Bayonetta Can Be Played One-Handed

[John Funk]

Bayonetta Can Be Played One-Handed

If you're worried that Bayonetta will be too difficult for you, worry no more - the game's Automatic mode will let you play the game with just one hand, and look badass while doing it.

[brightcove bcpid=22881388001 bctid=35183391001]

Man, I remember back in the day, when Devil May Cry had a "Full Auto" option that made it slightly easier to pull off the game's slick moves - though you felt like a bit of a wimp for using it. Spiritual successor Bayonetta seems to be following the same path, with Director Hideki Kamiya showing a preview of the game's Very Easy Automatic mode in a video posted on the Platinum website [http://platinumgames.com/2009/08/25/very-easy-automatic/] - or, as he calls it, "Mommy Mode."

Automatic mode can be used on Very Easy and Easy difficulties, and "leaves the most complex controls up to the CPU." While the player can still control the character on screen if they want, Automatic mode will act as a helping hand, taking care of all of the carefully timed jumps, dashes, and dodges while the player just needs to worry about blasting the hell out of the enemy. Character designer Mari Shimazaki is holding the Xbox 360 controller in the video, and... pretty much just seems to be hitting one of two buttons in response to an indicator on the screen.

So, essentially, when Automatic mode is turned on, it reduces the game down to one giant Quick-time Event. Press the buttons in response to what it shows on the screen, watch as your buxom, gun-toting heroine shreds your demonic foes in a variety of nifty-looking ways. Interestingly enough, a similar "Gamer Hero" approach to notoriously difficult titles was proposed by Escapist columnist John Scott Tynes a couple of weeks ago [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/the-hard-problem/6359-Unfinished-Games] - so clearly, we can give all of the credit to him. Thanks, John.

I find it hard to see a downside to this. If you want a challenging game, then don't turn it on (and why are you playing on Very Easy, anyway)? This just makes the game accessible to those who aren't button-mashing champs. Or, on the other hand, it leaves you a hand free in case you'd like to, uh, do something else with it.

Look, you guys can make the jokes. I'm just ... not going to touch that one, okay?

(VG247 [http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3175753])

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[Amnestic]

Or, on the other hand, it leaves you a hand free in case you'd like to, uh, do something else with it.

Play Wet at the same time?

Because one guntoting heroine game at a time just isn't enough for some people.

 

[rossatdi]

Wow. The world does need more games for amputees.

It's my general opinion that if you need this to play a game then you probably should take up another hobby.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Or, on the other hand, it leaves you a hand free in case you'd like to, uh, do something else with it.

Play Wet at the same time?

Because one guntoting heroine game at a time just isn't enough for some people.

I personally prefer three. How I play with the third and which heroine it may beis up to you.

I laughed when I saw it, but I think it's good. Transitional mechanism isn't for us, after all, and it turns more non-gamers into gamers. Then again, if I see the same people approving this, while they decried Nintendo's Demo Play, well I may say nothing at all.

 

[WrongSprite]

This looks like the worst game ever.

I hate it so much and it's not even out...

 

[Armored Prayer]

Finally!

I can play a game with one hand and eat ice cream with the other.

 

[Booze Zombie]

It's good for people who are one-handed and want to play, but it's also good for people who are two handed and... want to play.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Bayonetta Can Be Played One-Handed

I'll say it again. You are a bad, BAD man.

 

[John Funk]

Well it seems like my prayers have been answersd. All they need to do now is release the games that are already 100% complete when you first install it, that way i can leave my console/pc behind and go do other things while the game enjoys itself.

Wow. The world does need more games for amputees.

It's my general opinion that if you need this to play a game then you probably should take up another hobby.

Games really are getting easier.

You know, there is always the option to... play on a harder difficulty level or not turn the feature on.

 

[rossatdi]

Well it seems like my prayers have been answersd. All they need to do now is release the games that are already 100% complete when you first install it, that way i can leave my console/pc behind and go do other things while the game enjoys itself.

Wow. The world does need more games for amputees.

It's my general opinion that if you need this to play a game then you probably should take up another hobby.

Games really are getting easier.

You know, there is always the option to... play on a harder difficulty level or not turn the feature on.

Well yeah, but what's the point of including it? Its pandering at the best and at the worst its encouraging the steady movement of games towards mind numbing ease.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Do you really want more non-gamers to be gamers? Look what they did to Final Fantasy D:

More gamers means industry growth, and industry growth is good in a sense. If we didn't get a new influx of gamers in the Playstation generation, many of you (not saying you specifically) may not even be here, and many gamers (I'm not one of them) probably said the same thing about the PS1 crowd that everyone is saying about the non gamers.

And what did they do to Final Fantasy? FFXII was alright.

Bayonetta Can Be Played One-Handed

I'll say it again. You are a bad, BAD man.

Oh you're a naughty Time Lord. *shakes head*

-snippety-Doo-Dah-

Do you think they understand what transitional mechanism means?

 

[John Funk]

Yea true, but unless you are a 7yr old or handicapped its hard to see the point of this feature. Its like purchasing a new sports car that drives itself...if you want it to.

Well yeah, but what's the point of including it? Its pandering at the best and at the worst its encouraging the steady movement of games towards mind numbing ease.

I refer you to the aforementioned column [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/the-hard-problem/6359-Unfinished-Games] by Mr. Tynes - it's a very interesting piece about leaving games unfinished, and questioning why it's seemingly "okay" in our industry (can you imagine having a movie that only 30% of viewers ever finished watching? It'd have to be a travesty!) Instead, modes like these aim to make games accessible to people who'd otherwise never touch a controller for fear of not having the ridiculous hand-eye coordination/spatial awareness it takes to survive games like these on harder difficulties. Is there something wrong with more people being able to enjoy a game?

If Bayonetta is anything like DMC, on harder levels it will be brutal. If you need a challenge, play those. If you can't handle it, that's what Automatic mode is for. I really don't see a downside, to be honest.

 

[rossatdi]

I do though thats just it. Online is ruined by people spoiled by single player and have no idea how to function in a competitive multiplayer enviroment. I always complete the single player first... I think it should be a requirement of playing online.

I do tend to play by that condition a bit. Might give it a miss for CoD6:MW2.