The devil may just cry when he learns of Bayonetta. Among a handful of newly announced titles coming from Platinum Games and publisher SEGA, this over-the-top action game takes all of the elements of contemporary action games and kicks it up to an entirely different level. A campy premise isn't the only thing worth a raised eyebrow in this bizarre brawler; in fact, the game strikes a downright unusual flavor with its combat mechanics. That, however, doesn't keep the action from being fast, furious, and fluid.

As a witch by the name of Bayonetta, you're tasked with dispatching all manner of monsters in an as-of-yet unrevealed quest. Platinum Games is keeping details regarding the storyline secret, at least for the time being. Instead of divulging bits about the plot, they were keen to talk about the ramifications of equipping their leading lady with guns on her hands and ankles, not to mention giving her hair the ability to attack. It's all about crafting a game in which you look forward to every satisfying slash versus agonizing over plot intricacies.

The demonstration we saw—we were not allowed playable access to the game--had Bayonetta squaring off against a squad of angelic foes. Defeating a series of winged creatures crowned with glowing halos rewarded her with the tops. We're told that collecting halos from fallen foes allows you to upgrade weapons and unlock new abilities through the course of the game. Think of them as similar to the red orbs in Capcom's Devil May Cry series. Naturally, the more fanciful the death and higher your combo, the more halos you earn.

Bayonetta uses her guns for basic attacks, shooting at enemies with her hands or even doing a handstand to fire off her anklet arms. There's a whole lot more up her sleeve, however. Witch time allows you to freeze time for a few moments, letting you hack up enemies without risk of retaliation. Of course, this is limited and you can only trigger the ability so often. The ability to summon special torture devices definitely adds some spice to the action. Decapitating a winged beast by means of guillotine definitely caught our attention.

The real attraction, though, has to be Bayonetta's control over her hair. Long, silky, black hair can be wielded as a weapon against enemies. You literally can transform her hair into a range of creatures that each possesses their own unique attacks. At the end of the level, a baby-faced boss was whittled down by an effective summon that mutated Bayonetta's locks into a ferocious dragon. Her hair enters into a portal and emerges as whatever creature you've selected a moment later. It's totally bizarre, yet undeniably entertaining.