What’s your opinion on the sexuality in Bayonetta games?

[Phendrift]

Just something I've been thinking about.

Normally I roll my eyes at sexualization of women in games, because as a gay man it doesn't do much for me. However, I actually find it extremely well done here.

Instead of coming off as blatant pandering, it comes off as
1) cheeky, funny, and charming
2) makes Bayonetta a more likeable character. Shows her confidence and how much of a badass she is.

Just wondering if ERA thinks the same? I know this is a topic you guys are passionate about, but I haven't seen much complaints regarding it with Bayo.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

I can't find Bayonetta sexy because her legs terrify me.

 

[Cornetto]

A strong character with a self-consciousness of sexuality.
The opposite of "sexualization" as intended, most of the time, in videogame.
I really, really, really like Bayonetta: fucking badass witch ready to kick some asses

 

[J_ToSaveTheDay]

I personally interpret it as a character strength, but acknowledge AND accept that there's ample reason to swing the other way and feel like it's off-putting and unnecessary.

 

[Reichpop]

Sexuality is part of Bayonetta's character, she enjoys getting naked according to the finishing moves in the game.
And well, she's sexy af and she likes being sexy and teasing other characters. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Oh and remember, she was designed by a woman.

 

[Falconbox]

I'm fine with sexuality in any game.

 

[Geese Howard]

Bayonetta is very much in charge of those aspects, so it's fine. I've seen attempts to discredit that on the basis of the camera not being held by Bayo herself, but that is a media-illiterate argument that's ignoring framing and perspective enhance expression. If the camera didn't engage Bayonetta in her dominant and playful sexuality, it would diminish its effect.

 

[dlauv]

It's kind of gross and her proportions weird me out. The character isn't endearing to me otherwise, or I'd probably think it was funny or an interesting character trait. But the characters have very little depth and say such very little of substance, so it's awkward. Enzo's ok though. His life is made unequivocally worse by quirky, shitty demi-gods.

But overall it's nothing I actually care about.

 

[Deleted member 31092]

It's so over the top that it's hilarious.

 

[Cybersai]

I don't know, a lot of it just feels like Kayima sexualizing his own creation. Half the stuff Bayonetta says is sexual innuendo too, the licking of the lollipops, etc. Let alone the nude scenes during her killing enemies.

 

[Deleted member 2254]

It's a bit over the top, but that kinda is the point. She uses her traits to her advantage and kicks ass. I certainly find it less harmful than "useless sexy chick waiting to be saved by macho main character" #53943.

 

[Amaterasu]

I've always found it kind of weird how little people care about it compared to other characters. I suppose it's because the character embraces it.

 

[Glio]

It makes me laugh

 

[Razmos]

I'm of the mind that what makes the sexuality in Bayonetta different is that she owns it, she enjoys the power it gives her and clearly has fun with it.
Most of the ogling is done for comedy reasons like the helicopter scene.

It's not like there is just a random shower scene, or panning shots of her butt on otherwise serious situations.
There's never a moment where they aren't aware of how outrageously sexual Bayonetta is and it's a fun, charming aspect of her character.

I find Bayonetta refreshing because it's saying there is nothing wrong with having sexuality and owning it, and having fun

 

[Dec]

It's dumb. She isn't attractive. Her proportions are disgusting.

None of it is funny. Tries way too hard.

 

[Mcjmetroid]

Agree with all of the above. It would be different if she was an idiotic shallow of a character who is craving a boyfriend all the time or something. I think it's hilarious and makes the game. It's the best of both worlds.

 

[Yoshi]

It's funny as part of the over the top style of the game. Also, I do not think she is sexy at all (especially in Bayonetta 1), so I'd consider this a perspective of someone it certainly is not pandering to.

 

[shoemasta]

I think its dumb.

Its interesting to see how many people are ok with her portrayal compared to other sexualised female characters.

