Rodin is a weapons dealer, bartender, and proprietor of the Gates of Hell. He's a renowned demon weaponsmith and responsible for creating the majority of Bayonetta's weapons during her adventures. Rodin was formerly an angel in charge of creation and ruled a portion of Paradiso until he was exiled after fighting in an insurgency against them. After a time spent in Inferno, he disappeared from the dark realm and came to reside in the human world, starting up his bar.[2]
Rodin offers insight into the metaphysical elements of the world, providing Bayonetta with weapons out of curiosity to see how his arms hold up in the hands of an Umbra Witch. In-game, the shop he runs at the Gates of Hell allows the player to obtain new weapons, items, accessories, techniques, and "treasures".
Rodin is also one of the playable characters in Tag Climax.
In-Game Description
Hierarchy of Laguna (Bayonetta)
It is said he turned his back on the heavens and fought an insurgency against Paradiso. Upon ultimately losing the battle, he was exiled to Inferno. However, there are others that say the rulers of Paradiso feared his power and ensnared him in a trap that led to his exile. During his time in paradise, the angel Rodin was charged with the task of creation, responding to Divine Will with various masterpieces.
He was known as a genius smith, renowned for his weapons and armor. The stories of grossly outnumbered troops using his weapons to eviscerate demonic forces are too numerous to tell. After being forced from Paradiso, it is said the newly condemned demon tired of the chaotic battles that rage endlessly in Inferno and disappeared from the Infernal realm. No one knows of his whereabouts since.
Antonio's Notebook
- Rodin & The Gates of Hell
Lemegeton's Book (Bayonetta 2)
It is rumored he was once a resident of Paradiso with the power of creation, but witnessing his acts in Inferno, most would think him more suited for destruction. Though his principle purpose for collecting the souls of Inferno's denizens is to use them in making his weapons, he himself is never seen sporting anything but other than his bare fists: true testament to their unbridled power.
As the famed weaponsmith of Inferno, he destroys to create, then creates to destroy. His true objective is still a mystery, though perhaps he is waiting for someone to appear who will finally have the power to undo him.
Damn, been a long time since I had a workout like that. You come back soon, dig? I'll be here...Waiting. Again.
― Rodin, The Gates of Hell"Character Archive (Bayonetta 3)
Contrary to his imposing appearance, Rodin has a smooth, affable demeanor. However, the cold light that burns behind his sunglasses has been known to silence many a self-styled tough guy with a single glance.
He provides a variety of goods and services to those he forms a rapport with, ranging from food to weapons, and even seemingly otherworldly treasures. His selection is sizeable, and in shadier circles he's sometimes known as the "Infernal Gunsmith".
Rodin is knowledgeable about current events in Paradiso and Inferno as well as their histories, and he is frequently sought out when there's trouble of an occult nature.
As he is not originally a resident of the World of Chaos he doesn't have any counterparts in the Multiverse, but he's rumored to deal weapons to customers on other worlds as well.
Infernal Demons (Bayonetta 3, Devil Rodin)
Of all the variations of the human world that can be found in the Multiverse, he seems to prefer one in particular, living and working among the humans there.
It is rumored that he was once a resident of Paradiso with the power of creation, but witnessing his acts in Inferno, most would think him more suited for destruction.
Though his principal purpose for collecting the souls of Inferno's denizens is to use them in elevating the weapons he makes into unparalleled masterpieces, he himself is almost never seen sporting anything other than his bare fists - a true testament to their unbridled power. As the famed weaponsmith of Inferno, he destroys to create, and creates to destroy.
Why did he become a demon and decide to live among humans? Why does he continue to make weapons far too powerful for any mere human to wield? His true objective is still a mystery, though perhaps he is waiting for someone to appear who will finally have the power to destroy him.
"Damn, been a long time since I had a workout like that. You come back soon, dig? I'll be here... Waiting. Again."
