecontrolweekend‘s sms message, and he told me that he’s already in Gateway Mall. So after pee-ing, I rushed to the Lacoste shop in the second floor. There, I saw a guy wearing an Almost shirt. It was him. No, actually, it wasn’t him, but he’s Sir remotecontrolweekend‘s younger brother. He gave me the Blu-ray then, I gave him my money. We had a little chit chat then…deal’s over. It was fast, and thanks to sir remotecontrolweekend of tpc again for the game. I was really happy back then and I really want to go home already.

Around 8:30PM, finally I’m home. I setup my PlayStation 3, took some caps of the game, and then tried playing it for a bit.

DANTE’S INFERNO

Developer(s): Visceral Games; Artificial Mind and Movement (PSP)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Writer: Will Rokos
Platform(s): PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Genre(s): Third-person hack and slash, action-adventure
Mode: Single-Player
First Released: February 4, 2010 (AUS)
Native Resolution: 720P
Played On: PlayStation 3

My copy is Region 3 and is a Death Edition one. Dante’s Inferno was released with another special edition called “Divine Edition”, but it wasn’t a big deal though.

So back to the game, Dante’s Inferno is a hack n’ slash game similar to God of War series that is based on the poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Believe it or not, I’m very interested of the poem, since 4th year high school. It was one of the “many” topics I presented back in that moment, that’s why this game will be very familiar to me. I’m so familiar with the story, and the Nine Circles of hell and some other things involved in it. It combines Greek myths, ancient Italy, Islamic and Christian beliefs as well as the Arabic ones. So it was really a twist to me seeing Dante in this game, killing the devils instead of just passing it by (as depicted in the poem) to save his wife, Beatrice with the help of is co-Florentine poet, Virgil.

This game was heavily compared to fellow hack n’ slash games God of War 3 and Bayonetta. Well, I won’t say anything since, I’m good with GoW series will love Bayonetta once I bought my copy. All I can say is that, Dante’s Inferno tried its very best, and I’m satisfied with it. I guess, it’s just that it’s hard to make competition these days, especially, GoW has already achieved a strong fanbase.

The Death Edition includes the Blu-ray game, redeemable code, digital artwork, commentary and interviews, digital English copy of the whole poem and some other minor things like the box art. I love how the packaging looked like. It was satisfying, though it was just a box.

Lastly, here’s a Youtube video of Dante’s Inferno together with Slayer’s Raining Blood playing in the background:

And now it’s time for my personal ratings:

Packaging: 8/10 – it would be better if they use material other than paper. If ever the Death Edition was spilled with some water, well, it’s ruined. So my advice is, to keep your box out of your sight a.s.a.p.
Graphics: 8/10 – not the best graphics but still it’s enough to satisfy the current taste of the gamers out there. It has a native resolution of 720P, unfortunately.
Sound: 9/10 – I love the background music, I think it’s just “OK” and appropriate with the game’s atmosphere. It wasn’t perfect coz’ I think the developer’s can still give us a better one, it’s just that they’re lazy (as said in other forums…). And it would be better if the thrash metal band Slayer is featured in this game, i’m sure this will rock, right EA?
Gameplay: 7.5/10 – the gameplay is a bit too simple, that Dante can only use that never-get-some-rust Death Scythe.
Story: 9.5/10 – The story is the number one thing that made me buy this game first over Bayonetta. Coz’ I’m a fan of The divine Comedy, although some people, and somehow me, thinks that the game ruined the story, still, it’s worth the watch.
Overall: 8.4 – Dante’s Inferno is a great game for you hack n’ slash fans. I’ really sure you would enjoy it, even for a while.

|> Slayer – Hell Awaits