If you only played the second I'd skip the first. It plays the same, but 2 you have MUCH more variety in weapons and attacks. 

Here we go...

She is about as good representation of women as Nathan Drake is of men. A strong, intelligent person that loves her/his friends and with an objective (usually to save the world). The sex part is in your head. That is what upsets me about the whole discussion when a reviewer brings these things to the forefront. Its in your head, not on mine. I happen to see the good in people. Bayonetta is a dark heroine that loves her friend and saves the world. How is this a bad representation of women? The sexist way would say that women just go at each others throats whenever they can. More accurate? Perhaps, but its not what the game is representing.

Oh and btw... Bayonetta was created by a woman.

Bayonetta represents a confident woman who is proud of actually being a sexy lady and we ALL want to have sex with them. You prefer to have sex with a crying Lara Croft in the new Tomb Raider or the overmanly Ellie in The Last of Us?

Yes Bayonetta 2 is the game of the year. It's actually hard to go back to Bayonetta 1 after playing the sequel.

For those who played it. How would you describe the game difficulty? Is it challenging? Does it require skills? Does it get easier as you unlock new abilities or harder as the enemies get smarter? Is using complex combos necessary or the basic combos would do just fine?
Thanks in advance.

(I hate when I don't find my answers in the reviews)

other than watching someone play the original on ps3, this is all new for me.  Still grinding Hyrule Warriors, so have barely spent any time on it yet.  Can't wait to delve deeper as what I did play was spectactular.

I wish I had Bayonetta 2....

It has a very broad range; on the lowest setting it is almost casually accessible, but on the highest it is incredibly challenging and demands precise timing and reflexes.

On the lowest setting you can button mash your way through, on the highest is it absolutely essential to master combos.

It gets harder as you get further, though in a rather gradual slope rather than spiking.

I'm a handful of hours into the first game. I expect to be able to pour more time into them both on the week of Thanksgiving, as it's probably best I don't try and finish Bayo1 until then. Got other important things to do!

My copy arrives tomorrow, can't wait!!