― Rodin, The Gates Of HellAppearance
In his human form, Rodin is portrayed as a tall, well-built black man, wearing sunglasses to conceal his demonic red eyes. In the first game, he wears a long light brown leather overall coat with lifted collar with black fur coating on the inside, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing the same black fur coating on the inside. Underneath, he also wears a light grey, diamond patterned shirt. He also has set of light brown leather pants, with a pair of black boots with untied laces and a red scarf completing the ensemble.
In the second game, Rodin adopts a Japanese style of dress, wearing a long black open robe with a kimono like collar and an obi like belt with a spider-lily buckle at the front. The kimono in particular has a design akin to a mitsudomoe, which reflects the Trinity of Realities (the spiky tomoe represents Inferno, the wing-like tomoe being Paradiso, and the the third regular tomoe representing the Human World). He also wears yellow leather pants with knee pads, and wears the same black combat boots but with shoelaces tied.
The third entry has Rodin wearing a much more basic style of dress in comparison to his earlier wardrobe. He wears a blue sweater adorned with intricate patterns along the body and sleeves in a striped configuration and a hat made of similar material and adornment. His pants are loose purple with padding around the knees and the belts of a set of suspenders hang on his sides. His shoes are now smaller and a similar color to the pants, looking more like standard sneakers. His sunglasses are also of a different design.
In all of his appearances, Rodin is always seen with a particular set of jewellery. He has a bracelet and four rings on each arm, with his right arm being made of silver and the left being made of gold, along with numerous ear piercings. He also wears a necklace that has what appears to be a corded hoop.
In his angelic form, Rodin wears an outfit similar to that of Father Balder, a light yellow tunic with orange stripes along it, with a round orange chest plate, adorned with feathers in the tunic's end and on the end of the sleeves. A pair of golden peacock feather wings and tail and the same pair of sunglasses.
In his demonic form, Rodin gains pitch black and red skin, his hand and feet turning into sharp red claws with three claws on the front of each foot and an extra claw at the heel. His coat appears to become part of his body, with only the collar closed and lifted and his facial features are accentuated by red markings and crystalline growth on his brow and a single horn on his head, mimicking the nature of other Infernal Demons. He also gains a set of red feathered wings that reference him being a fallen angel, along with a sharp tail.
Personality
Due to how long he has lived and how powerful he is, Rodin almost always appears aloof and has a very detached demeanour to events happening in the world. Mostly content to sit on the side-lines and see what happens, he openly states he only pays attention to Bayonetta's exploits because she is using his weapons and he wants to see how they hold up. However, he clearly has some faith in Bayonetta's ability to accomplish her goals, as shown by his repeated efforts to craft new guns for her, though he is quick to deny a personal interest. Rodin is also on professional terms with Luka by acting as an informant and also appears to have a long history with Enzo, much to Rodin's frustration given the size of his tab at the bar.
When using the Platinum Ticket to unlock his true powers and spar with Bayonetta in the original game, Rodin seems very enthusiastic about being able to fight at full strength like he used to be. Interestingly, he identifies his angel form as his "real self," and shows great enthusiasm about returning to that form. If he is defeated in the first game, Rodin will take his defeat in stride and claim that it was an enjoyable bout. When he is defeated in the second game, however, he shows that he is starting to get bitter about losing and claims "the devil always gets his due."
Aside from tending bar, Rodin's greatest passion are his creations. He always speaks with pride when discussing how much effort he put into making them, particularly when the player brings an Angelic Hymns Gold LP so that he can use a powerful entity in crafting one. In addition, his direct references to different franchises implies that he plays video games in his spare time.[3]
Gameplay
Bayonetta
Platinum Ticket
The Platinum Ticket appears at the Gates Of Hell after the player collects a cumulative total of 10,000,000 in a single save file. The game keeps count of every collected, including those already spent to calculate the condition. When the player buys the Ticket for 999,999, Rodin states that these are enough for him to get back to his old and real form. Bayonetta is then transported to an otherworldly arena composed of an angelic seal and the fight against Rodin's true form begins.
