We’ve been talking about “combos” for a while now, but just what are they?
A “combo”— or “combination attack” in this context—is a string of attacks delivered in quick succession within a certain amount of time. In this game, sometimes enemies are knocked back by combos, and at other times they simply take the hits while preparing to deal a more powerful one against you. Such outcomes depend on various factors, such as the type of enemy faced, the weapon being wielded, the difficulty the game is set to, whether the enemy has already been staggered or angered by a taunt, and so on.
Combos, however, are key to getting high scores in the Bayonetta series, and what lets you know how you’re doing on that front at all times is the combo meter.
Combo Meter
The combo meter records and scores every hit Bayonetta deals to an enemy, great or small.
Combo Score
As mentioned earlier, each hit in a combo is worth a certain number of points. As you perform your combo, the points earned per hit are totaled at the top, with the multiplier just above it. This multiplier is very important.
Combo Multiplier
The combo multiplier rises as your combo lengthens, which is another important reason to keep combos going. The longer your combo, the higher the multiplier attached to your score, meaning the higher your score when the combo ends. The multiplier maxes out at x9.99, and you should try to keep the combo going with the multiplier at that value, or as close to that value, as you possibly can for best results.
Angered Enemies
By taunting enemies (or wearing the Gaze of Despair accessory, purchasable from The Gates of Hell) you can turn their aggressiveness up to 11. However, in an angered state, enemies are worth more points per hit while requiring more hits to defeat! Your score will skyrocket if you’re skilled enough to survive the assault!