Thanks to Hamada for helping with edits.
I published two articles in March, both of which coincidentally chronicled tertiary antagonists from zombie-centric Capcom games. By happenstance, my April output chronicled SEGA ladies who dress in red. Concluding that impromptu motif is the fashionably late arrival of Jeanne, one of the company’s strongest femme fatales.
Jeanne, seen in 2014’s Bayonetta 2 (Image: SEGA)
A good rivalry is an interesting, rewarding dynamic. Certain games kind of require one, a bar through which the player and protagonist can be measured by. Devil May Cry 3 features a fantastic feud between Dante and Vergil, setting a standard. PlatinumGames’ Hideki Kamiya, who helmed the first Devil May Cry during his Capcom years, revisited the genre he helped pioneer through Bayonetta. Though Kamiya wasn’t directly involved in Dante’s third adventure, it clearly impacted him — and his cheeky new star would score a rival of her own…
Jeanne’ History
Bayonetta starts with the titular amnesiac embarking on a journey to discover who she is. Along the way, she frequently butts heads with countless angels and an enigmatic, similarly-powered Umbra Witch named Jeanne. Ultimately, it’s revealed the witches grew up together, though Bayonetta — or Cereza, her birth name — was treated as an outcast by their clan. Bayonetta’s father, Balder, had sinister machinations involving her, however, forcing Jeanne to seal her friend away. In the present, a resurgent Balder again set his sights on Bayonetta, brainwashing Jeanne to guide her to him. When all seems lost, the white-haired wonder breaks free of the villain’s control and retaliates, helping save the day. Additionally, Jeanne is an unlockable character, one bearing similar abilities to Bayonetta but with a few tweaks.
It was decided early during development that Bayonetta’s match would be another witch. As artist Mari Shimazaki explains, “the only thing that could rival a woman is another woman.” (Image: SEGA)
Bayonetta 2 starts with the witches continuing their angel-murdering bender. However, an accident separates Jeanne’s soul from her body, spurring Bayonetta to travel to Fimbulventr, a sacred mountain. After a harrowing journey through hell, Bayonetta successfully revives Jeanne and, together, they defeat the dark deity Loptr. Clearing the campaign on any difficulty unlocks Jeanne as a playable character, and she’s also selectable in Bayonetta 2’s multiplayer mode (and is Kamiya’s favorite character therein, no less). Both Umbra Witches were redesigned for 2, with Jeanne adopting a more “casual” look.
A franchise fixture, Jeanne is a regular in side stuff. Her debut is retold in Bayonetta: Bloody Fate and referenced in the Bayonetta pachislot machine. She’s an unlockable hero in The Wonderful 101. Using her Angel Slayer sword, Jeanne crashed Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation‘s Bayonetta collaboration event. Super Smash Bros. honors Jeanne through one of Bayonetta’s alternate pallets, and she scores a trophy in for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Meanwhile, she cameos as a Spirit in Ultimate, which can be enhanced into her superheroine alias, Cutie J.
So, what’re my thoughts on Jeanne?
Previously, Kamiya had expressed interest in developing a Nintendo 3DS spin-off starring Jeanne. Imagine: a teacher by day, superheroine by night! (Image: SEGA)
During my first Bayonetta playthrough, I had a hard time following its story. Flashbacks are doled out often, sometimes during other flashbacks. Some cutscenes properly animate the characters, while others use still images, adding an incoherence to the affair. Fittingly, given her amnesia, even Bayonetta barely understands what’s going on throughout most of her excursion. She just hides it behind a phenomenal poker face, follows her gut, and arrives at her ultimate destination after many hijinks and through others’ guidance. Altogether, if you’re not really paying attention, Bayonetta‘s narrative can appear impenetrable.
However, Jeanne’s importance was never in dispute. She closely monitors Bayonetta, even helping catalyze her growth. During the prologue, the two are shown fighting together, showing them as allies, if not friends. Which makes Jeanne’s formal debut during Chapter II strange; the amnesiac’s inability to remember Jeanne makes sense, of course, but why has she suddenly become so hostile? If learning about Bayonetta’s past wasn’t a sufficient goal already, unearthing the reason for Jeanne’s antagonistic turn makes it more enticing.