Bayonetta 2
Platinum Ticket
Just like in the first game, Rodin is unlocked as a boss fight when this item becomes available in the Gates of Hell. After completing Chapter X of the Story mode, the Platinum Ticket will be available for purchase at 9,999,999. The subsequent purchases of the ticket once Rodin is defeated will not cost anything.
Tag Climax
Rodin is a playable character in Tag Climax. His fighting style mimics that of his AI controlled counterpart in the story mode, where his sheer strength can wipe out flocks of angels and demons in seconds. Instead of a Dodge mechanic, Rodin instead conjures a shield that can nullify enemy attacks in a parry and his equivalent of Umbran Climax has him assume his Infinite One demonic form for increased damage.
Rodin is unlockable in Tag Climax by beating his Verse card in the mode, but can alternatively, be unlocked by paying 10 million at the special unlock door in the game's Story Mode.
Bayonetta 3
Platinum Ticket
However, with halo circulation dwindling, Rodin has graciously agreed to accept an equivalent amount of Seeds in exchange for the right to face him.
As proof of payment, he now offers a platinum-plated plastic replica of the original.
― In-Game DescriptionRodin once again appears as a super boss in Bayonetta 3. The Platinum Ticket becomes available for purchase at The Gates Of Hell upon the game's completion for 999,999, after which the Ticket becomes part of Viola's room and can be accessed at any time. Rodin can be faced as either Bayonetta, Jeanne, or Viola, and the arena this time is simply The Gates Of Hell's training area. He has a similar moveset to his Bayonetta 2 counterpart with some newly added moves, like generating a black hole that pulls his opponent in and deals massive damage. Sporting an impressive count of 10 health bars, he assumes his demonic form once 4 of them have been depleted.
After his defeat, he grants you his weapon, as well as his service as a Demon Slave, and can be summoned any time in battle.
In case the fight proves too difficult, simply dying to him enough times will allow Bayonetta to purchase the weapon at The Gates Of Hell for the exorbitant amount of 9,999,999.
Skills
Special
- Shall We Dance? ()
- Dances with Bayonetta, mowing down enemies together. Move with . (If this attack is not performed when prompted, Rodin will enrage immediately, usually causing enough damage to kill Bayonetta in one hit)
- Slow Jam
- Shall We Dance? gains a healing effect.
- Slow Jam II
- Shall We Dance? gains an enhanced healing effect.
Punch
- Try To Run. (+)
- Closes in fast and delivers a fierce punch. Hold for more damage.
- Done And Done. (+)
- Delivers a double lariat and uses the momentum for a deadly uppercut finish. Hold for additional hits.
Kick
- Outta The Way! (+)
- Delivers a spinning kick that rises diagonally. Hold for additional hits.
- Goodnight! (+)
- Stomps the ground creating an intense gravity field over a wide area. Hold for more damage.
Shoot
- This'll Cost Ya. (+)
- Creates a barrier that nullifies attacks and then explodes, knocking enemies back.
- Let The Games Begin. (+)
- Jumps straight up and rains down lightning in all directions.
Story
Bayonetta
Rodin makes his first appearance at the beginning of the game, during the deal between Bayonetta and Enzo to take care of Eggman's funeral. Laying in wait as part of the trap, he supplies Bayonetta with a wealth of guns to help her fight before instructing her to meet at the bar later for their "special project". Upon gifting her with her signature pistols, Rodin explains that recent events are starting to blur the lines between different realms of the Trinity, speculating that the attack against Bayonetta moments earlier was part of a set up to lure her somewhere.
Later on in Vigrid, Rodin appears and explains how he desires to set up shop in the town to get halos due to how the place is closer to Paradiso than anywhere else he's aware, something with he is not a fan of. He also makes a blunt statement that he is not there to help Bayonetta beyond a transactional store-like nature in regards to halos and the Gold LPs, but respects her threat of violence in turn back at him if he gets in her way.
Rodin is not seen until the end of the game at Bayonetta's "funeral". As the angels arrive, he tells Bayonetta to stick to her cue and watches as she makes short of them.