 

[Aters]

hot take: "she owns her sexuality" is a fetish rather than a justification

 

[NotLiquid]

It's an integral part to the character and contributes to the joyful energy of the game. It's great.

That obviously doesn't mean it's a character or trait for everyone or that she's above reproach but it doesn't have to be. In this instance she owns it wholesale and I love it.

 

[DodgeITA]

A strong character with a self-consciousness of sexuality.
The opposite of "sexualization" as intended, most of the time, in videogame.
I really, really, really like Bayonetta: fucking badass witch ready to kick some asses

Click to shrink...

I totally agree with you, and I have no problem at all with the sexualization in all the medias.

 

[Deleted member 8112]

.

 

[lupinko]

It's so over the top that it's hilarious.

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Basically this.

 

[Kain]

I can't find Bayonetta sexy because her legs terrify me.

Click to shrink...

As a legs man i think she's basically a perfect design lol

 

[Cybersai]

I think its dumb.

Its interesting to see how many people are ok with her portrayal compared to other sexualised female characters.

Click to shrink...

Well at least she's an adult woman. They could have made her a teenager or worse.

 

[honest_ry]

Its just a silly game. Hardly noticed.

 

[Phendrift]

hot take: "she owns her sexuality" is a fetish rather than a justification

Click to shrink...

Yeah, that would be a hot take.

Like I said in the OP, I love that she owns it, yet I'm not really attracted to her at all.

 

[zoukka]

Oh and remember, she was designed by a woman.

Click to shrink...

Irrelevant.

 

[z0m3le]

I actually haven't played the games. When the first one came out, I did roll my eyes and thought it was just sexualized for the sake of sales, but I've seen quite a few trailers, played the character in smash and watched her anime, I realize that unlike Lara Croft's early games, it's part of her personality and she comes off as someone perfectly aware and in tune with her sexuality, it's kind of refreshing and I am planning to finally pick up the games, I only didn't do so on Wii U, because my wife and I were starting a family and money was tight, but while I am still very aware of every dollar I spend on games, we have things in control and I can finally pick up Bayonetta 1&2 on my dream platform.

BTW, that feeling I had about Bayonetta when it first came out, I feel that way about Nier Automata, I'm pretty sure I'll love the game, but am I wrong about the sexuality thing with the main character? is she like a sex bot or something and that is why she is like that? or is it just how the developers felt she needed to look? I'm interested to see what people think of it, because I haven't really looked into the game much, just it's right inside my wheel house.

 

[shoemasta]

Well at least she's an adult woman. They could have made her a teenager or worse.

Click to shrink...

Honestly, this is one of the weakest defenses of her sexualization.

 

[Deleted member 9971]

I think her legs are as tall as me irl lol, i'm tom cruise height. Personally i don't mind it too much imo (her design), i'm planning to finally play the games on wii u this weekend, so i can't give a true full opinion yet.

 

[Phendrift]

I actually haven't played the games. When the first one came out, I did roll my eyes and thought it was just sexualized for the sake of sales, but I've seen quite a few trailers, played the character in smash and watched her anime, I realize that unlike Lara Croft's early games, it's part of her personality and she comes off as someone perfectly aware and in tune with her sexuality, it's kind of refreshing and I am planning to finally pick up the games, I only didn't do so on Wii U, because my wife and I were starting a family and money was tight, but while I am still very aware of every dollar I spend on games, we have things in control and I can finally pick up Bayonetta 1&2 on my dream platform.

BTW, that feeling I had about Bayonetta when it first came out, I feel that way about Nier Automata, I'm pretty sure I'll love the game, but am I wrong about the sexuality thing with the main character? is she like a sex bot or something and that is why she is like that? or is it just how the developers felt she needed to look? I'm interested to see what people think of it, because I haven't really looked into the game much, just it's right inside my wheel house.

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Nah, NieR barely acknowledges sexuality at all, which is why 2B's ass always showing is kind of at odds with the rest of the game.

