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PRE-GAME

Joe is a geek turned “movie star action hero”, who’s mission is to the save the word from a league of movie villains who’ve taken down his mentor Captain Blue. At Joe’s disposal is the V-watch, a device that turns this average Joe into “Viewtiful Joe”, a tight in the crotch costumed super hero who posses VFX powers. These powers let young Joe zoom in, slow down and speed up his actions.

So now, the fate of the world is in the hands of one viewtiful boy!

EYE-SPY

THE HOOK: Capcom’s newest, highly acclaimed franchise hits the PS2, with enough extras to make you blow your hard earned cash to buy it again. VJ is not only the next step in side scrolling video games, but with the game’s unique VFX powers, it reinvents the tired “Bullet Time” effect used in such games as “Max Payne” and “Enter the Matrix”. The key difference though, Viewtiful Joe doesn’t suck.

HOW IT LOOKS AND FEELS: Graphics and controls were the games main selling point when released on Gamecube last year, so when VJ was ported it to PS2, Capcom made sure it ran and looked just as well as it’s GC counter part. The 2D/3D graphics make the game look like a Megaman game on acid (or Megaman X7 if you will, but only good); it’s trippy at times, but beautiful none the less.

The character designs are some of the best I’ve seen in the while, jut because each character is so unique.  Joe looks like the type of guy who harasses you at Gamestop for buying Halo 2 when Metroid comes out a week later, and his super hero alter ego is an obvious tribute to wacky Japanese super heroes like Ultraman. The villains are the best though, ranging from the previously mentioned dinosaur, an Evil Joe, a flying bat-man with over a dozen piercings to a flaming lion.

As for the controls, those familiar with the PS2's controller layout will have a field-day with Joe; it handles incredibly well, and Joe’s stylish attacks will blow you away...or make you laugh, seeing how he’ll throw little pink bombs.....no, I’m serious. The D-pad can be used for leaping and dodging over and under attacks and moving Joe, the shoulder buttons are used for utilizing Joe’s VFX powers, while the square, triangle, circle and X buttons are used for attacks and jumping.

The use of the VFX is a god-sent. I’ve played dozens of games where the only thing slowing down the action did was make the game look like a really bad kung fu movie. In VJ, slowing down the game is needed to set up combos, solving puzzles and increase the damage give to an enemy, and sometimes, increases the damage received by your foe. Speeding things up allows Joe to remove certain status-changing problems (like being on fire), and throwing punches at sound-barrier breaking speeds. The zoom in factor allows for moves that put the ninjas from Naruto to shame, and are some of the best I’ve seen in a video game outside of (insert tired fighting game franchise here).

HOW IT SOUNDS: While catchy during game play, VJ’s soundtrack isn’t something you’ll have stuck in your head long after you done with the game, nor pay up to 40 bucks to import. While it’s not the bleeps and bloops of the past, there’s not a single track in the musical department worth noting other than “Viewtiful World”, a unlockable rap-rock video which has the cast of the game tearing it like some sort of Linkin Park/ Church choir act. A must view. The voice action is top notch, expect for the Pig Latin you'll have to suffer through when playing as Dante.

As for the in-game sound effects, this is where the game really shines. While all the bam!, pows! Kabooms!  one would expect from a japanese super hero game are intact, slowing things down or up also affects those as well. Let’s use an exploding bomb as an example. Should that bomb go off without the use of VFX powers, you’ll get the run of the mill explosion. Slowing down the bomb however, you’ll hear the bomb slowly fizzle, and then hear a huge series of explosions. On the other hand, speeding up the bomb will only result in a brief pop. 

EXTRAS: 4 unlockable characters, a music video, an additional, harder, setting and while available from the get-go, a preview video for VJ2.

CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE: The graphics in the cut scenes look the same as in- game graphics, but that’s not an issue, seeing how VJ’s graphics are sharp and stylish.

The're used to help carry the plot through the orgies of robot ass-kicking, plus they are funny as hell.  Especially when Joe confronts his ticked off girl friend, and Dante’s run-in with a weapon gone bad. While I wouldn’t put them on-par with the FMV’s of the Final Fantasy series, the get the job done none the less.

BEST PLAYER: Joe’s show is stolen by his unlockable guest star from the Devil May Cry series. Dante comes armed to the teeth, possessing both his trademark guns and sword, which translate well into VJ. Maybe next time Joe.

