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We've taken quite a few shots at Capcom for recycling old games and releasing so many sequels. But with "Viewtiful Joe," Capcom finally seems to have a hit that doesn't rely on "Resident Evil," "Mega Man," or "Street Fighter." On this episode of "X-Play" we go hands-on with the game and give you the Joe-down.

Ready, set, Joe

The star of the show is Joe, a movie lover and young Fred Durst look-alike. While on a date with his girlfriend, Silvia, he's so enthralled by a flick, he spurns her romantic advances. Well, he should have got some while he could, because Silvia is soon kidnapped by the movie's villain and sucked into the screen. Joe follows and is urged by the movie's hero, Captain Blue, to take over his role. The ordinary Joe then becomes Viewtiful Joe (maybe it makes more sense in Japanese than it does in English), and he's on a mission to punch and kick his way through the bad guys to rescue Silvia.

You are so viewtiful to me

To say that "Viewtiful Joe" has excellent visuals would be an understatement. The game's polished, unique look does an excellent job of straddling the line between 2-D and 3-D. The colors are bright, the character designs are creative, and rarely has cel-shading been used so effectively. Cel-shading usually distracts from or disrupts the action, but here the effect is nearly seamless. We also liked the little touches, such as how scratchy the movie looks while you're "normal" instead of Viewtiful Joe.

Joe boxer

Slightly less captivating is the gameplay, a juiced-up take on the venerable beat-'em-up genre. In this case, not only is Joe armed with formidable martial arts skills, but thanks to his V-Watch he can slow down and speed up time, as well as zoom in on the action. These powers are more than just flashy visual effects. You need them to defeat many of your enemies.

Your special powers also work hand-in-hand with the art of dodging. Make foes miss their attack and they'll be stunned, giving you the upper hand and the chance to perform a damaging combo. The controls are simple and easy to learn, and the tutorials integrated throughout the game explain your new powers.

The visuals are so strong, though, that gameplay seems pedestrian by comparison. What we have here is the slight victory of style over substance. But considering that most games have neither style nor substance, "Viewtiful Joe" still comes out way ahead.

A difficult young man

"Viewtiful Joe" is challenging like those old-fashioned, pull-your-hair-out, I-want-to-bash-it-with-a-hammer games on the NES. Save points are infrequent, so you'll find yourself replaying levels only to die quickly at the hands of a boss. It's not a flaw, but it'll turn off players who don't care for repetitive gameplay. We recommend you stick with it, though. Video games have gotten progressively easier over the years, so its refreshing to see a game that actually puts your perseverance skills to the test. In one acknowledgment of the games difficulty, youre able to choose between a kids or adults difficulty level, the difference being you start out with 10 life marks instead of five. And you will need all the help you can get.

Not another ordinary Joe

It might seem like a no-brainer to praise "Viewtiful Joe" simply because it looks so damn cool, and for the fact that it's not another cookie-cutter sequel or retread of a tired franchise. But here at "X-Play," we like to tell it to ya straight: "Viewtiful Joe" lives up to the hype. At a time when most publishers, Capcom included, seem content to churn out the same old stuff, the developers at Team Viewtiful have succeeded in blending the classic with new to create a unique game thats one of the best of the year.
"Viewtiful Joe" (GCN)