Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 exists only because Nintendo took it under its wing after no other publisher could be found for the sequel, and it became one of the sharpest action games ever released on a Nintendo console. The witch Bayonetta descends into the underworld to save a friendly soul, wiping out ranks of angels and demons along the way in battles that combine pistols, swords, whips, and transformations of her own hair into giant spectral limbs. Combat is built around precise last-moment dodges, which trigger Witch Time, slowing the whole world down while you punish a defenseless opponent.

Compared to the first game, the system is smoother and more forgiving without losing any depth. Umbran Climax has been added, which, once its gauge is full, powers up every hit with summoned demonic attacks, and several new weapons — including a bow and a whip made of snakes — change the pace of combat. The game is built so that a beginner can get through it by mashing buttons at random, while an experienced player can break down every section into combos and chase the highest ranking. The Tag Climax mode then lets you take on selected fights in pairs online, wagering rewards, which adds hours of extra content.

The direction of the action sequences is utterly shameless: the game opens with a battle on a falling fighter jet above a city, and from that moment stacks one incredible situation on top of another without ever losing clarity. It runs very smoothly throughout and is technically one of the best showcases of what Wii U could do. The music mixes jazz, big band, and pop covers, and it fits the over-the-top style perfectly. Reviews were rapturous, but the game didn't find enough players; the package therefore included the first title as well, so newcomers could get up to speed. Today it's a genre classic that set the bar for both fluidity and for just how confidently over-the-top an action game can be. For Wii U it was an exclusive nobody expected, and it remains one of the first titles recommended alongside the console. On its own it's short, around ten hours, but built for replaying on higher difficulties, where the precision of the dodge system is only fully revealed.