Capcom’s latest game is a striking departure from the
run-of-the-mill action games that dominate the market. Featuring
beautiful cell-shaded graphics, “Joe” is the story of a
young boy who inadvertently gets sucked into the action films he
loves so much in order to rescue his girlfriend.

While the plot may be nothing that innovative, the frenetic and
stylized gameplay offers a unique gaming experience. Joe has
“Viewtiful” powers that enable to slow down, zoom in or
speed up the action. Countless hordes of robots constantly surround
your hero, and utilizing the unique gameplay features makes
disposing enemies a breeze.

The boss battles create a truly memorable game as the foes take
up the entire screen and evoke memories of the great fights from
classic brawlers like “Contra” and
“Megaman.” With a steep difficulty curve that spikes
early on, “Viewtiful Joe” is not for everyone.

What separates “Viewtiful Joe” from the competition
is a rare feeling of freshness. Other companies keep rehashing
franchises and concepts into game after game (Capcom’s own
“Street Fighter” franchise is a horrendous offender),
yet “Joe” is truly like nothing else on the market.

“Viewtiful Joe” is a great game that redefines the
classic beat-‘em-up genre. Gamers looking for a tough
diversion or an interesting new gaming experience need look no
further than “Viewtiful Joe.”

Rating: 4 stars.