Explore the tale of how Bayonetta became a powerful Umbran Witch! Read on to find out if striking visuals and story are worth a buy in our review of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon!

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Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Review

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Score Explanation

Bayonetta Origins Review: Bayonetta in Wonderland

Cereza and the Lost Demon is a great action-adventure title with an eclectic fairy tale aesthetic, good voice acting, and a story full of callbacks to the mainline series. It’s only hampered by repetitive gameplay near the end, and its 60-dollar price tag despite being a spin-off game.

Overall, we at Game8 recommend you play it. It’s a great title for the Switch, maybe one of the better titles for the platform this year. If the price tag or tone turns you off, wait for a sale then try it out.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Full Game Review

Pros of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Things Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Got Right
Eclectic Fairy Tale-Inspired Art Direction That Keeps Series Hallmarks Unique Two-Character Gameplay and Amazing Puzzles Good Story That Sets Up Rest of Series Great Music and Good Minimalist Voice Acting

Eclectic Fairy Tale-Inspired Art Direction That Keeps Series Hallmarks

The first thing you see upon opening the game is a storybook with the game title. That alone should already clue you in on how the rest of the game is going to look, and it is fantastic. Morgana’s home and garden, and the entrance to Avalon Forest look shot out of a Golden Age Disney fairy tale book. The game has also replaced the realistic style of the mainline series with a more cartoony aesthetic, with Cereza looking like a doll with glasses more than anything else.

Let’s talk about environments. Avalon Forest is lush, drawn in a bright and lightly-colored 3D fashion with graphics that make them look almost 2D. In the distance, you will see assets fading into a beige texture with outlines, reminiscent of pages in a book. You have your grand vistas overlooking the remains of a giant tree that looks like a monster roaring in the moonlight, a small shelter under the cover of a thick forest, or a faerie junkyard that’s been turned into a playground for wisps. Every frame where Cereza shows up in these environments could very well be a page in a storybook.

Meanwhile, the enemy designs are enchanting, but fearsome. Each faerie from the lowly Aos Si to the powerful Jabberwock is a being wrapped in wooden skin and crystals, giving off an otherworldly appearance. Like the demons of Inferno or the angels of Heaven, the Fair Folk are not to be trifled with.

Unique Two-Character Gameplay and Amazing Puzzles

You’ll notice early in the game that most of Cereza’s actions are mapped to the left joycon. That’s because when she eventually runs into Cheshire, his actions are mapped to the right joycon. What does this mean? Well, you’ll have to control both of them at the same time, and it’s a rather swell time, I may add. The game makes it clear that Cereza and Cheshire will need to rely on each other to survive Avalon Forest, and you’ll need to use both of them to get through the game.

The control scheme is rather confusing at first, but eventually, you get used to it through a mix of passing puzzles where you need to use both of them to press buttons, hop on platforms, get rid of obstacles, and combat. Combat in Cereza and the Lost Demon is fairly simple as well, as you use Cereza to bind enemies in place and Cheshire to bring down the hurt. It later gets some variety once the enemies get their hands on shields both metal and elemental, but the core combat itself though remains the same until the very last segment of the story.

So all in all, the control scheme takes getting used to. But the game is fair enough to give you enough opportunities to get a hang of it, and challenge you to master it in the later parts.

Good Story That Sets Up Rest of Series

Having stories about the childhoods of popular characters is rather common in media, and it’s Bayonetta’s turn in this game. Here, we see that she wasn’t always a confident and sassy angel killer, but a girl shunned by her fellow witches who only wants to save her mother.

The main story is simple enough that talking more about it past “Cereza goes into Avalon Forest to gain a power that could save her mother” risks spoiling the plot already. I will say that the build-up to the story’s climax was set up very well, though more attentive players will notice the hints early on. Also, the story handles its themes of friendship, determination, and “doing the right thing” in a nuanced way, demonstrated by the relationship between Cereza and Cheshire.

Cereza’s journey through Avalon Forest lays the groundwork for the Bayonetta we’ve seen in the mainline series. In the context of the main series, it’s a rather weird story to have, but it works. It’s light-hearted, it’s dark, it’s whimsical, it’s serious, it’s all these things. It’s not a story that will pull new people into the Bayonetta franchise, but it’s a story that will satisfy fans looking for more Cereza.

Great Music and Good Minimalist Voice Acting

First of all, props to the old lady narrator. She has a very nice voice, and her narration style suits the fairy tale theme perfectly.

