A new, story-oriented trailer for Platinum Games’ Bayonetta 2 has surfaced online, which showcases the magical abilities of our eponymous heroine. The footage, which was revealed during today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, illustrates the refined character models and combat system, though the company refrained from providing a specific release date.
Entitled “Did you miss me?”, the video itself is designed to add context to the sequel ahead of its nebulous release. Set 500 years before the events of the game, it charts the fallout between the Luman Sages and Umbran Witches. Much like Bayonetta herself, the elusive character of Jeanne belongs to the latter clan, and will also serve as your ally in the upcoming sequel.
Retaining the familiar, hyperkinetic combat system from the original, Bayonetta 2 will also introduce several new abilities for the titular witch. One of which is the Umbran Climax, an technique that allows players to curate mystical power before unleashing a single, concentrated attack. At the conference, Saturo Iwata also hinted at some of the enemies we can expect, including rogue angels and maleficent demons.
Originally unveiled in 2012, Platinum Games’ follow-up is, despite rumours to the contrary, a Wii U exclusive. Although the first Bayonetta was available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the studio has since stated that an immediate sequel would not have seen the light of day without the backing of Nintendo.
And so, Bayonetta’s all-new adventure will be tethered to Nintendo’s flagship console when it releases later this year. Subsequently, players can readily expect GamePad integration within the third-person hack and slash title, along with a two-player cooperative mode to boot. And although Iwata and Co. remained mum on a concrete release date for Bayonetta 2, Platinum Games’ continuation is undoubtedly one of the most important release for the Wii U in 2014.