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Viewtiful Joe Swoops To Save 2D Gameplay

Posted by simoniker on from the the-japanese-are-insane dept.

Thanks to IGN Cube for running an import review of Capcom's crazed 3D-graphics but 2D-gameplay action platformer, Viewtiful Joe, which has just been released (and immediately sold out) in Japan, but isn't out in the US until October. According to the article, "Viewtiful Joe is an extremely stylized quasi-2D side-brawler .. [with] polished control mechanics.. you can effortlessly slow down time, speed it up.. the game's graphic presentation, from.. cel-styled worlds.. [to] breathtaking slow-time and speed-time effects, and fluid animation that drowns every character, is just gorgeous." There's also a US demo of Viewtiful Joe on the recent official GameCube demo disc - is this title proof that 2D gameplay can still enchant the mass market?

6 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. (1+1)d by Leffe · · Score: 3, Insightful
    is this title proof that 2D gameplay can still enchant the mass market?
    Maybe this is why people buy the Gameboy Advance? The mystery is finally explained!

    Well, seriously, I would love a couple new 2d platformers, a new Sonic the Hedgehog game without the adventure part would totally rock! Or a new Castlevania, not for the Gameboy Advance, but one of the consoles, Playstation 2 maybe?
  2. To answer the question.... by madmarcel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    > is this title proof that 2D gameplay can still enchant the mass market?

    Probably, old arcade games are still popular (There are still pacman, tetris and pong clones being made as we speak ;^)

    Gameplay - that word is the key here, graphics don't matter that much IMHO, the graphics are only there for the 'initial' sell.

    Having said that....
    I haven't seen viewtiful joe...whats the replay value like? (Always a problem with 2D scrollers)

    1. Re:To answer the question.... by Lewisham · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I have to disagree. I would be very surprised if Viewtiful Joe does as well in the West as it has done in Japan.


      Despite the fact that Gamecube owners are generally a bit more hardcore than their Playstation bretheren, we've seen time and again the mass-market (and some die-hards too) being very judgemental about 2D, whereas the same cynicism simply doesn't exist in Japan. As all our platformers moved to 3D, they simply got worse, not better. Those Mario Sunshine levels that emulated the old-school days are impossible to control.


      Japan realises that and doesn't have the same bias, one of the reasons why the Saturn did much better (seeing as it was a very good 2D machine) in the East than it did in the West. It's a shame that the global economy means more companies can't make the statement that Capcom have done (that means you, Miyamoto-san).

    2. Re:To answer the question.... by stx23 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It has quite a lot of replay value with additional difficulty levels and unlockable characters.
      It's the best game this year since Wario Ware, and probably the best game so far on the cube.

      It's a joy to play and very challenging in it's puzzles and bosses. Tremendous fun overall.

  3. Don't import! by funkmastermike · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Support nintendo in the U.S. or Europe.
    Show nintendo that you want to actually buy games for your region. .... plus it'll be $40
    I also read somewhere in a drunken state that there would be extras in the U.S. version.

    just wait!

    play the (extremely fun) demo cd instead

    1. Re:Don't import! by stx23 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't agree with the lack of save points complaint. Where are the save points in Ghosts'n'Goblins or Rolling Thunder?

      They aren't there, because you're expected to be good at the game.

      Viewtiful Joe harkens back to these days, and for me that's why it's such a great game. My thumb is almost blistered after a week of it. That hasn't happened for many years.