The first Bayonetta game was an absolute beast, despite how simple it seemed on the surface as an action game. Hidden levels, a grading system, and more collectibles than should be allowed filled Platinum Games’ game to the brim. If you had any hopes in securing all of the collectibles or finding all of the hidden levels, both of which only appeared on certain difficulties, then the strategy guide was almost an requirement. Bayonetta 2 isn’t as crazy as that, but finding all of the collectibles is still a horrific issue. and I know I couldn’t have found all of the Muspelheim and other hidden levels without the Bayonetta 2 strategy guide. If only the strategy guide could have also given me mad fighting skillz so I could have finished all of the Muspelheim levels or found all of the collectibles, but that’s more about me learning to suck less than anything else.

Bayonetta 2 is combo heavy, but the brilliant thing about it is that you don’t have to be perfect at it to get through the game. However, don’t you want to earn those Pure Platinum medals and beat the game on the ∞ Climax difficulty? I thought so. And if your combo-pressing skills are about as abysmal as I am, then you will want to look in the Combat Primer chapters of the Bayonetta 2 strategy guide. The primer goes over the tutorial information found in the game itself, but it also goes above and beyond what you can learn when purchasing new techniques. Many of the combo presses are confusing to say the least when the game tries to show you what they are. Those who are more versed in these types of games may understand completely what the instructions are trying to say, but I needed a translator. The Beginning Primer and Advanced Primer explained how some of these more complicated techniques were executed, which made far more sense than the in-game instructions. In addition, the Advanced Primer gives several useful tips for improving your technique.

The meat of the strategy guide is of course the main story walkthrough. I apologize in advance for not being able to scan in some of the guide pages to illustrate how useful the book is. For those who missed it, the baby did a number on my copy, and well, the whole thing is close to ruined.

Each chapter is divided into the corresponding Verses, and if the verses are hidden, the guide does explain where to find them on the map. For each Verse, the enemies are listed, and a quick strategy is detailed for the 1st/2nd/3rd Climax difficulties. A separate strategy is set for the ∞ Climax. And then yet another strategy is set aside for Pure Platinum tips. A table sits at the bottom of each Verse that lists the requirements for each medal in each Climax difficulty. I personally loved the assistance for the Muspelheim challenges, as for a few of them, I had zero clues how to even attempt them.

When the chapter shifts to a new location, the chapter in the strategy guide kicks off with a complete map of the area, marking all of the collectibles. Fortunately, all the collectibles are also marked in the main walkthrough as well, including when you can get them (some you have to come back for with certain abilities) and what abilities you need to get them. For the Umbran Resting Places, each has its own tips for snagging all of the memory fragments efficiently.

The back of the Bayonetta 2 strategy guide contains behind the scenes goodies, such as an interview with the lead designer, a look behind the concept art for the villains, and a letter from everyone’s favorite angry man on Twitter, Hideki Kamiya.

Many people complained that this strategy guide wouldn’t be as great as the original Bayonetta strategy guide, but I strongly believe the Bayonetta 2 strategy guide is just as great as the guide for the first game. I wasn’t surprised by anything the bosses and enemies threw at me, it had great tips for completing the Muspelheim challenges, and I was able to get the collectibles with ease. It’s hard to ask for much else in a strategy guide.

SGR Rating: 5/5

Author: Geson Hatchett
Publisher: Prima Games
Editions Available: Hardcover
Acquired via Publisher