Customer Reviews

Viewtiful Joe

5 star:		(112)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

this is one of the most original ways to take a side scrolling game into the 3-d dominated game industry. the game takes a normal joe who's obsessed with movies and sucks him into the movie where he recieves the powers of his favorite super hero captain blue where you can slow things down and speed things up. it is really interesting how objects react such as the water levels rise and fall and propellers spin slower and faster so that a helicopter may fall out of the sky. it's a little tricky to learn these techniques at first, but they are alot of fun to use. they have an adult and a kids version and you may want to use the kids version at first to get the hang of it.

the game is difficult on adult. the levels obviously get progressively more difficult which requires you to master to superhero abilities. the bosses are interesting as well, starting of with a talking vampire bat, a rhyno, and a missile shooting shark. the game is done completely as if the pages of a comic book could move. i love cell shaded games, but this might be a downfall if you don't like such games. i have to say this is one of the best sidescrolling games released since the old castlevania and mario brothers games.

I recently had a chance to play Viewtiful Joe for the Nintendo GameCube, and I must say, I'm very Impressed. Anyways, In the game you play as Joe, who is sucked into the "Movie World", and must battle enemy robot/skull/bat/joker things(trust me, they're cool)using Kung-Fu. After a ways through, you are granted a "henshin"(transform) ability. When your meter fills up, you transform in to Viewtiful Joe, a Power-Ranger like superhero with cool abilities. VJ can slow down time, Matrix-style, and dodge bullets and all of that great stuff. Or, VJ can go "Mach-Speed" and bash enemies at blazing, Sonic the Hedgehog speeds. If you get a chance, buy the demo...

First of all, let's clear up the most common question everyone has about Viewtiful Joe: "What's viewtiful!?" It means "beautiful view", but its so much more than that. Its more or less one of those "gotta play it to understand it" type of things. This game abuses the bajabbers(kweheheh..what a dumb word) out of this word, but it never really gets old. Its a game that casual gamers can pick up and play, and 'hardcore' gamers can try to master it and unlock everything. I fall into the latter of the two ^^;

Graphics
*runs off and does a heelclick...in the sunset*
That's what the graphics in this game make old, crippled people do. They're awesome, one of the best styles I've ever seen. I can run Doom 3 with everything on high, but I'd still prefer Viewtiful Joe's graphics any day of the week. Including Tuesday. The graphics are cel shaded, but really 'messy'; just compare it to something like Zelda: The Wind Waker and you'll see. Its pretty hard to describe, but they're so good. Just find some screenshots.

Sound
The sound, from smashing robots to the voice overs, are quite fantastical. Especially Joe's. His voice overs are super awesome. They fit perfectly with his character and such. Some of the bosses and such can get to be pretty hard to understand, but you'll probably be able to pick up what they say after hearing it a few times. The background music is also very good, fitting, and just has a happy ring to it, in most cases. The only voice over I really didn't like was the "let's get it on" at the beginning of each level. That was annoying.

Gameplay
Thought the other stuff was awesome? This is most likely the best aspect of this game. The combat never gets old; its just so much fun to watch. Sometimes its hard to believe that you're the one making Joe do all that - its just so crazy. Which brings me to my next point: the combat is crazy; not repetitve OR impossible, which is the best way to have it. Switching between slow, mach speed, or in combination with zoom, doing special moves, dodging and countering, and just beating the mechanical snot out the robots; while hard at first, soon becomes second nature. The enemies are well placed and chosen, and gives the game a good flow.

Story
Joe and Silvia are at a movie, she gets sucked in somehow, as does Joe, and he has to rescue her while showing off as much as possible. Its pretty much like when Chrono went in the teleporter after Marle in Chrono Trigger, except for the fact that he actually cared about her and went in of his own free will. The story isn't really the greatest thing, but it does provide the game with some of the best features(VFX), because of its movieish storyline. All the movie tie-ins are great, such as the cheering crowd when you get tons of V-points, or those little whats-its whose name escapes me at the bottom and top of the screen when you use your powers(those little holes that're on film strips).

Replay Value
Yet another of Viewtiful's strong points. One reason this lasts so long is the unlockables that are actually hard to get(but casual gamers probably won't get any of them); not ones where you can get them all in the first day of playing like most games. Plus, the combat and just about everything else just doesn't get old. This game will last you a long time.

