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Viewtiful Joe 2 PS2 Capcom  'Viewtiful Joe 2' is a mystery wrapped in a riddle. It's a game which conventional wisdom suggests should never have been created; it oozes a personality of randomness that suggests it was designed by a group of hyperactive ten year olds being intravenously fed a mix of red cordial and bad acid. The fact that it is a sequel and that it has made it to Western shores all suggests the marketing department at Capcom was asleep at the wheel. None of these things, however, are bad. Joe and Silvia, the stars of 'Viewtiful Joe 2' battle through a series of movie-themed worlds in order to retrieve the Oscar statues stolen by the Dark Emperor's minions. Only by utilising their VFX powers to overcome an assortment of quirky enemies and puzzles will Joe and Silvia be able to save the 'Rainbow Oscar' which (naturally) contains the 'Power Of The Happy Ending'. The central mechanic of the game, the VFX powers, works well. Silvia and Joe can both slow down the passage of time, zoom in to pull off a variety of moves and trigger their own unique powers. Joe has the ability to speed up time, which in a reverse sort of logic, allows him to land a flurry of blows on an enemy or run quickly past obstacles. Sylvia can record a move and play it back three times, allowing her to triple the damage done to an enemy (or triple the damage taken if a mistake is made). While only Joe or Silvia battle at any given time they can be switched at any time, expanding the combinations of puzzle and combat possibilities. Everything from dinosaurs to giant syringe wielding nurses will stand in the way of the heroes as they battle through a series of relatively short side-scrolling levels. It is the absurdity of everything that is shoehorned into 'Viewtiful Joe 2' that gives it its charm. The design screams around you at 100 miles an hour, both metaphorically and literally spurting lasers and immolating ninjas in all directions. 'Viewtiful Joe 2' certainly isn't a perfect game. The level of polish varies wildly and it has clearly suffered from either poor scripting or translating. However, the game is polished where it counts: the fun department, and with the right mindset there is a lot to enjoy. Like this reviewer, anyone who likes 'Viewtiful Joe 2', will probably cite the same reasons as those who don't like it. It's curiously unusual, strangely eclectic, and at times, brutally difficult. The key to enjoying the experience is to throw out any conception of what should happen, overlook the flaws and enjoy the ride. Games like 'Viewtiful Joe 2' come few and far between; be thankful something different is sitting inside your PS2 instead of 'Grand Theft Auto 7'.  |
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