For two years, Bayonetta 2 has been teased with tantalizingly vague demos shown. A sequel to the 2010 hit from Platinum Games, Nintendo snagged up exclusive rights to the title when Sega couldn’t offer the freedom executive director Atsushi Inaba needed. Looking to improve on the previous title and taking player feedback to heart, Platinum Games turned their sequel into a masterpiece pairing of intense action and stunning graphics.

Starting soon after the events of the original title, Bayonetta’s former rival, now friend, Jeanne, is helping her defend a city from Angels. As a final blow, Bayonetta summons a demon but soon loses control. Jeanne sacrifices herself to throw Bayonetta out of the way, and her soul is dragged to Hell. Bayonetta must then set out to reclaim Jeanne’s soul before it is devoured by finding and entering the Gates of Hell in the sacred mountain Fimbulvinter. Various gates can be found near the mountain, which open up realms for Bayonetta to explore and find help for Jeanne. During her search she meets Loki, a young boy who can control time. Though they don’t get along, it is clear they’ll need each other to reach their individual goals.

As an Umbra Witch of the middle world, enemies from both Paradiso and Inferno will attack Bayonetta at any moment, keeping players constantly on their toes. Of course, this is a title known for its violently creative ways of dispatching foes, but this time around, things are pushed further with full customization of weapons and better controls.

Rodin, an otherworldly weapons dealer, has once again set up shop in the Gates of Hell bar, which can be accessed through portals in the levels, and has a large collection to offer in exchange for halos, the life essence left over when enemies are obliterated. Guns, swords and more are available to build combo attacks that dispose of enemies in elaborate ways. The previous game only featured single animations when enemies were struck but the new, varied movements help battles flow, which is great because there’s a lot of destruction to wreak.

Players can pick between two control options: the classic button mashing from the first game, or the new controls that have expanded onto the touchscreen, an easier option for beginners. Either way attacks and commands are easy to master and use for an exciting battle. A new attack option, Umbran Climax, builds up the more Bayonetta attacks and summons demons to do massive damage with a single click of a button. For more defensive players, dodging right before Bayonetta is hit will result in Witch Time, slowing down enemies for a short period of time. The better players do in battle affects their ratings at the end of key segments and, later, their bonus rewards at the end of a chapter.

World exploration is strongly encouraged as side missions and items are scattered around, expanding gameplay in a positive way. Special challenges call for quick strategy in rule-based enemy encounters or timed fights. Miiverse stamps can also be unlocked by finding Umbran Crows, so there is no shortage in extra things to do.

Even without the added incentive, players will never regret putting off the story to check out the world. Noatun, the main city for the game, is based off classic architecture from Venice, Florence, Brussels and Bruges to create a truly unique city with distinctive focal points and an opulent aesthetic. The game’s rich graphics and complex character movements turn every moment into eye candy while a fast-paced soundtrack keep the action moving forward. The only hitch is when a cinematic scene is traded for a more comic book feel, with static pictures being panned over to whomever is speaking.

Gameplay is taken further through Tag Climax, an online mode that mixes co-op and competitions. While players work together for a common goal throughout six missions, each receives individual points to up the ante. Players can choose to play against the computer as well in case they don’t have an online connection or just want to practice their skills.

Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to look at Bayonetta without taking a look at the mature rating stamped across the series. This is definitely an adult-oriented game with sex, violence and some pretty crazy language to boot. There isn’t anything that goes beyond the scope of the first game, so returning players will know what to expect. Bayonetta is an empowered heroine, but there are parts that can pull female gamers out of the game a little. Inappropriately timed sexual moans when she’s hit, anatomically impossible posture that thrusts out her chest when she stands still, and nudity (though lacking detail, think Barbie doll) during certain combo attacks put a damper on an otherwise well-balanced game. It’s just a little over the top for a game of this caliber. The violence is very graphic and bloody, but quick and definitely a satisfying way to defeat frustratingly tough enemies. Finally, the language isn’t anything players haven’t heard before, but does feel forced in many instances and feels like lazy dialogue.

Bayonetta 2 is truly a stand out title for the Wii U and goes in a different direction than the typical Nintendo title. Platinum Games was given the freedom to develop the successor they wanted and that liberty paid off. With the inclusion of a polished version of the original title, fans and newcomers alike can dive into the insanely action-packed world of Bayonetta. The sequel is a fast-paced exciting ride with lots to keep players busy and satisfied.