Overall
Everything about this game is good! The only thing I think that needs improvement is the fact that its not multiplayer: another reason Viewtiful Joe 2 is going to be so viewtiful. Plus, now, its only $20 and for PS2(I think) and Gamecube. Buy it, its definitely worth it! If it had a two(or more!) player feature, it would be so much better. I can't wait for VJ2!

I'm 32 years old. I have a wife and two kids. I'm old. I grew up with games like Elevator Action, Ikari Warriors, and Mario Brothers.

Now, when I find time to play games, I play your standard FPS and RTS games. I like these games a lot, but every now and then I wish a game developer would make an old-school top-down or side-scroller game with a new-school edge.

BAM!!! Viewtiful Joe is one such game! It will remind you of the times when you and your buddies would go to the arcade and play your favorite game on one quarter start to finish and that meant a good half hour or more.

The gameplay is the key to the success of this game. The first thing you learn when playing this game is that you let your enemy take the first swing. When they miss you get an attack of opportunity. Go into slo-mo mode and take him/her out with a barrage of hits/kicks. This will then give you more attack of opportunities with the other enemies on the screen as long as you haven't left slo-mo mode yet. This makes for good scenes! Which makes the movie crowd happier and gives you more V-points!

That's the basic essence of the game. You want to make every scene as interesting as possible. My favorite scenes are the ones with a room full of peons. Dodge one of there blows, go into slo-mo mode, and then 'OPEN THAT CAN!!!'

I wanna see more games like this on the market! I've missed my nintendo-thumb.

Games like Viewtiful Joe are sadly hard to come by these days. With all the modern technology of the consoles we are now afforded, most developers have completely forgotten their "roots". 2D gaming is a lost-passion, but thankfully every now and then a company like Capcom comes along and changes all the rules. Enter Viewtiful Joe.

What we have here is a super hero story of wonderful proportions. The game takes place on a 2d plane featuring gorgeously animated 3d characters. The style is truly unmatched and sets Viewtiful Joe aside when compared to other titles. The beatem-up action is heightened by the use of super powers. You can slow down or speed up the action, as well as zoom in. The idea is to use your power to fight "beautifully" ... or "viewtifully". Get it now? Be careful though, if you use your powers too much, you can actually lose them!

Viewtiful Joe is sure to be a hit this fall. It's available exclusively on Nintendo Gamecube. I absolutely love this game.

Pick it up as soon as it's available. Great fighting, amazing graphics and special effects, awesome combo system and tons of challenge!

This is deadfelix4 reporting from the Viewtiful Joe Street Team:

Viewtiful Joe is definitely a game you will want to own. Not only is it nice to look at, but it's just pure fun. But not the kind of fun that gets old, this game has serious replay value.
Although it is quite reminiscent of old-school side scrollers, Viewtiful Joe brings a new and original sense to the genre. With the time manipulation abilities and all the cool moves you learn, this game should keep everyone satisfied for a very long time. Aside from that, it is extremely fun trying to do combos, and putting it in slow motion to make it look even more viewtiful. It is also fun (yet challenging at the same time) trying to look good for the audience to get even more points.

To top it off, there are four difficulties of increasing challenge. So basically, Viewtiful Joe is extremely fun, has good replay value, lots to achieve, great and innovating graphics, and is totally original. And might I add, the story is pretty good. Buy it as soon as it comes out.

Viewtiful Joe is the best and most original game that I have played in quite some time. It combines sidescrolling beat'em up gameplay with 2-D cell-shaded graphics. The story consist of Joe, who is a big movie fan, who must save his girl Silvia from the clutches of the Jadow. Interesting twist and dynamic cutscenes help to boost the story a bunch. The main character Joe is always a pleasure to watch from cutscene to cutscene with his cool one-liners and other super hero gags. The ability to slow down and speed up time really add up to some interesting and explosive combinations. Bombs can be thrown at enemies and the blast can be slowed down for increased damage, or a normal punch can turn into a giant whallop.

A word of warning, this game can be extremely hard your first time through, but the level of difficulty helps to make the experience extremely satisfying. There is an easy mode, a normal mode, and two extreme modes. There are also plenty of unlockables waiting for players that can finish the normal mode, such as secret characters and music video.

If you have a Gamecube, it is a crime to not own this game.

- Berserker

Side scroll action games are the kings during the golden era of video games. Games likes kung fu master, double dragon, final fight, and streets of rage are classic examples. Ones with guns or are mega man, contra, and metal slug. Then other games like castlevania evolved and today these games are made in 3D fashion like dynasty warriors, ratchet and clank, and others. Around late 1980s and early 1990s this genre pretty much extincted. Viewtiful Joe revives this genre and is one of the BEST game ever.

