Prologue: World of Chaos

Just like the Records of Time, the Prologue throws players directly into the action—after a lengthy scenario-setting opening cutscene, of course. Enjoy the theatrics, then get to work.

Verse 1

Enemy Spotlight: Acceptance

Acceptances come in two varieties: spear-wielders and harp-wielders. Spear wielders approach Bayonetta, giving quick swings of their spears. Harp wielders fire their arrows into the sky, which in turn home in on Bayonetta and rain down divine wrath. The arrows are actually the easier of the two to dodge, due to a large golden circle appearing on the ground where the fired arrows are about to land.

Phase 1

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax

• Enemies: Acceptance (Spear) x3

Acceptances are great enemies to practice on when it comes to dodging and retaliating during Witch Time. In fact, you’re given a tutorial that walks you through the basics of doing just that!

If this is your first playthrough, you’ll be using standard handguns. Simply dodge enemy attacks and counter with your own.

∞ Climax

• Enemies: Acceptance (Spear) x3, Fidelity x1

The Acceptances are joined by a Fidelity, meaning that you have to watch out for even faster movements and attacks! Try dodging the Acceptance’s spear swings, then going for the Fidelity during Witch Time so it never even has a chance to mount an offense against you.

Go for Pure Platinum!

Suggested Weapons: Salamandra (Arms & Legs)

The Salamandra makes short work of Acceptances (and most other enemies) wherever they may lie. Hold down the P or K buttons as you attack for longer slices that yield more points, dodging when and where necessary.

If this is your first playthrough, Rodin switches out your handguns for the Love Is Blue. Yay! Now you’ve got real guns that you can wreak maximum havoc on angels with!

Phase 2

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax

• Enemies: Acceptance (Spear) x8

The last phase was just a taste of what was to come in this one! You face even more Acceptances now. Fortunately they come in waves—you never face more than three at a time. Dodge their attacks and hit them with your best shots.

If you’re playing this for the first time, the game invites you to try building up your magic gauge for Torture Attacks and Umbran Climax. Try them out, and take note of their power.

∞ Climax

• Enemies: Acceptance (Spear) x6, Urbane x1

An Urbane joins the proceedings, suddenly making the fighting plane feel a whole lot smaller. You’ll be dodging a lot in this battle, but the Urbane’s attacks are quite slow compared to the Acceptances’.

Go for Pure Platinum!

Suggested Weapons: Salamandra (Arms), Alruna (Legs)

Follow the above strategies while slicing up all of your enemies as quickly as possible. For ∞ Climax, equip the Alruna to your legs and hold K during Witch Time or Umbran Climax to down the Urbane and make it an easier target.

When you’ve cleared out the enemies, hold the Taunt button to give yourself the best chance of keeping your combo alive. Keeping your combo through all three phases is the only way to guarantee getting a Platinum Score medal for the entire Verse.

A Valiance engages you in a Quick Time Event. Press the prompted button as quickly as possible to repel the Valiance, then get ready to fight hand-to-hand once more.

Phase 3

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax

• Enemies: [LOOPING] Accolade (Spear) x1, Acceptance (Spear) x8

More spears! More spears! A spear-wielding Accolade joins the party, which means you have to watch out for wider spear swings that are, fortunately, slower. Dodge and hit back.

∞ Climax

• Enemies: [LOOPING] Acceptance (Harp) x2, Accolade (Hammer) x1, Acceptance (Spear) x4, Accolade (Spear) x1, Accolade (Twin Blades) x1

You have variety of weapon-wielders to deal with here, but again, they won’t assault you all at once. The most dangerous of them are the hammer- and twin blades-wielding Accolades. When facing these, do your best not to get crowded into a tight spot, and use other enemies’ slower and easier-to-dodge attacks to enter Witch Time and defeat the Accolades without getting into an extended battle.

Go for Pure Platinum!

Suggested Weapons: Salamandra (Arms & Legs)

As usual, the Salamandra makes great horse fillet. The only trick here while following the above strategies is keeping an eye out for incoming attacks that hit hard while you’re trying to get in your extended slices. Don’t be afraid to dodge away and fire your gun if you’re about to take a hit.

Verse 2

Enemy Spotlight: Belief

Beliefs are gigantic enemies who attack with their feet and their massive whip arms. They’re slower than you’d think, but faster than you’d hope. Once you receive the Alruna weapon, keeping these guys at bay will be child’s play. Until then, dodge their easily telegraphed moves and go up close only when necessary. Up close Belief has the chance to attack with its legs and stomp moves, as well as spit immobilizing slime!

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax/∞ Climax

• Enemies: Belief x1

You’re fighting Belief atop a train. Don’t worry, it never runs out of track. The Belief tries to use its massive whip arm to crush you into the train. Dodge whenever the arm gets close, and retaliate during Witch Time. Repeat until Jeanne comes by to provide backup.

Jeanne launches a missile strike on the Belief, knocking it away from the train, but it manages to hold on via its whip arm! You can actually run across the arm and use a Quick Time Event to damage it further.

Beat up on the Belief some more, and Jeanne now joins the fight for real. It’s two-on-one! With Jeanne on your side the fight becomes a little easier, but you still have to keep your wits about you. Try not to get too close unless you’re really sure of yourself—being in close allows the Belief to get in more attacks than it normally can, plus spit immobilizing slime. You can also utilize a Quick Time Event here as well for a sweet tag-team attack.

Go for Pure Platinum!

Suggested Weapons: Salamandra (Arms), Alruna (Legs)

You won’t be able to use the Alruna to great effect during the train, but don’t be afraid to do so during the team-up with Jeanne.

Don’t take any of the Quick Time Event opportunities here—they only eat up time and give you very little score for it. Instead, continue to slice with Salamandra even when the prompts show up. During the team-up with Jeanne, being in-close means having to dodge extra attacks, but Umbran Climax can help you keep some distance.

Once the Belief is dealt with, Bayonetta summons the Infernal Demon Gomorrah to dispatch it once and for all. Press the buttons as quickly as possible for this climactic Quick Time Event.

However, after this, Gomorrah breaks its contract and attacks Bayonetta herself! It’s time for one more battle!

Verse 3 Boss: Gomorrah

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax/∞ Climax

• Enemy: Gomorrah

Flight mode: activated! Bayonetta sprouts wings and takes on her former titanic ally as he climbs atop a skyscraper. Bayonetta can move in any direction on the x-axis while flying. Use this freedom to keep her out of harm’s way.

Gomorrah’s main attacks are lunging bites, swipes from his arms, swipes from his tail, and fire breath. Dodge these, and don’t be intimidated by how close these attacks come to the screen. If you find yourself close enough, melee attack his head. Whenever you’re far from him, keep shooting him with your Action button gun attack or other ranged weapon. Never stop dealing damage!

Finally, if Gomorrah tries to inhale you, fly in the opposite direction as quickly as possible! If you can’t, you have to undergo a Quick Time Event to avoid getting crunched.

Whittle down Gomorrah’s vitality and you’ll undergo a climactic Quick Time Event. Rotate the Left Analog Stick to put him away for good.

Go for Pure Platinum!

Suggested Weapons: Salamandra (Arms & Legs)

Follow the above strategies, making Salamandra your melee weapon of choice. Don’t be afraid to use the Punish prompts here—they deal tons of damage to help out with your Time score.

post-chapter spoils None