Bayonetta 2
Rodin is initially out promoting the Gates of Hell for Christmas time when he notices angels attacking Bayonetta during an aerial flyover. Dragging along Enzo with him, he chases after the witch to grant her a new set of weapons to fend off her attackers, finding the sight "beautiful".
After the ensuing chaos of Gomorrah's rampage, Rodin explains at the bar that while Jeanne isn't fully dead, it's only a matter of time before her soul is completely absorbed into Inferno. Though he claims he won't stop Bayonetta trying to find the real Gates to save Janne, he doesn't think she has a chance. Nevertheless, he tells her she has about a day to get the job done while he preserves Jeanne's body to ensure she has one to come back to.
After Bayonetta arrives in Noatun at the foot of Fimbulventr, Rodin appears to set up shop because of the town's connections to both Paradiso and Inferno. While he once again states his intention that he's not there to help Bayonetta if she gets into trouble, a quick burst of firepower from her causes him to change his tune and laugh at her bravery.
As Bayonetta nears the time limit for saving Jeanne, Rodin is seen crafting together the physical construction of a weapon at the Gates of Hell and remarking she needs to hurry. While in Inferno, Bayonetta comes across him searching for a targeted demon to finish the weapon, coincidentally the very same demon that now holds Jeanne's soul. Upon Alraune's defeat and Jeanne's rescue, Rodin traps the demon's soul within the weapon to show his process of how he crafts his creations. He gifts Bayonetta with it as she departs.
At the very end of the game, Rodin is shown roping Luka into further promoting the Gates of Hell as part of the New Year, claiming that he won't be the journalist's anonymous source for his info anymore if his bar fails.
Bayonetta 3
After the Homunculi attack, Rodin houses Bayonetta, Jeanne and Enzo within the Gates of Hell as shelter from the devastation happening above. He remarks that the bar will hold them off for a time, but not forever. He also speculates that the invaders are not part of any supernatural realm of the Trinity and are instead created from humans as artificial creations, all before Viola arrives to confirm his suspicions.
Abilities
A capable immortal, Rodin is reputed to be the most feared and powerful demon in Inferno, making him even more powerful than the likes of the ruler, Queen Sheba.[4] As an angel, he is described as a incredibly powerful being whom earned the epithet "Infinite One" due to surviving countless passing generations of Paradiso and was feared by their rulers, whom were only able to place Rodin in a trap that led to his exile.[2] According to PlatinumGames, Rodin is considered the most powerful character in the series.[5]
Preferring to use his bare hands in combat, Rodin's physical abilities grant him super strength and incredible resilience, capable of blocking attacks such as Wicked Weaves with ease, withstand objects as heavy as stone falling directly onto his head and send a Mega-level Homunculi unit like Iridescent flying in one punch. He is able to perform feats of levitation and open portals to depths of Inferno at will in order to craft new weapons.[2]
When utilising the powers of his old angelic self, he possesses similar powers to that of Balder, where he can create orbs of energy to trap an opponent, use his peacock wings offensively, or create powerful celestial fire. As a demon, he can conjure powerful shock waves with punches and stomps on the ground as well block attacks with a shield. In both of his forms, he is capable of projecting his limbs in a similar manner to Wicked Weaves, as well as rush opponents with a brutal special attack that can leave them crippled. Rodin is immune to temporal control-related techniques such as Witch Time.[2]
Quotes
Bayonetta
- "Next time you wanna lay hands on me, you better make sure I'm dead."
- "GO!!!"
- "Beautiful!"
- "If it ain't my good buddy Enzo. How about you get outta here? You die, and I'm gonna have to go back in that hole chasin' after the money you owe me."
- "If you're just gonna watch, I'm putting you two to work!"
- "It's getting harder and harder to tell the worlds apart. Human world. Inferno. Paradiso. Who can tell the difference?"
- "Enzo, her drinks are goin' on your tab, buddy. You dead-beat motherfucker."
- "Hey, check this out: "Whadda ya buyin'?" Hehehe, heard that in a game once."