Today most gamers think all games are 3D and scoff at old school 2D concept and games. 3D games is actually less fun than 2D games. 2D is a proven formula, 3D games are still evolving and won't be fully perfect for at least 5 more years. Playing games like super mario sunshine and ratchet and clank were fun but a solid 2D game can be more fun.

The graphics is super. The 3D background effect is cool. For example the street turns at the end of the screen or 'right side', as you approach into the turn the whole background turns. The sound and music is good and goes with the game well. Viewtiful joe is a cool character and resembles Ultramen.

The gameplay is typical beat em up side scroll style with some puzzles, NO guns. You can jump to higher platforms. There are many enemies but variety is suspect and don't expect dynasty warriors amount too. You can purchase more moves and stuff during the game but they are mostly useless. My only complaint about this game is lack of guns and weapons.... The VFX adds to the gameplay, a gimmick that worked and not revolutionary. The zoom and speed effect is more like a type of attack. The only VFX attack that really alter the gameplay is the slow 'matrix' effect, it feels like a cheat effect. Slowing down time allows you to see and perform more accurate but it slows down the gameplay too.... Joe is pretty much invincible in VFX. Sometimes you have to use certain effect to pass a puzzle, stage, obstacles, enemy, or boss. So the VFX attack adds some strategy. Most of the time during gameplay, VFX is constantly used and can take up at least 50 % of time. This gets boring and tedious after a while however the game would be bland without it....

Pro: FUN, 3D feel from a 2D game, feel mix of classic winners.
Con: No weapons, low enemy variety, no multi-player.
Mixed bag: VFX system.

Overall this is a great 2D action platform game! Highly recommended.

I kid you not, if grew-up watch Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, this game was made for you. Playing Viewtiful Joe is the most fun I've had playing video games since my days of playing TMNT3 the ol' NES. It incorporates the same style of gameplay in which countless enemies, that look Putties from Power Rangers, come storming in only to meet up with your fist. The catch, you get use cool Special Effects Power, called VFX, to slow down, speed up and zoom in.

I should mention that this game is hard, I mean hard. So, if you get frustrated easily, you might want to rent first. There is a Kids difficultly to help you get a step up on the competition. Once you've gotten there you can challenge the game on even harder difficulties, and unlocking more heroes as you play. It's a true challenge for anyone of any gamming level.

My bottom line, if you're looking for some old school 2D action, buy Viewtiful Joe. Oh, and it's player's choice!!!

When I first saw this game, I was put off by it. It seemed kind of corny. But when I saw it on CNN's Top Ten Video Games of 2003 (Or was it 2004? I can't remember...actually, I believe it was 2003.) I was blown away. I then told myself I had to get this game. I played it for the first time at a friend's house. Then I borrowed it from another friend. And then, at long last, I bought it for myself. And up to this day I still play it. It's fun, addictive, and challenging.

There are two difficulty levels in this game: "Kids", which is for beginners, and "Adults" (hence the Teen rating for this game, although it's not "Adults Only" material) which is for Viewtiful Joe veterans who have already beaten "Kids" or people who want a good challenge.

The story of this game is cliche, but still good. Joe and his girlfriend Silvia are out on a movie date, watching Joe's favorite movie, "Captain Blue". Suddenly, one of the movie's villians attacks, taking Silvia into the movie itself. Joe involuntarily enters the movie himself, where he is granted superpowers by Captain Blue himself. Joe turns into a superhero called Viewtiful Joe, and he fights various baddies and solves puzzles to rescue the captured Silvia.

The gameplay is where the game really shines. Viewtiful Joe is a 2-D/3-D hybrid game, in which your goals are to beat down various enemies of the evil group called "The Jadow" and solve puzzles. To aid you in your quest, Captain Blue grants you 3 special powers, called "VFX" powers. The first one is "Slow", which causes everything, including enemies, to move in slow motion. While this power is triggered, you can inflict more damage on your foes. The second power is "Mach Speed", which kicks you into fast motion, and allows you to beat some enemies down faster. The final power in "Zoom In", in which you zoom in to Joe and allow him to freeze some foes and take them out effortlessly. As you play the game, you can combine your powers to help you.

The game doesn't end when you beat it. There are a few unlockables in this little wonder game that will keep you coming back for more. I have already unlocked most of the secrets in this game, and I have to say I'm mostly satisfied.

The final word? Viewtiful Joe is one of the best games I've ever played, and I recommend it.