Hello there, everyone! Today marks the launch of the Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle. To mark this exciting occasion, we wanted to provide some tips and tricks to help you face the challenge both games provide.

Before we begin, we should note both titles have difficulty options you can adjust. For Bayonetta, there’s Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, and Non-Stop Climax (Hard is unlocked by completing every chapter on Normal, while Climax is available after completing every chapter on Hard). In Vanquish, there’s Casual Auto, Casual, Normal, Hard, and God Hard (you get God Hard by beating the game on Hard). Bayonetta’s Very Easy mode and Vanquish’s Casual Auto lets players enjoy either game with little button input required.

Let’s first discuss Bayonetta. For those who may unfamiliar, this is a score-based action game where how you’re ranked is dependent on your performance. After each Verse (or part) and each chapter, you’ll be graded on how well you did with a medal, each of which carries a point total:

Pure Platinum: 5

Platinum: 4

Gold: 3

Silver: 2

Bronze: 1

Stone: 0

You can get a Pure Platinum for the Verse by earning a Platinum based on how long the fight takes, damage received, and combo score. By getting a Platinum in every Verse, you will get a Pure Platinum for the entire chapter. Keep in mind that using items or dying during an encounter will drop your rank considerably.

Do note there may be hidden Verses that you may need to search around each stage to locate and activate. Also, knowing your checkpoints (which are typically before and after a fight) will go a long way in helping you get those Pure Platinums!

If you’re having trouble with the early stages, don’t worry! As you play through the game, you will be able to purchase new skills and upgrade your health and magic. You always have the option to return to those earlier levels and have another go at them. You’ll have a much easier go at that point!

One of the most important lessons to learn in Bayonetta is mastering the art of the “dodge offset” mechanic. This is performed by doing a dodge while you’re in the middle of an ongoing combo. For example, while holding down the Punch button, tap the dodge button, then hold the Kick after the dodge. You know you’ve done a dodge offset when your combo number doesn’t reset. It’s easier if you remember you can hold down the punch or kick buttons to naturally extend combos, and practice makes perfect.

Not only does this help with your score multiplier, but it helps you become better at the game (and it looks pretty cool, too). Certain unlockable techniques will make this much easier to perform, like Bat Within and Aerial Dodge, so we recommend picking those two skills up as soon as possible. You can also use your pistols in between combos to maintain your combo.

Another quick tip – when you’re in Chapter 1, after getting the key and activating the platform elevator, instead of getting on the platform, head back to where you found the key to unlock a hidden Verse. This level teaches you how to master the dodge mechanic and is a great way to get into the groove of Bayonetta early on!

That leads us to Vanquish, which shares many of the same design principles as Bayonetta. At the same time, Vanquish is arguably a little more straightforward in terms of how you can excel in combat. For starters, we recommend becoming very familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon as most are situational to a fight. The Shotgun is a monster in close quarters and for smaller opponents, while the Disc Launcher has some great melee features to tear enemies to shreds. Take the time to search around each stage for weapon boxes as you may find upgrade parts that increase their base performance.

You’ll also want to use the AR (Augmented Reality) mode as much as possible, which slows down time and lets you quickly land critical hits on an enemy. This feature is crucial during boss fights, given how crazy things can get. Finally, take full advantage of any cover available. It could be the difference between life or death. Keep moving, however, because your cover will eventually be destroyed, leaving you vulnerable to enemy fire. You may have to rely on the old-fashioned trial-and-error approach to get the hang of every skirmish to achieve top marks.

Now for some of the more advanced techniques meant to optimize your survivability, one of which is the boost dodge. By performing a dodge immediately after you begin boosting, you’ll be able to cover more ground while avoiding the use of your AR meter. Complimenting that is a type of juke move, which is done by boosting in one direction and then dodging in the complete opposite. This is a great way to avoid enemy fire, especially during boss fights. Finally, there’s the quick reload – during your reload animation, switch to another weapon and back to keep up the pressure while avoiding downtime.

By keeping all of these tips and tricks in mind when you pick up the Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle, you’ll be well-prepared for the challenging onslaught both games deliver!