Viewtiful Joe

The Good
It looks stunning! It uses old comic book techniques such as blurring, thick black lines and pretty, bright colours that give it a real classy look unlike any other game out there! The game plays like old’ side scrollers of the past and is best for it, though it has a few features which bring it out the past. These features are VFX which allows you to slow down, speed up and zoom in giving you handy abilities to clear out each room of enemies. The fighting because of this can be really joyful, using these techniques. Coupled with this a real comic book/ cheesy superhero movie feel, like the old batman programmes with Adam West that really tops it off.

The Bad
There’s too much of an emphasis on using slow VFX to get a good grade in each section of a level, while this isn’t necessary a bad thing as slow mo is fun, but I find that it doesn’t give you time with the other two VFX powers. Another bad thing is that it isn’t as hard as the Japanese version, perhaps in a effort to make it more attractive to the casual gamer. Also ironically, it is frustratingly hard in places. Also music is annoying after a while, but suits it the game sum what. The last thing that ticks off is that the graphics strain my eyes, but I don’t think this will applies to everyone.

The Bottom Line
Side scrolling fighters are back! VIEWTIFUL!!

The Good
The style of the classic platform shooter games of yesteryear returns with a brand-new style. As Joe, you find yourself thrust into a movie world filled with gorgeous graphics and bizarre movie-esque villians in a battle to save your girlfriend. Veteran games who remember the challenges of classic NES and SNES games will not be disappointed, and even new players will find the action incredibly enjoyable.

The Bad
Some players may find the minimal frequency of save options makes the game artificially difficult.

The Bottom Line
If you like platform shooters, and want to play one of the best platformers ever, buy Viewtiful Joe.

The Good
The side-scrolling genre (at least on home consoles) has been becoming more and more endangered. But every once in a while a game comes along and shows that no matter how long the genre's been floating around, it's still definitely viable. AND entertaining.

Viewtiful Joe is a beautiful title, taking full advantage of the cel-shaded style that was so popular for too short a time. The animation is smooth, the enemies and attacks flowing like water (even when the speed and slow capabilities are turned on, which actually help showcase the detail of the characters and animation). The controls are bang-on, though slightly hampered by the Gamecube's slightly odd control scheme... with some practice, however, the button placement becomes second-nature (which is also surprising because of the large number of buttons used to control Joe).

Even the story is unique,

The Bad
Early on the game is incredibly easy. Except for the few scattered puzzles the enemies are easily beaten by just button-mashing (as are many of the enemies throughout the game; punching and kicking are basically interchangeable for attacking). Also, when it comes to the game's puzzles, many are trial and error... with little or no instruction as to even where to start. I spent a significant number of time on the first few puzzles just trying to figure out where to begin.

The Bottom Line
"If you'd like a little bit of the old-school with your new school, check out Joe!"

The Good
The gameplay of Viewtiful Joe (VJ) is not entirely original but its style and execution is. Viewtiful Joe literally puts you in the limelight of the action and although the camera is a flat panning 2D, the characters and enemies are 3D giving a visceral and fleshed out feel of the game. Many believe that side scrolling genre has died a long time ago but VJ restarts it with a shot of steroids. Many development teams understand the limitations of 2D side scrolling but the team behind VJ exploits new strengths behind these limitations by adding a wrinkle or two on the formerly impacted genre. VJ gives a masterful combination of 2D action and cinematic play that is reminiscent of Ninga Gaiden on the NES. Part of this good execution is made by the brisk pacing of battling enemies and solving puzzles. Most of the puzzles are physics based but the physics of VJ are not what you're used to in other games. The game gives you the power to slow down or speed up time giving you the added ability add extra power to that punch or attack several enemies at once. In addition, it can be used to slow down propelling blades on a helicopter or speed up running vehicles. VJ makes up its new rules on how physics works in its world but it works perfectly with the look of the game and those rules stay consistent.

What's really impressive is how the controls play during the battles and puzzle elements in the game. Control is extremely tight but very satisfying. VJ is one of the few (if not the only) 2D side scrolling games that make use of all the buttons and sticks on the Gamecube controller but for some reason it isn't overwhelming at all. Executing VFX moves in the game are intuitive and natural. If anything, it should teach a thing or two to game developers trying to make their complex action games more accessible to more casual gamers.

The characters are memorable as well as the puzzles. Most puzzles are pretty simple but are not tricky or obvious. Some of the puzzles in the game are very original and made me wonder how much they've learned when going back to 2D.

The Bad
My only gripe is that it is short. In 10-15 hours you can quickly finish this game. Furthermore, there are no co-op modes or fighting modes to add to the single player story. If you're not an experienced gamer that is used to all the twitchy type action, prepare to be frustrated. There are many boss battles in the game that require precise timing and understanding patterns but overall you should find something to like.

The Bottom Line
Viewtiful Joe is a good game with an original concept and gameplay. It takes the best of 2D and 3D and places it in a very refreshing perspective in side scrolling.

radcastro.com

The Good
This game has a really great graphical style. The gameplay is amazing. I loved the level design and the VFX. The environments are huge! The puzzles are great. I had tons of fun playing this.

The Bad
This game is HARD! Even on Easy, this game is really hard! It's almost impossible to finish. The enemies are almost all the same. The boss battles usually consist of just doing one thing over and over again (e.g. zoomed punches).

The Bottom Line
If you like a challenge, definitely pick this up. If you don't consider yourself hardcore or avid gamer, then maybe you should try some tamer fare, such as Sid Meier's Pirates! for the PC or NCsoft's Guild Wars for the PC.

The Good
I've been waiting for a next-gen system to deliver a quality side scroller for a while, and here it is!

The combination of 3D rendered characters playing on a 2D plane looks fantastic. If that weren't enough, Viewtiful Joe has a number of other graphical treats up its sleeve. Slow-Motion, Fast-Motion, and Zoom-In effects (all which are essential to gameplay) create constantly changing environments.

The graphic style, a sort of anime-comic book, is also a tremendous innovation.

The game itself is a definite challenge. You'll probably think back to those early side-scroller games like mega man when it comes to the pre-final boss stage (a series of previous boss refights). Extensively complex gameplay elements, primarily revolving around fighting styles, sets the learning curve a little higher than most games; however, the payoff is worth it.

The cine-story presentation (complete with intentionally over-the-top announcer) moves along the plot in a refreshingly self-aware manner.

Lastly, the inclusion of power-ups based on previous level success is great.

The Bad
There is actually a little lag when the screen becomes consumed -- however, after years with the original NES side-scrollers, it almost feels like it was intentional.

The Bottom Line
One of the Must-Have Gamecube titles.