| Viewtiful Joe One of the most anticipated games finally makes it to the US shores. Does Capcom make it worth the wait? Does Viewtiful Joe live up to expectations? Read more in the next episode ...err ...review Presentation You start off as an everyday, movie loving Joe, who idolizes his movie hero “Captain Blue.” Until one day, while on a date with his girlfriend, Silvia, the movie characters spill out into the real world. They then grab Silvia and go back into the movie world. Joe jumps into the movie world to save her. Once in the movie world Joe then meets up with his hero, Captain Blue, who bestows him with the “V-Watch.” The V-Watch can transform our average Joe into the superhero, Viewtiful Joe. Armed with the V-Watch Joe can now slow down or speed up time, or even use a zoom in feature. But most importantly ...he can now save Silvia! Graphics First off let me say this: I strongly dislike Cel-Shading. I think it was overrated and overdone by the time “Jet Set Radio: Future” was released. But Viewtiful Joe manages to make it work. It fits the game like a glove. While Joe may not move in 3D, the backgrounds are 3D. Bright, brilliant, well drawn 3D backgrounds to be more specific. At no point does the game slow down, it runs at a solid framerate, no matter how much action is going on. You fluidly can see every frame of Joe punching, kicking, and just showing off. One of the coolest effects in the game happens when you drain your VFX gauge. You return to your normal Joe state, and the game takes on a grainy look, and it looks like your watching an old movie. The only thing I didn't care for was the enemy design. While new enemies continue to appear, they're pretty bland. None of them really jump at you, and aren't that memorable. But again, it was probably meant to fit the game, and in a way, it does. Sound For the most part everything is dead on. Good electronic rave type music playing to fit the game. Though I don't think you'll notice it, you'll be too busy keeping your eyes on Joe. Theres a wide range of effects that can be happening all at the same time, explosions, punches, voices, etc. The voice acting for the most part is solid. Though I don't know what Capcom was thinking with the voices for the bosses. I had to turn my sound up just to hear them, and then there voices were so muffled and distorted, I still couldn't understand half of what they said. Gameplay While Viewtiful Joe is mainly a 2D Action Beat-em up, there are occasional platforming challenges. But while most beat-em ups tend to get boring and redundant, Capcom has established ways of making Viewtiful Joe neither. First off, the ability to control time adds a of of strategy to an otherwise dull concept. You'll find yourself trying the best way to attack enemies and get the most viewtifuls(more on those later.) And secondly, the game stays fresh with new enemies on every level. Viewtiful Joe was developed by the same team that developed “Devil May Cry” and there are quite a few similarities. While in DMC you got Red orbs for killing enemies, in Viewtiful Joe you get viewtifuls. Viewtifuls are used to purchase power-ups, such as better attack combos, the ability to reduce damage taken, or to refill your VFX meter faster. There's also a very similar boss that shares a few moves with the DMC hero, Dante. But I won't ruin it for anyone. Another way in which I related it to DMC was in the game difficulty. Theres 2 difficulties to select from(with more that can be unlocked.) I started off on adult(the harder one) and I wanted to start over. The game starts off tough, but as you learn the ropes it gets a little easier. The boss battles are some of the toughest I have faced in my video game career(not to mention, in one level you have to fight them all over again ...in a row.) While the game is insanely difficult, it will draw you in to keep playing. Capcom really used some magic on this game, any other game this hard, and I would say forget it, but thats not the case here. The only down side to the gameplay, is the amount of stages. Theres 7 total stages, including one where you just re-fight the first four bosses again. Each stage will take maybe an hour on to complete, but of you factor in the amount of time you will be continuing and restarting, it's a lot more. To compensate for a small number of stages the game does have higher difficulties, and hidden characters to unlock(again, very similar to DMC.) So if you have the desire(and you will) the game can be played multiple times. Controls As with most Beat-em ups, the controls are kept pretty simple. Punch, kick, jump, and each of the VFX powers is assigned to a button. Though the tutorial tells you to use the C-stick for your zoom power, I found it much easier to use the B button. I found 2 very minor problems with the controls. The first being, it took me a while to get used to using the Y button to punch, it just felt out of place. Though theres 3 different setting in the options, so this isn't too big of a deal. And secondly, every once in a while, when I was using the analog to control Joe, I would inadvertently Press up while trying to jump. So instead of jumping, I would hop up, as if trying to dodge an enemies low attack. I lost of few lives because of this, but if you use the D-pad, it shouldn't be an issue(though using the D-pad may prove to be a problem in itself.) Replay Value Off the charts! Viewtiful Joe is insanely fun and addicting. For me, it's been one of the few games to pull me away from PSO long enough to finish it. While theres only 7 levels, they're tough enough that'll you'll clock around 25 hours of gameplay(At least I did on the adult setting.) Plus every time you beat it, you unlock another difficulty, which I can't even begin to imagine. And when you beat those difficulties, you'll unlock hidden playable characters. Each with there own set of moves. Well worth it if you ask me Overall A great fun game, with a unique graphic styling, and a high difficuly setting, What more could you ask for? This is a game al Gamecube owners should have. It's definitely worth the price of admission. Henshin a go go baby! Final Rating: 9/10 |