The Spectator's Gaze

Bayonetta is a third-person action game that was released in 2010. The game's gameplay is similar to that of games such as Devil May Cry. The game's main character, Bayonetta, has been a subject of controversy over her apparently "over-sexualized" design and personality.

Bayonetta is often targeted by feminists due to her character design and rather sexual persona. Her character itself is very dominant and powerful and isn't not apologetic about it in the slightest. Some people would say that Bayonetta is one of the most powerful female lead characters in modern gaming today alongside silent protagonist Samus Aran and even Lara Croft.
Bayonetta's anatomy is very exaggerated and goes against typical and average female anatomy - extremely wide hips, long legs and thin waist. Some might say that her design is specifically focused around appealing to the male gaze which in some cases could be entirely true. But generalization like that is also as big as a problem, on both sides.

Not all characters have to be "sexy" or have impossible body types, but treating those characters as taboo and offensive is blowing the situation way of of proportion. Not all games can cater to every persons individual views, opinions or "sexuality". Some games have more realistic character designs like Life is Strange, some have a diverse cast of characters like Overwatch.

The problem with most of the complaints and shaming about Bayonetta because of the sexualization is purely that - despite the sexual and innuendo filled game supporting her as a character. Bayonetta, to some, may be over-sexualized. But people fail to dig deeper and appreciate the game for what it is and Bayonetta's character for what it is. Bayonneta fills the role of a single mother, is extremely powerful/dominant and fights with deities in space which is a lot of diversity that is not covered by many female lead characters!

My opinion as gamer who plays Bayonetta for the gameplay and not the "male gaze" is that the sexualized nature of the game suits her character completely. I'd rather play a game as a sexualized, contortionist witch with a sense of style than a typical witch in baggy robes. A lot of feminists seem to attack the game with very little knowledge about it, whereas many other games can objectify men in similar ways but nobody bats an eye.