CHEAT CODE YOU NEED: Beat the game with a "V" ranking on every level to get unlimited VMX for that character during the game.

CHEAT CODE YOU WANT: A cheat that allows the hidden characters to be playable from the get go.

OH MAN! MOMENT: Fighting all of games bosses back to back to back to back...on the game hardest setting. You’re not walking away from this one without dying, let alone getting hit, no matter how good you are.

GLITCH ITCH: None, as far as I know.

FAN SERVICE: VJ delivers on this end in spades. For the men, hotties like Joe’s girl Silvia and Dante’s gal-pal Trish are present, while the ladies get to whistle and holler at a powerless Dante in speedos...well ladies and maybe a certain reviewer.... anyway, as for as in-jokes, there’s a handful of DMC references, including a villian named after Dante’s sword. And the ending credits have movie posters parodying such movies as “Jaws” and “Star Wars”, as well as.....Devil May Cry....anyone else beginning to notice a pattern?

END GAME:

If Capcom spliced Megaman and Devil May Cry together, Viewtiful Joe would be the result. This is the answer to” What if a Japanese company made a superhero game”. And it  flat out rocks, putting such titles like “Spider-Man 2" and “X-Men: Legends” to shame.  But be warned, it’s no walk in the park. Even on the PS2 exclusive easiest setting, the game will kick your ass up and down the street,...we’re talking Master Blaster hard here folks. This may turn off some players, especially those not around to grow up on the video games of the 80s (but will throw out 50 bucks for remakes)....but don’t feel bad for them, I’m sure there’s a Barbie game for them.

For the rest of us hardcore gamers and anime obsessed otaku, you will LOVE this game.  While Capcom may have ran it’s Street Fighter and Mega Man series into the ground, VJ joins Devil May Cry as another solid new franchise (assuming you’re looking past the crap-fest that was DMC2!). The graphics (so pretty, so well drawn and designed.....dare I say it....VIEWTIFUL!) the controls (tight and precise, with upgrades that don’t require you to uses all your fingers ands toes to pull off or the use of the Capcom staple quarter circle +punch movement), and the combat system (like Megaman before him, there’s clever tricks to defeat each boss) make for a unique experience that will help PS2 owners understand what Gamecube owners were rejoicing about when the game shipped last year.

While the “save the girl and the world” plot sounds cliché, the way it unfolds is awesome and hilarious. The villains will read from scripts, asking Joe to join them, or are just plain Jessica Simpson-DUMB. While our hero spends more time coming up with a secret identity for his alter ego (for a clue as to what it is, here’s a hint; read the title of the game) then worrying about the well being of his captured girlfriend...which leads to one of the funniest moments in the game. And since we’re one the topic,  Joe has the nerdy appeal of Peter Parker, minus the whining about power and responsibility and dead uncles...although his obsession with an old, fat guy in spandex is seven types of creepy. 

This is Clover’s first release, and seeing how it’s headed up by the same people responsible for other Capcom franchises like “Resident Evil” and “Devil May Cry”, there’s no shortage of talent behind the scenes, which is clear when you play this game.  If this wasn’t enough incentive to give VJ an edge over it’s competition, let me point out there’s missle launching dinosaur with an axe in this game. If this game still hasn’t peaked your interest, check your pulse, you may be dead.

Other than being too hard at times, the only other gripe I have with VJ is the fact that while the game mechanics for Dante work the same for the characters for most part.  It would have been cool if Dante’s par of the game actually reflected DMC a little more, instead of the “cut and paste” job Capcom.  While throwing lil’ pink bombs may be cute for Joe, that kind of thing doesn’t fly with Dante. Also a re-recorded voice track would have been nice. Instead we get subtitles and pig latin for the cut scenes, and audio cuts from DMC and some really bad engrish (“Devil May Cry’s a rockin baby!”?  Looking good there Austin Powers.) However this shouldn’t prevent anyone from playing this game.

When VJ was originally released in Japan for the GC, Capcom had to release a public apology, because they couldn’t keep up with the demand for the game.  With an anime, a sequel, and possible PSP/DS ports in the future, it’s easy to see that VJ will play a key part in Capcom’s future.

In a world where violent car jacking games rule over highly marketable classics, Viewtiful Joe is a breath of fresh air. With all the reasons listed above, the Dante factor (HE’S SOOOOO BADASS!!!!), and the fact that Capcom lowered the release price for PS2 users, anyone who appreciates good games needs to play this...now! 

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