I was reading an issue of Game Informer and this is what the developer said: "But the character design and cutscenes and things may have been too edgy to be accepted by everybody. I think that's just the way that I make games, but maybe in the future I should consider dialing it back a little bit so that more people can enjoy them."
This interview was before Bayonetta was even released. I guess this explains why Viewtiful Joe, Godhand, Okami, and now, Bayonetta are critical successes but not commercial hits: Hideki Kamiya doesn't compromise.