Fans of PlatinumGames' action-adventure seriesBayonettamay have been surprised whenBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwas unveiled, as the next entry in the beloved franchise signaled a huge departure from the previous games. Instead of a fast-paced, action-packed experience,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonis a whimsical prequel story that follows Cereza as a young girl before she comes into her full power. In addition to a change of pace and narrative focus,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonalso has some interesting influences, like its references to Lewis Carroll’s Victorian classicAlice in Wonderland.
AlthoughBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonlooks and feels vastly differentfrom its predecessors, there are still some similarities. The cat-shaped demon Cheshire, also known as The Lost Outcast, is a recurring character fromBayonetta 3and continues some of the literary nods established in the previous game, exploring them in new depth. By building on references, influences, and aesthetic elements from otherBayonettaentries,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonboth creates something new and maintains links to the series, like through the character of Cheshire.
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Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon’s New Direction
Bayonetta 3may have only recently come out, but fans of the franchise are being treated to another entry hot on the heels of the last with the next game set to release in a few weeks. However,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwill explore a completely different chapter ofBayonetta’s fan-favorite heroine. Although previous games have delved into Cereza’s past in various ways,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwill be a proper prequel that focuses on the powerful Bayonetta’s origins as she ventures into the forbidden Avalon Forest in an attempt to save her mother.
From the very first glimpse ofBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, its fairy-tale vibe was clear. With an art style that looks like it’s straight out of an illustrated fantasy storybook instead ofBayonetta’s previous anime aesthetic,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonwas setting itself apart. Players must solve puzzles as they traverse the dangerous new environment of the forbidden forest, fighting enemies with their demon companion Cheshire. Although Cheshire also appeared inBayonetta 3, its role inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonreally compounds the upcoming title’sAlice in Wonderlandinfluences.
Bayonetta Origins And Alice In Wonderland
The protagonist inBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonhas many obvious parallels to Alice in Lewis Carroll’s literary classic. Both focus on a young girl who is exploring a new and dangerous world that she doesn’t understand at first, but with her growing resourcefulness the challenging environment becomes more and more manageable. With elements of the magical and bizarre intermingled within the narrative,Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost DemonandAlice in Wonderlandshow a heroine somewhat out of place who uses slightly creepy and strange companions to help them along their journey.
Cheshire is the first demon that Cereza summonsand possesses her stuffed cat doll, serving as both her partner and protector as they battle through Avalon Forest’s tricky areas. The perpetually grinning Cheshire Cat inAlice in Wonderlandmay not be the constant companion that its demon counterpart is for Cereza, but it’s no less helpful to Alice by guiding her and cropping up when needed. The Cheshire Cat is helpful, sure, but it’s also a fairly unsettling presence that mirrors some of Cheshire’s demonic qualities. Both characters are a conduit for their protagonist to the wider world they’re exploring, as Alice and Cereza undertake their transformative journey.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demonreleases for Nintendo Switch on March 17.
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