- "No matter how much you ask, I'm not puttin' a chainsaw on your arm. Now, what do you want?"
- "Your fights are yours alone. I'm only here to watch my handiwork in action so don't get any bright ideas about coming to me for help."
- "You really wanna make a deal with the devil?! ... Relax, I'm just fuckin' with ya."
- "You here for business, or pleasure? Either way, I'll hook you up."
- "Another LP? Workin' me to the bone. But no need to pity me, I was bored anyways. Let me go whip some things into shape for ya."
- "Hey, if you think you've got enough halos to afford it, how about you show me some love. With enough of those shiny little loops, I can get back to the real me, the old me. Let's get this party started. Shit's gonna get real.
- "I gotta hand it to you. You sure let me have my fun. I never thought a girl would beat my ass so hard. But I gotta admit, I kinda liked it. You win... This time, baby."
Bayonetta 2
- "Something's up. The balance of powers that keep things in check don't feel right, does it?"
- "Dead witches get dragged to hell. It is what it is. Jeanne's gonna wander Inferno sufferin' for eternity. Them's the breaks. 'Cause I don't see no way of saving a soul lost in Hell."
- "I can't stop you trying to use 'em, but I don't think you got a chance down there."
- "Time's almost up. Bayonetta, you'd better start creating miracles."
- "Welcome to the Gates of Hell. We've lit our prices on fire, so there won't be hell to pay... C'mon. I gotta say some cheesy shit sometimes."
- "Diplomacy has failed. Thank goodness capitalism still has its place in hell. Let's do business."
- "Being a demon lets me read minds... You're thinking, "Shut up and take my halos." Let's do this."
- "New shop rules: No shoes. No shirt. No service. Hair doesn't count. Just kidding'! What'll it be?"
- "The world famous Rodin's. Where demons and gunsmithing go together like chicken and waffles. Hehe... Sorry. I'm mad hungry. What can I do ya for?"
- "You got halos. I got items. Welcome to the foundation of a barter economy."
- "Hey... Gimme a minute. I'm playin' this crazy game, and I gotta sprinkle some magic powder on a chicken... (finishes playing) Alright. What can I do for you?"
- "Time to do business. What's your pleasure?"
- "Damn, woman! I thought I told you to chill!"
- "Shiiett... Where'd that come from? Credit where credit is due, you just put your foot straight up my ass. You won this time, but remember, the devil always gets his due."
Bayonetta 3
- "Those things ain't from Paradiso or Inferno. They're locals. In other words, they're part human."
Taunts
- "Enjoy Hell."
- "Abandon all hope, ye who fight me."
- "Let the games begin!"
- "I don't take requests."
- "You try to run, waste of time though."
Character Selection/Tag Climax
- "This'll cost ya."
- "Let's have some fun..."
- "Time to let my hair out."
Gallery
- For more pictures and screenshots of Rodin, click here.
Appearances in Other Media
The Wonderful 101
Bayonetta, Jeanne, and Rodin appear as secret unlockable playable characters in The Wonderful 101.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
Rodin appears In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as a trophy along with Jeanne, Bayonetta, and Cereza.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rodin appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Assist Trophy character. He attacks other players using his own demonic limbs, as well as gives his allied player a weapon, much like his role in the Bayonetta series. He also appears as a Spirit, and can be enhanced to his demonic form at level 99.
Trivia
- Rodin's name is inspired by Auguste Rodin, a sculptor who made a statue called 'The Gates of Hell' in honor of poet Dante Aligheri's "Inferno" portion of "The Divine Comedy", which is also the name of his bar. If the player or their respective partner dies as Rodin in Tag Climax, Rodin's body will be suddenly sealed inside a giant block of ice. This is a reference to Satan in "The Divine Comedy" in which Satan is described as being sealed/imprisoned waist deep in ice due to his treachery against God. Rodin's battle quote, "abandon all hope ye who fight me", is another reference to Inferno in which the inscription on the gates of Hell finishes with "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here".
