Although Viewtiful Joe 2 is a by-the-numbers sequel, it is still incredibly fun and well-made
Cons: Some late game segments are frustrating; One chapter is almost nothing but reused boss fights; Not much has changed since the first game
An unfortunate fact of the film industry: most sequels are not as inspired as the originals. Although there are a few exceptions (The Godfather II, The Dark Knight, etc.), most sequels simply reuse the formula set by the first movie with minor alterations. Ironically, Viewtiful Joe 2--the sequel to a very inspired video game based around concepts from movies-falls prey to this same trap. This isn't to say that Viewtiful Joe 2 doesn't provide a good time; it just fails to innovate in the way that its predecessor did.
[Warning: the following paragraph contains minor spoilers for Viewtiful Joe 1, and while I wouldn't recommend the game on plot alone, it is definitely worth playing]
Viewtiful Joe 2 picks up right where Viewtiful Joe 1 left off: after saving the world from danger, Joe and Sylvia find themselves challenged with a new foe: The Black Emperor. He converts Captain Blue into a blue Oscar, one of seven which can control happy endings in Movie Land. Thus, Joe and Sylvia set out on a new journey to get the seven rainbow Oscars to save Movie Land. As is the case with the first game, the plot is a throwaway addition; its tribute to the world of cinema is enjoyably corny, particularly the way it breaks the fourth wall and uses clichés and absurd plot twists, but is neither as entertaining nor as deep as you'd hope.
The real reason to pick up Viewtiful Joe 2 lies in its fast-paced 2D action. As with the first game, Joe's repertoire of movies is simple: jump, punch, and kick. However, the cool twist comes with his movie related abilities. Joe is able to go into slow-motion at any time, making his attacks more powerful, making propellers slow down, and making dodging easier. Joe is also able to go into high-speed, making for weaker, but quicker attacks that turn Joe red hot and resistant to fire. And thirdly Joe is able to zoom in for stronger alternative moves and the ability to stun most enemies.
It's a simple combat system, but one who's varied enemies, section-specific twists, and carefully balanced, but tough, difficulty keep things interesting. Occasionally Joe also needs to solve a puzzle using his powers to manipulate the world around him. For the most part these are nice little diversions to keep things from getting repetitive, but a few late puzzles halt progress significantly and can get annoying.
The more enjoyable diversion comes from bosses, who seamlessly combine puzzles and combat into one segment. Usually the player can repeatedly pummel the boss with attacks whenever they get the chance and can slowly but surely weaken the boss. However, doing so is inefficient (and will net you a poor grade), as well as not as fun as analyzing the boss' moves to find its weak point. These points get tougher and tougher to find, making for some surprisingly head-scratching encounters that will inevitably kick your ass towards the end of the game.
It's all the same as it was in Viewitful Joe 1, bar a couple of unique vehicle segments. The one notable recurring addition to the game is Sylvia, who can trade places with Joe at any time. Her move set is different, and instead of fast forward, she can use replay, which repeats a move three times over. Ultimately, however, I never found a great reason to use Sylvia for extended periods of time, making her contribution to the game negligible, and ultimately making the game feel like an expansion pack rather than a proper sequel.
Still, for a game that feels like an expansion pack, Viewtiful Joe 2 is still well-produced and quite enjoyable. The graphics have the same cel-shaded superhero charm of the first game, and the sound design (which is largely identical) holds up fairly well. However, it should be noted that some sections of the game cut corners, such as the large inclusion of 2D graphics and a chapter composed entirely of reused boss fights. Even with that padded chapter, Viewtiful Joe 2 still remains extremely fun and warrants a replay. Luckily, the game is packed with replay value, ranking you in every scenario in the game and offering two (even) harder difficulties for second and third play throughs. No, Viewtiful Joe 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but as far as déjà vu cases go, this one is still great enough to warrant an easy recommendation.