It’s always exciting to see a new game company come to fruition, full of fresh ideas and intriguing promises. It’s doubly exciting when a seasoned game director takes charge of that company, idealistic in creating a dream project that was otherwise unobtainable at their previous employment.

When Sega announced their newest development team Platinum Games, gamers quickly took notice. Featuring well respected names in gaming such as Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya, Platinum was a team well worth watching, especially after witnessing footage of their début titles in action. Their first, MadWorld, graced the Nintendo Wii and attracted hardcore audiences with its gritty black and white visuals and unrestricted violence. With their second title, Bayonetta, hitting the high-def consoles, does this stylish action title from Capcom’s best directors live up to the hype, or is this one witch whose name must never be spoken?

The story of Bayonetta is… confusing. Attempting to form the details of the plot into something cohesive is difficult, but to summarize: in a somewhat-modern world where angels and demons roam while humanity remains oblivious to their presence, a young witch named Bayonetta finds herself hunted by the angelic soldiers of Paridiso. Her memory wiped after spending twenty years in an underwater coffin, Bayonetta travels to the island of Vigrid to retrieve clues about her past while fending off the angels hot on her trail. A motley crew of allies and sort-of allies interact with the witch during her journey, including Joe Pesci and Wesley Snipes (in truth, a money-grubbing loser named Enzo and a weapon-dealing denizen of hell named Rodin), along with a mysterious rival and an even more mysterious little girl.

On paper it doesn’t sound too complicated, but the game has a schizophrenic way of telling its story, with abrupt flashbacks that spring out of nowhere to constantly switching between standard cutscenes and film-style still shots, along with collectible journal entries that no one would ever bother reading in a fast-paced game like this. But the overall substance of the story is secondary to the sheer style of sequences that Bayonetta partakes in. Marketed as a sexy superheroine, the sheer amount of innuendo, poses, butt and crotch shots, and double entendre-driven wordplay puts Bayonetta alongside Tecmo’s Dead or Alive series as a game you don’t want to be caught playing. Rather than intentionally entice male players, however, the sheer over-the-top nature of Bayonetta feels more like a parody. Clearly not taking itself seriously, the game’s cutscenes are abundant with silly moments as well as wall-to-wall action. Just a few minutes into the opening adrenaline-fueled prologue and you won’t bat an eye as our leading lady sensually sucks on a lollipop while pistol whipping angels to death. Things get far, far crazier afterwards, but let’s just say that “WTF” is a phrase you’ll find yourself muttering often.

But don’t think the hyper-sexualized insanity is exclusive to the cutscenes; Bayonetta’s gameplay should feel immediately familiar for fans of Devil May Cry, one of Capcom’s most popular franchises, to which Kamiya also shares credit for creating. Fending off the angelic enemies while wielding guns, swords, guantlets and other obtainable weapons while navigating through European-centric set pieces, enjoying brief moments of solving puzzles, most skeptics may immediately write off the title as nothing more than Dante in a wig. While the core mechanics are unmistakably similar, it’s that same high octane craziness found in the cutscenes that separates Bayonetta from being a mere homage; the action is more intense, as you start right off the bat with more combos than you know what to do with (with further techniques that can be purchased in Rodin’s store), and the enemies are plentiful in both number and variety (far from heavenly creations, these flying monstrosities are closer to the Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion… if designed by Tim Burton). Additional weapons and guns can be obtained should you find the required musical records hidden in each stage (often in several pieces), but you can also grab the weapons from destroyed enemies, Final Fight style.

If that isn’t enough to fulfil your bloodlust, the game also features fatalities in the vein of “Torture Attacks”. When Bayonetta fills up her meter after keeping the combo flow going, she can choose to finish off the helpless enemies in different, often brutal sequences, ranging from guillotines to chainsaws. Larger boss-type creatures will suffer an even worse fate at the hands of a summoned demon, formed from Bayonetta’s impossibly long hair. These sequences are but one of many of the game’s flashy moments, which only increase in both velocity and absurdity as the game progresses. Boss fights in particular pit players against massive terrors that require several surgical strikes to eventually bring down. A few breaks in the standard action sequences also take place, including the ever clichéd motorcycle stage.

Make no mistake; Kamiya’s latest title is louder, flashier, and more intense than Devil May Cry has ever managed. And yet, the game often feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to be over-the-top. Like a whored out celebrity striving (and stripping) for attention, Bayonetta’s hyper sexualizing and insinuating animations can grow exhaustive after a while. When you find yourself rolling your eyes as Bayonetta wraps her leg around a lever while pulling it, or gyrating her body over a dying enemy before finishing it off, you know that the game has crossed the line from tongue-in-cheek satire to shoving its own tongue down your throat.

Nevertheless, it sure is pretty to look at. While the textures and character models don’t compare to some of the recent western breakthroughs in graphics, the sheer volume of effects going off at once add to an impressive presentation. Magical particles, bullet casings, halo rings (which function as currency for Rodin’s shop), and bloody remains from the many foes filling the screen at one time, this is one busy game, and the framerate rarely has trouble displaying all the action. As nonsensical as the cutscenes are, they still entertain with its adrenaline-filled action and style. The audio is filled with pop-style music, while Bayonetta tends to chew the scenery with her English accent and snappy (and often sexual) one-liners. Many nods to other games are spoken about as well, often with characters reciting infamous quotes and memes that should be particularly familiar to Capcom fans.

The main campaign can be finished in under a week, but don’t think the game stops once the credits roll. There’s a huge amount of hidden content to be found, from additional playable characters and weapons to collecting all the treasure pieces (which can raise both health and magic), as well as accessories and costumes that can be purchased for a hefty sum of halos. What will keep players coming back the most, however, is obtaining a high score in each level. At the end of each battle, Bayonetta’s performance will be tallied up and ranked by a medal. Finish off enemies quickly while avoiding damage can result in a prestigious Platinum award, while having to restart multiple times in a chapter or resorting to items can earn you a humiliating Stone award. The struggle for perfection will have players coming back for more, along with higher difficulty modes that can be unlocked, creating insanity for an already tough game; learning to master Bayonetta’s “Witch Time” (which slows down time considerably with a successful dodge from enemy attacks) is the ultimate key to victory, as well as keeping a sharp eye on the cutscenes (occasionally a quick-time event will emerge without warning, and failing to push the onscreen button will result in an immediate death). The latter is particularly frustrating, but on the upside, restarting during boss fights will instantly put you where you left off during battle, whether the boss is halfway defeated or just a few hits away from victory.

In the end, Bayonetta delivers in its thrilling action and exaggerated events. It may not leave as lasting an impression as it might have hoped, but this is one lady you’ll occasionally come back to - just be sure not to introduce her to your parents.