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)







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