If there was ever a series that "got it right the first time", it's Bayonetta.

The core is still as solid as ever, and the new additions initially seemed to be a net positive. The "oh wait, having this means I can do that" potential of the summons, the creativity of the new weapons, the cute little dancing animations. I was ready to fall in love with it...

But after a while it becomes apparent how much that core is being diluted by weaker ideas: Encounters skew so heavily towards summoning vs larger enemies that Bayo's regular moveset barely gets a chance to shine; Set pieces tank the performance so hard that the accompanying minigames feel like wading through sludge; Viola's kit is so unfit for purpose that she regularly struggles to meet the requirements of her own trials... It's great that Platinum want to try new things, but my good will only goes so far.

I hate to make the DMC5 comparison, but for all the issues that game may have had, it's really hitting home how much I preferred its leaner, more focused approach when compared to all this unpolished excess.