The one word I can think of to describe the music in Cereza and the Lost Demon is… relaxing. While you’re exploring Avalon Forest, you will hear chimes in the wind, lyres being plucked, along with some strings, letting you in on how vast this forest is. During combat, the music is tense, driving home that you need to give it your all in battle or it's curtains for Cereza. When you’re saving the game and sitting under the shade of a sanctuary, the sounds give a sense of respite from all the action you’ve been doing. I think the “comfiness” of the game stems largely from the art style and the music, and they are both easily the game’s strong points.

As for the character voices, the game actually has a pretty small cast. There’s Cereza, there’s the narrator (who also voices Cheshire with an exaggerated deep voice), there’s Morgana, the Faerie King Puca, and… oh yeah, no spoilers. It’s a pretty small cast, but they all give stellar performances, especially Angeli Wall’s rendition of a younger Cereza. Wall did all those little chuckles, those voice cracks, as well as Cereza’s less-than-confident tone very well.

Cons of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Things That Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Can Improve
Tone May Not Pull In New Fans, Alienate Some Fans Repetitive Gameplay Padded Out by Tir na Nog Segments Low Replayability, Too Expensive for a Spinoff Game

Tone May Not Pull In New Fans, Alienate Some Fans

One of the first things that stuck out to me while I was booting this game up was how different Cereza and the Lost Demon is from the mainline Bayonetta series. Sure, it’s a spin-off game; spin-off games can afford to be a bit different from their mother series. Though with such a wildly different tone, you’d have to wonder… What target audience is this game directed at?

The first answer would be fans of the Bayonetta series who want more of Cereza. That’s cool. But I would assume that at least some of the fans would find the different gameplay and tone jarring compared to the main series, and simply not play the game based on that. Also, the price tag for the game is 60 USD, which in my opinion is rather high for a spin-off game that’s targeted toward fans (but more on that later).

So who else could this game be directed at? Younger audiences? Teenagers? Pull them into the Bayonetta brand, sure. But why? The mainline Bayonetta series is known for slick, sexy action that’s full of fanservice and double entendres, while Cereza and the Lost Demon is much, much more chaste. Thematically this is appropriate, since it’s a game about Cereza’s childhood after all. But in the context of Cereza and the Lost Demon’s relationship with the main series, I just can’t see how it would pull in younger audiences to the main franchise.

Repetitive Gameplay Padded Out by Tir na Nog Segments

The two-character control scheme is rather simple as I said in the previous segments. But it also becomes the game’s weak point in the later segments. Most of what you’ll be doing in combat is just binding enemies with Cereza and having Cheshire beat them up. Sure, Cheshire’s attack repertoire increases as you get more elements for him, but that’s the only variety you’re going to get.

In non-combat gameplay, you get to solve puzzles, which break up the monotony somewhat. What I hate about this, however, is that most puzzles are in the Tir na Nog sections which can get old fast. The same layout, the same color scheme, and the same method to destroy it. Each and every time. Had they just taken these puzzles out of the Tir Na Nogs, or made less but tougher Tir Na Nogs, gameplay would’ve improved more.

Low Replayability, Too Expensive for a Spinoff Game

I’m sounding like a broken record, but really, 60 dollars for a spin-off game? One that isn’t even that long? Well, you could argue that the other Bayonetta games weren’t that long either, but this is a short spin-off that adds only a teensy bit to the main franchise (while setting up other potential titles).

Once you’ve finished the game, that’s more or less it for you. Unless you want to be a completionist, there’s almost no point in replaying Cereza and the Lost Demon’s main story. Again, the same argument could be made for the mainline titles, but this game is much less mechanically complex to be stimulating enough to play.

60 dollars for a short action-adventure spin-off that largely doesn’t even play like Bayonetta? I feel that’s a big ask some simply won’t answer.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Overview & Premise

We all know who Bayonetta is: the sexy gun-toting Umbran Witch who strikes fear into the hearts of the Angels of Paradiso with help from the Demons of Inferno. But before all that, she was a girl named Cereza, born of the forbidden covenant between an Umbra Witch and a Lumen Sage. Her father was exiled, and her mother was imprisoned, leaving the girl an orphan in the care of the Umbran Witches. But they shunned Cereza, for she was the fruit of what they deemed a cursed union that would eventually bring about their end.

That’s the setup of Cereza and the Lost Demon, a story of a younger Bayonetta who grew up as a child that longed for her mother and lacked confidence in herself. At this point in her childhood, she has been training under the Umbran Witch Morgana, who always forbade her from going into the nearby Avalon Forest. But lately, Cereza has been having dreams of a boy who claims that deep inside the woods lies a power that would help her save her mother from imprisonment.

