Easily Astral Chain for me.
Bayonetta 2 is a very solid hack n' slash for sure, but I just prefer the combat in Astral Chain more and the more open missions with side quests etc.

This is very tough! I like both, but I picked Astral Chain, I like the setting and the characters much more. Bayonetta is the better lead character for me, but all the rest of the cast stales compared to that in Astral Chain. Also I prefer the battle system in Astral Chain. Bayonetta 2 is still a very good game and for me personally much better than the first game because it's not as punishing anymore.

I agree with JWeinCom hat The Wonderful 101 is better than both, however! :D

I don’t know if I’m allowed to answer this with my following answer, but I don’t really care for either. At least I won’t clog the poll results.

I played a demo of both (or did I, is that possible? I don’t even remember), and I found Bayonetta to be way too chaotic for my taste. I don’t know what’s going on. Astral Chain I thought was way too ‘out there’, and this kind of thing just doesn’t click with me.

I like things to be a bit slower, and the screen cleaner if you get my drift. I know the following doesn’t necessarily apply to these two games but I always simplify this feeling by saying that “if there’s too many numbers on the screen it’s not for me”.

The Wonderful 101 is similar to this for me, it’s just too complicated for my taste. It’s not that I don’t get what to do, but it’s more that I don’t really want to do all these elaborate movements and things. I guess Platinum games aren’t for me.

As far as I'm aware neither had a demo unless you played it at a kiosk at a store or event. Also what numbers on screen? You mean the damage numbers in AC? That's common in games. Bayo doesn't use them, however. PG games are easy to learn but difficult to master on purpose. Similar to DMC or other SA games.

Strange comparison because they are really nothing alike.

Bayonetta 2 would be my pick, if nothing else it is the greatest action game ever crafted. Perfection.

In AC there are damage numbers, but you can remove them in the settings and pretty much the entire HUD.

Bayonetta 2 had a demo on Wii U. Astral Chain never had a demo as far as I know...

Yeah Bayonetta 2 was on WiiU, I definitely played a demo there. Astral Chain I guess I just watched a Let’s Play then, instead of a demo. Like I said, I don’t really remember what I did lol.

Unless you guys have a severe aversion to the genre I strongly recommend at least trying the Bayonetta games, they're among the very best of their kind, and just fantastic games overall.

I played the original Bayonetta on Switch last year. I enjoyed it. My full thoughts on the game can be found here:

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=9195860

I actually started playing Bayonetta 2 as well but haven't gotten very far in it. So far it feels nearly identical to the first game so I hope it distinguishes itself more soon.