This game proves that life can indeed be Viewtiful. BUY IT!
Graphics: I love the cel- shaded style of graphics in this game. They look amazing and animate pretty smoothly. The game just has alot of charm to it and it's definitley one of the better looking games on Gamecube. The art design is also very well done, with some very fun and goofy enemies. 10/ 10
Sound: The music is funky and helps get you in the mood to fight some bad guys. It's nothing special, but gets the job done. The voice acting is good and the actors all deliver their lines with enthussiasm. There is some really funny writing in this game (Joe's conversation with his rival, Alastor is easily one of my favorites in games) that helps move the story along. 8/ 10
Story: One day at the movies, Joe and his girlfriend Sylvia are enjoying a Capatin Blue movie, when the bad guy wins! Then, Sylvia gets pulled into the screen and Joe follows to save her! In case you couldn't tell, it's a pretty goofy story, but it's not meant to be taken seriously. It is, at once, a parody and homage to many great movies. There are many memorabl villians that deliver some truly hilarious lines. 8/ 10
Gameplay: This game is a 2- d sidescroller beat 'em up that delivers innovation through the nose. Fairly early, you get these things called VFX powers. These include slow down, mach speed and zoom in. These super powers are put to great use and really change the way you'll look at games. This game would also be superthough without them. The way it works is that you have a meter that drains when VFX powers are used and fills when they're not being used. If you run out of juice, you revert back to normal Joe and have to wait for the bar to refill until you can use them again. Fortunatley, throughout the levels are film reels that you can increase your bar with.
Using the VFX powers allows you to rack up alot of V- points that allows you to upgrade or buy new abilities. This works fairly well, and the things are priced so that you will likley always be buying new things, at least on your first playthrough.
The levels themselves contain alot of variety. They range from a mansion, the streets outside a hotel, an underwater base, a sinking submarine, the sewers of a city, a mysterious other dimension and a huge spacestation. Needless to say, the levels are fun to play through, and many of them are quite epic. For instance, after fighting a mysterious doppleganger, you must flee a submarine that is rapidly sinking. Another involves stopping a train before it crashes, all the while fighting off hordes of enemies. The levels are intense and never let up.
The boss battles are equally intense. Each one is unique and has a certain pattern. After memorizing the pattern, they aren't too tough, but they are always tricky. They are all satisfying to beat, especially on higher difficulties when one hit can take out most of your lifebar.
My one gripe with the game is the 6th level. It's a boss rush level that has no save point and can be a real nusiance.
This is a great action game that is defnintley worth your time and money. 9.9/ 10
So, Viewtiful Joe is an amazing action game on the 'cube and is worth dusting off said 'cube to play it. I got this game a few years ago for 7 bucks and it's probably cheaper now! So, what are you waiting for? Go and experience the Viewtiful life! Thanks for reading.
And Capcom, please, please, PLEASE release another game! I found the other VJ games to be fun, but inferior sequels, so please release a new game! Maybe even on Wii? Imagine the VFX powers you could use!