Viewtiful Joe Review

The question that everyone has been asking is, how Viewtiful is Joe? Answer: very good. Viewtiful Joe splendidly mixes 2D and 3D environments/characters together. The cell-shaded game play makes the game feel similar to a comic, though you are literally playing inside a movie.

Unquestionably, VJ’s strongest point is the fact that it is non-stop fast-paced action with tons of enemies to fight. Whether you punch with Y or kick with X, he will either hit his enemy high or low depending on the direction of the joystick. Innovative technology that Capcom added was the fact that Joe can slow down, speed up, and/or zoom-in, which adds strategy to the game and are sometimes mixed in with game environments and puzzles. Despite the fact that Joe isn’t Neo, his game sure plays a lot better than a Matrix game, while feeling somewhat like one with the slow down move.

In order to fully explain how the slow down, speed up, and zoom-in fully work, you really have to play the game. Just an example of what the game entails, in one level you need to move a bomb from a lower level, up three platforms. In order to do this, you must punch the bomb and press down, while using slow down, so that the bomb can travel higher. Once you are up on the third platform, the bomb is ignited and you must kick it off the edge, while using slow down again, in order to explode a hidden door. While this (slow down) goes against the rules of physics, it is still extremely cool. Thanks to the fact that VJ is a side-scroller, you will have absolutely no problems with the camera angles, while benefiting from the GCN’s speed and power.

Capcom has also integrated a purchasing system, which you can use to purchase new moves, more lives, weapons, etc. Of course, you need a certain number of tokens, earned throughout each level in ordered to purchase items. Despite the fact that many enemies are recycled throughout the game, new puzzles and obstacles help keep the game fresh. VJ offers plenty of replay value in the form of two additional characters, Silvia and Captain Blue, each with their own unique moves, powers, and altered story lines. On top of the two bonus characters, you can either play the game in Kid or Adult mode. Now, Joe must go.