Bayonetta is better than everything. Ninja Gaiden, God Of War, and Devil May Cry, all owned. Soundly. Considering it's from the creator of Devil May Cry, the guy who basically started this sub-genre, is it so difificult to believe?
Bayonetta makes all the other similar games its bitch. The bar has been raised way the hell up, yadda yadda etc. etc.
I like to think of the opening scene, with "Joe Pesci" pissing on a gravestone, as representing Bayonetta pissing all over its competition.