So despite her teacher’s repeated warnings, Cereza goes into the woods. She soon runs into the forest’s denizens: the Faeries, who were introduced in Bayonetta 3. Though she manages to summon a demon to defend herself with, she lacks the skill necessary to send it back to Inferno. So starts the journey of Cereza and the lost demon named Cheshire into Avalon Forest.

Unlike games in the mainline Bayonetta series, Cereza and the Lost Demon by PlatinumGames is an Action-Adventure where you take control of both Cereza and Cheshire. Cheshire attacks enemies, while Cereza binds them in place. But they also have to work together to solve puzzles throughout Avalon Forest. As you progress through the game, you unlock elemental powers for Cheshire that will allow you to enter new parts of Avalon. Where maybe, just maybe, you might finally find the power to rescue your mother…

Oh, and send Cheshire home, of course. You wouldn’t want your demon friend to stay on the surface forever, do you? Though, at least keep him around until you reach the heart of the forest. Yes…

Who Should Play Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon?

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is Recommended if You Enjoy:

• The Bayonetta Series
• The Legend of Zelda
• Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Fans of the mainline Bayonetta series will definitely be in for a treat while playing Cereza and the Lost Demon, as it’s the story of how the Umbran Witch we know and love actually became the badass she is.

However, the gameplay diverges significantly from the mainline series, resembling more of an action-adventure similar to The Legend of Zelda games. The player also has to control two characters simultaneously, akin to Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

If you're a fan of both games I mentioned, you will probably like playing Cereza and the Lost Demon.

Is Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Worth It?

Worth It for Fans of the Bayonetta Series

If you’re a big fan of the Bayonetta series, the 60 dollars could be worth it. Especially since Cereza and the Lost Demon has some hints toward future Bayonetta content. It’ll keep you sated until Bayonetta 4 or another spin-off.

If you’re not a big fan though (or a parent wondering what Switch game to buy for their kids), I would suggest waiting until it goes on sale. It’s a good game all around, just a tad bit expensive.

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How Bayonetta Origins Cereza and the Lost Demon Matches Up to Recently-Released Games

Games That Came Out Recently	Pros	Cons
Little Witch Nobeta (Switch)	Cereza and the Lost Demon is more of a platformer and hack-and-slash game, compared to Little Witch Nobeta, which feels more like a magical third-person shooter.	Players who prefer third-person shooters might find themselves liking Little Witch Nobeta more than Cereza and the Lost Demon, which focuses more on puzzle-solving and melee combat.
Dredge	Cereza and the Lost Demon has more of a fantastical feel compared to Dredge, which is more of a horror game. CATLD’s aesthetic will probably attract players more based on the looks alone.	Dredge is a lot cheaper compared to Cereza and the Lost Demon, and there may be players out there who will like the more horror-focused take in Dredge.
Atelier Ryza 3	Cereza and the Lost Demon has a more focused narrative compared to Atelier Ryza 3, which is more of an open world game where you get to gather ingredients and fight enemies sometimes.	Atelier Ryza 3 might appeal more to gamers who want to play open world games on the Switch and have a more relaxing time.

How Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Matches Up to Similar Games

Games Similar to Cereza and the Lost Demon	Pros	Cons
Okami	Both games have an eclectic art style that revolves around a singular theme (Ancient Japan for Okami, fairy tales for Cereza and the Lost Demon).	Okami doesn't have a pseudo-coop aspect unlike Cereza and the Lost Demon.
Portal 2	Both games both have creative and brain-twisting puzzle sequences.	Puzzles in Cereza and the Lost Demon can feel more repetitive and/or tedious compared to those in Portal 2.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild	Both games have great exploration, light-hearted combat, and share a similarity in how they employ puzzle dungeons (Shrines for BOTW, Tir na Nogs for Cereza and the Lost Demon).	Cereza and the Lost Demon is not as open as BOTW and has less replayability.

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Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Product Information

Title	BAYONETTA ORIGINS: CEREZA AND THE LOST DEMON
Release Date	March 17, 2023
Developer	PlatinumGames Inc.
Supported Platforms	Nintendo Switch
Genre	genres here
Number of Players	1
ESRB Rating	Teen
Official Website	https://www.platinumgames.com/games/bayonetta-origins

Michael Mendoza Ab..

Reviews video games by day, tries to write novels by night. He's a sucker for open-world games (Bethesda Fallout titles, Mount and Blade Bannerlord, Grand Theft Auto), CRPGs (Planescape: Torment, Disco Elysium), and First-Person Shooters (Call of Duty, Battlefield, and immersive sims like Bioshock..