Viewtiful Joe 2 (GameCube)

Changes come in the form of Joe's girlfriend, Silvia, who you get to play as this time around. If, like me, you were hoping this would lead to two-player cooperative modes then you'll be rather disappointed that such features are absent. Which is a shame, really, because it could have led to a more creative use of the two characters. As it is, you can switch between the two at any point during the game and make use of Silvia's extra abilities such as her guns that allow you to attack from long-range and the replay VFX power she has instead of mach speed, which simply repeats an attack 3 times for added damage and is used to solve rather obvious puzzles. It's a double-edged sword though, in that if you have the replay power on when YOU'RE hit you'll take 3 times the damage, so watch out for that!

The other differences are merely tweaks to improve the old game. Saves are now much more frequent than before, reducing the frustration from the first game a lot. The difficulty has been reduced as well, so there's less cushion-eating madness moments to be had, although Hard mode is still quite a challenge. Most of the challenge is in the optional 36 Chambers mode, for the hardcore, where you have to defeat enemies in an arena according to certain conditions. It's a good addition that should keep you playing once the game is over, but it gets pretty tough.

VJ2 didn't need to be massively different, so it's no great disaster that it isn't. Anyone who enjoyed the first game should find the same satisfaction in stylish fighting here.


OMG!!   February 2, 2005
 2 out of 8 found this review helpful

I have got Viewtiful Jow 1 and it is amazing! Lots of people complain about the graphics but they are actually very good, they are designed to be cartooney and the game's graphics are practically flawless!!
In VJ 1 you have the abilities to zoom in and perform ultra cool moves, in slowmotion you can dodge bullets and your punches are more accurate, thus more powerful, and finally you have mach speed. In mach speed you punnch or kick so fast you get a heat shield around you, protecting you from fire and burning enemies (lol).
In VJ2 you can play co-operativley (1 of you is joe, the other is his girlfriend silvia) and there is gonna be a new ability called rewind, this lets you rewind time if you do a good combo and do it 3 times!!
I completed VJ1 7 times as it is so good and addictive, there are 4 difficulty settings and Ultra V-Rated mode (the hardest (in short IMPOSSIBLE) is very very challenging and took me a very long time to complete but it got me Captain Blue who owns!
All in all the original was amazing and this is co-operative and with new moves so you should definatley buy it!!!!


the best beat em up ever?   December 27, 2004
 2 out of 6 found this review helpful

alot of people will take one look at viewtifull joe 2 and decide not to get it based on the 2d cartoon graphics but for those people they will be missing a seariously kickass game the graphics are awsome there is incredible detail and action going on all over the screen and all of the time. enimys will keep comming thick and fast and you have to keep beating the hell out of them with a number of special moves avalible to you such as mach-speed - buy pressing the R button you will be punching about 100 times as fast as you normaly would
slow - slow down time to allow for more accurate punches
a few of the new moves are re-wind so if you eat some eneryy you then re-wind and it will have the effect of eating 3 burgers or punch some one then rewind it will punch them 3 times.
in viewtifull joe 2 his girlfriend is not longer a damsel in destress this time she kicksass and you will have to use a combnation of sylvias and joes special moves to solve the demanding puzzels
at the end of the day if you like any 2d classic beat em up such as streets of rage or final fight you will love this viewtifull joe is the crazyiest and most hectic bem em up ever oh yer... its rock hard too so will keep you going for a while.


This Is Gonna Rock   November 8, 2004
 0 out of 12 found this review helpful

Im a huge fan of Viewtiful Joe and iam really looking forwards towards this, I may have wait sometime until the ps2 release though. Capcom rule! Next year is gonna be a good year for Capcom!