Button-masher and former Wii U exclusive, Bayonetta 2, is now out for the Nintendo Switch, with boxed copies also including a download code for the first game as well.

The partnership between Bayonetta developer, Platinum Games, and Nintendo for Bayonetta 2’s Wii U platform exclusive surprised me. The action-adventure button-masher did not seem to be an immediate fit alongside Nintendo’s usual, more family-friendly fayre.

Introducing the gun heeled, angel-killing, provocatively-dressed witch, Bayonetta, to an audience more at home with the adventures of jolly plumbers and talking mushroom people was an interesting turn. Perhaps symbolising a change of direction for Nintendo.

Now Switch owners get the chance to enjoy Bayonetta 2, one of the most action-packed hack-and-slash games around, as well as the original Bayonetta.

The first game introduced us to the rather saucy protagonist and an epic battle between the Umbra Witches and the Lumen Sages, with Bayonetta being one of the former. Using guns, style, hair and aplomb players get to tear through the games bashing buttons like they are going out of fashion and experiencing a storyline that makes very little sense.

Let me tell you right now, both Bayonetta 2 and its predecessor are awesome to play. Nintendo’s Switch making them great games to play when you are on the go.

The series’ creator, Hideki Kamiya, of Devil May Cry fame, set out to make Bayonetta all about sexiness. This makes both Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 not really for kids.

The other day I found myself wondering if I’d dreamt about a weird game intro sequence. It was full of legs akimbo, and gratuitous crotch shots. I bit later that day I remembered, it wasn’t a pervy dream it was the intro to Bayonetta 2.

The games are played third-person with a nigh-on faultless dynamic camera adjusting position for set-pieces and combos. This all works perfectly on a TV, but I sometimes found it all a bit frantic on the Switch screen.

Both Bayonetta 2 and its predecessor make use of the Switch’s touch screen as an alternative control method. I didn’t care for it much as smearing my fingers all over the screen seemed too imprecise and obstructed the visuals a bit too much for my liking.

Visually, Bayonetta 2 fairs a bit better than its predecessor, even though both games look great, and virtually indistinguishable from each other on the small Switch screen. It’s when you play on a TV that the original Bayonetta shows it’s age a bit.

Packed full of combos to learn, collectables to find and upgrades to obtain, Bayonetta 2 is going to keep you occupied for weeks. Add in the first game as well and you have a package that is absolutely a must buy for the more mature Switch owners out there.

9.5/10