- During the early development of the first game, Rodin's name was originally Mephisto.[6] This is an alternate name of the demon Mephistopheles, who is best known for featuring in various adaptations of the legend of Faust, in which he enters a contract/deal with the human Faust and provides him with what he desires, with the goal of leading him to sin so that his soul will be damned and taken to Hell. Appropriately, Rodin's role is broadly similar to the Mephistopheles and the traditional devil: a fallen angel who is thwarted and punished from trying to conquer Heaven and rules his own "sub-basement" location after his punishment. This is further highlighted with the numerous jokes about the "deals" and weapons he provides Bayonetta.
- Rodin's backstory of being a powerful angel who lead an insurgency against Paradiso and was cast down into Inferno is heavily based on the story of Lucifer. In some accounts, including Dante's ''Inferno'', Lucifer (sometimes conflated with Satan/The Devil as the ruler of Hell) was originally an angel who led an army of angels against God and was cast down to Hell as punishment, becoming a fallen angel and the leader of demons.
- During the early development of the first game, Rodin's name was originally Mephisto.[6] This is an alternate name of the demon Mephistopheles, who is best known for featuring in various adaptations of the legend of Faust, in which he enters a contract/deal with the human Faust and provides him with what he desires, with the goal of leading him to sin so that his soul will be damned and taken to Hell. Appropriately, Rodin's role is broadly similar to the Mephistopheles and the traditional devil: a fallen angel who is thwarted and punished from trying to conquer Heaven and rules his own "sub-basement" location after his punishment. This is further highlighted with the numerous jokes about the "deals" and weapons he provides Bayonetta.
- Rodin was originally set to regain his angelic powers within the story of the first Bayonetta. Due to scheduling issues, Kamiya was unable to implement this into the story and instead redesigned the event into a secret boss that surpasses the other bosses in terms of difficulty.[citation needed]
- When presented with his splash introduction from The Hierarchy of Laguna, Father Rodin uses the Gates of Hell's logo instead of his own halo as his Laguna Symbol.
- When asked by a fan concerning Rodin and Bayonetta's relationship extending beyond professional, Kamiya responded that they are in a "special relationship".[7]
- Character designer Mari Shimazaki stated that Rodin plays a "big-brother" role to Bayonetta.[6]
- Some of Rodin's dialogue occasionally references other video games. Examples include:
- Telling Bayonetta that he won't attach a chainsaw to her arm is a reference to MadWorld, a game also developed by PlatinumGames,
- Imitating the Merchant's infamous "Whudya buyin'?" quote from Resident Evil 4's merchant, claiming that he "heard it in a game once".
- Expressing a desire to be a "bald space marine," a reference to Sergeant Cortez from the TimeSplitters game.
- The game Rodin is playing when speaking about "sprinkling some magic powder on a chicken" is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past, which contained an easter egg when Link sprinkled magic powder onto a Cucco.
- The homerun shot Rodin performs in the first game's Prologue during the fight against the angels was to be a tribute to Sadaharu Oh, a Japanese baseball legend known for his homeruns but is also similar to "Home Run God", a move used by the protagonist of God Hand.
- Rodin's comment on .45s might be a reference to Dante's handguns "Ebony & Ivory" which are of that caliber.
- One of Rodin's lines parodies a line from Futurama, specifically the line "Shut up and take my money", although in his case, he swaps out "money" for "halos".
- His inclusion into Super Smash Brothers Ultimate as an assist trophy was hinted at in the message shown after using one of Bayonetta's two Super Smash Bros Amiibos on the Switch port of the two Bayonetta games: 'Bring me along next time, huh? I could use the sparrin' practice.'.
References
- ↑ Eyes of Bayonetta 2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bayonetta
- ↑ "Hey, whaddaya buyin'? Heh, heard that in a game once." — One of Rodin's greetings when entering the Gates of Hell.
- ↑ Bayonetta 2
- ↑ Platnium Games Blog" Bayonetta 2 Second Anniversary
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 PlatinumGames Blog: Designing Bayonetta Part 3 – Rodin and Enzo
- ↑ Hideo Kamiya on Twitter