She's like that because Yoko Taro "loves women" IIRC

 

[Reichpop]

Irrelevant.

Click to shrink...

people like to blame men for designing your typical videogame sexualized woman, it's funny when someone complains about that on Bayonetta's design, same as Neptunia characters

 

[Mistouze]

I'm ambivalent about the games on that front.

The way cinematics are framed is often crass with the camera often putting her butt in the middle of the screen for no reason.

But she's written like a cool badass but some of the innuendos she'll sometimes throw at the angels make me roll my eyes.

When you listen/read to what Kamiya said about her creation, she was supposed to be his ideal women in terms of sexyness. But if you look at her in the games, the character could be taken as a parody of how a sexy woman are represented, kinda like drag-queens are hyper exagerated representations of womanhood thought out by men.

I see some women are feeling empowered by the character while some dude creep me out when they talk about her.

PS : I'm replaying Bayo 1, so I'm mostly talking from seeing her in that game. My memory of the sequel are kinda hazy even though I remember thinking that it could be read as Bayo goes in hell to save her girlfriend.

EDIT : The rapey shit in the "true last boss" fight in Bayo 2 is fucking wrong though.

 

[Aadiboy]

One thing I feel like people don't get...she's still fanservice. Bayonetta can be all those things in the OP, and be designed by a woman, but at the end of the day all of her design is intended to be fanservice. Same with Ryuuko in Kill la Kill, she owns her sexuality but is constantly in fanservice-y outfits and situations.

 

[zoukka]

people like to blame men for designing your typical videogame sexualized woman, it's funny when someone complains about that on Bayonetta's design, same as Neptunia characters

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Women are just as capable of creating sexist content as men. The gender of the designer is completely irrelevant, the intention is the only thing that matters.

 

[Scoo]

She's great, the embodiment of enpowerment.

Also doesn't hurt she was designed by a woman. I think that comes across somewhat even if it's not immediately obvious

 

[Fairy Godmother]

It's so over the top that it's hilarious.

Click to shrink...

Pretty much this.

 

[Deleted member 197]

That is amazing.

 

[Salty Rice]

She is a cool and sexy character that embraces her sexuality.

We need more characters like her.

 

[Cybersai]

I pretty much hate her dialogue, but that's besides the point. I don't play Bayonetta for the story, anyway.

 

[Mikebison]

She's a queen.

 

[-shadow-]

The game is bloody awesome and it's so over the top that I can't take it seriously and I don't see how people can find this titillating in any way with those proportions either. So... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Ferrs]

I dunno, I think it goes both ways. Mind you, I like the game and the character, and it's true and cool that she's sexually empowered.

But at the same time, there's clearly some titilation for the player. I mean, the getting nude when doing combos is plainly that. She doesn't do it because she likes getting nude, she do it because her outfit is supposed to be hair for some reason. It's a case of wanting to have the cake and eat it.

So at the end I think her character goes both ways, and that's why there's this divide about Bayonetta.

 

[Deleted member 5015]

I don't play the game because of the sexualization. I find it distracting and childish. If I want sex, I have sex or watch porn. Don't need that as a primary element in my games tbh.

 

[Cream]

Bayonetta is very much in charge of those aspects, so it's fine. I've seen attempts to discredit that on the basis of the camera not being held by Bayo herself, but that is a media-illiterate argument that's ignoring framing and perspective enhance expression. If the camera didn't engage Bayonetta in her dominant and playful sexuality, it would diminish its effect.

Click to shrink...

How I feel honestly.

 

[Ryaaan14]

It's dope

 

[Deleted member 8791]

I've never felt attracted to Bayo's design which to me is a huge achievement considering how much she plays on her sexuality. So they did something right in this balance.

 

[Lunchbox]

Her sexualization is her empowerment, clever pass.

 

[ParanoidRED]

I love absolutely everything about Bayonetta, her english voice actor is incredible