Though Jeanne shares Bayonetta’s confidence and coquettish playfulness, she’s also more aggressive and prideful. Grey DeLisle-Griffin voices the former in English, channeling her performance as Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Azula for the role. (Image: SEGA)
Jeanne is Bayonetta’s rough equal in combat. She initially claims she’s stronger, something she seeks to prove by incessantly harassing us. Now, her four fights could’ve been spaced better. The first happens during Chapter II, and their first rematch occurs three chapters later. Then players wait seven chapters for their next tussle, and finally a mere two for their final one. Still, all of these throwdowns offer something fresh, keeping them exciting. Set in the past, their first provides insight into the witches’ relationship. It’s a straightforward scuffle, but nevertheless also the toughest one Bayonetta heretofore presents players with. Flying boulders punctuate the witches’ second spat, and Jeanne busts out her motorcycle during their third. This is in addition to Jeanne progressively taking these duels more seriously, using more of her powers — some of which, like deflecting bullets, she nor Bayonetta can use while playable.
Of course, beating Jeanne over and over with her causally dismissing the losses gets tiring, doesn’t it? Their fourth fight compensates for this. Two minor exceptions aside, a short cinematic introduces the name and title of every enemy in Bayonetta. Curiously, Jeanne’s earlier bouts never do this. But, after a warmup, she changes costumes and gets properly introduced as “Umbra Witch: Jeanne,” confirming she’s finally taking us seriously. Rightfully, this brawl is brutal, a battle so intense the building it’s initially set atop collapses. Then they jump and fight atop flying missiles, because why not? Bayonetta is an irreverent, stylish roller coaster of spectacle, and this is among its highest points. If this showdown bears one blemish, it’s that whenever you want to replay it, you always have to endure the long, gimmicky Space Harrier homage that precedes it.
In the first game, Bayonetta wears a black outfit with white and red accents. Jeanne’s the inverse, fitting her more hotheaded nature. Additionally, the witches alternate between sporting long and short hair. (Image: SEGA)
Perhaps Jeanne’s greatest strength, however, is her ability to pierce through Bayonetta’s unflappable facade. Her threatening the young Cereza (who Balder brought to the present as part of his scheme) visibly enrages Bayonetta, who tries very hard to act aloof. Then Jeanne’s supposed death in the first game leaves Bayonetta shaken, and her second in Bayonetta 2? In a rare, raw display, Bayonetta panics.
Jeanne is Bayonetta’s persistent partner, an irreplaceable part of her life. Although she was never really a jerk like Vergil, regaining her companionship is something we fought for and earned. Seeing the witches cooperate during Bayonetta’s epilogue answers its opening — both women even repeat the same dialogue — and their bond serving as the driving force behind Bayonetta 2 is appropriate. They should be close; they’re the only surviving Umbra Witches, the only remnants of their heritage. Whether she’s in Bayonetta 3 or not, I anticipate seeing more of this rebel someday.
Congratulations, Jeanne! You reclaimed your Umbran sister!
Actually, Jeanne and Bayonetta might be more than just friends, something this Twitter thread details. (Image: SEGA/Nintendo)
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I completely forgot that Kamiya had interest before in a 3DS spin-off about Jeanne.
The 3DS part is obviously no longer needed but I wouldn’t mind seeing a future spin-off title about Jeanne.
How’ve you been, Greatsong?
Yeah, we’re not getting a 3DS game starring anyone at this point, but should the stars ever align, I’d be up for a Jeanne spin-off. Bayonetta‘s world is large and interesting enough, so exploring it from a different perspective could be worthwhile. I wonder if it’d be set in the present or focus more on her past, detailing the Umbra Witches during their heyday.
On this note, Kamiya also expressed interest in developing a Wonder-Blue spin-off. I wonder when or if we’ll see him again, possible Smash Bros. cameos notwithstanding.