Enter Nintendo. In a move that surprised the industry, Nintendo stepped in to fund and publish the sequel, securing it as an exclusive for their struggling Wii U console. This partnership allowed Director Yusuke Hashimoto and Producer Atsushi Inaba the freedom to double down on the lavish production values that defined the series. While the Wii U install base was small, the game became a system seller for the hardcore crowd, and its eventual port to the Nintendo Switch in 2018 cemented its status as a modern classic.
Furthermore, the game introduces (accessible during loading screens) and a Teleporter to replay any verse instantly. No more running through entire levels to practice a boss fight. Bayonetta 2