Easy Automatic (I’m Easy. You’re Automatic.)
July 30th, 2009 by Yusuke Hashimoto
Filed: Bayonetta, Community, Games, PlatinumGames
Hey everyone, it’s been a while, huh? I’m Yusuke Hashimoto, the producer of Bayonetta.
Anyways, in my last blog I said that I would talk about being a producer, but I don’t think that it is actually very interesting, so instead I wanted to talk about what it is like to play Bayonetta. Kamiya-san has previously talked about the Easy Automatic mode before, saying it is a mode “even your mom can play.” I’m actually alright with that.
Why am I alright with that? Because the way the controls feel is different. That may sound simple, but it is actually incredibly important! For me, I wondered what I should do to make sure that people who were interested in Bayonetta but aren’t very good at action games could enjoy the game and have a good time. Was there a way to get even more people to enjoy hardcore action games? With Bayonetta, we didn’t just focus on fine-tuning the difficulty of the game, but also I think we have hit on a new method, in terms of how it feels to play the game, for a wide variety of people to enjoy action games.
Finally, I want to show you some new concept designs:


These were the initial design concepts for Grace and Glory. I designed them with my own wild concept of a “Heavenly Assassin Corps.”
This is the initial design for Fearless.

Even though it is a bit cute and cuddly, my idea for it was a seemingly incredibly tough beastly angel.
(NOTE: Higher resolution versions of the concept art in this post can be found on the PlatinumGames Inc. Flickr Page)
Tagged: Hideki Kamiya, Yusuke Hashimoto








10 Comments Add Your Own
SonicTHP Posted on July 30, 2009 at 11:10 am
More amazing stuff. I am curious as to what the Easy Automatic mode does for players. I don't think I'll be using it myself, but I think it is a necessary addition to the game to make sure it can be enjoyed by as many audiences as possible.
Ren Posted on July 30, 2009 at 11:31 am
Girlfriend mode is always welcome.
baberific Posted on July 30, 2009 at 11:39 am
Huh, I hope that this "easy automatic mode" you speak of, wasn't the mode I was playing on the E3 demo!
Anyways, I'm really liking all of the angels designs, cause compared to most of the enemies I see in today's hack n' slashers….I's all just demonic spawns of hell.
Marink Posted on July 30, 2009 at 12:42 pm
You did a great job.
I wish it can do my art like that. T_T
But I'm a huge gamer, so please make the hardest difficulty mode you can.
Kudos.
amit Posted on July 30, 2009 at 1:25 pm
is "Grace and Glory" one or two monsters? those two monsters look exactly alike. anyways it's a really great style, but the limited color pallet is kind of boring.
Rizhall Posted on July 31, 2009 at 5:58 am
I don't think I'm going to let my mom play this game. =P
My dad, maybe. Not my mom. lol
Black Chamber Posted on July 31, 2009 at 2:02 pm
You are a tremendous artist, Hashimoto-san!
FAUNA Posted on August 16, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Thank you. Not enough games have an actual truly easy mode for people who simply want to experiance a game without extreme frustration.
arty Posted on November 21, 2010 at 6:08 pm
easy automatic is best mode ever
arty Posted on November 21, 2010 at 6:13 pm
if every hack n slash games has this mode that whould be awsome