Story
A premise of a game is inspired by, if does'nt directly from either, the picture show Last Action Hero. All a same, it draws the immense total of inspiration from either the old Japanese "Henshin" superhero TV programs from either a 1970s, such as Kamen Rider (& its numbers of sequels) and Kaiketsu Zubat (both created per late manga master Shotaro Ishinomori).

When Joe & his girlfriend Silvithe come watching a henshin dramthe during a date, Silvia is kidnapped per film's antagonist & taken into the world of the picture show: Movieland. Joe is suspire to watch Silvia fallowing existence picked higher & taken into Movieland by Captain Blue, a film's protagonist, world health organization has taken the form of a gargantuan golem. In a picture, Joe must rescue Silvia from either a evil Jadow, a stake's network of villains. To help him, Captain Blue entrusts him by owning the V-Observe, telling Joe to turn into Viewtiful Joe upon saying "Henshin", however Joe manufactured it into his portable catchphrase, "Henshin a go-go, baby!"

Gameplay
Viewtiful Joe's gameplay is very unusual & draws inspiration from either classic side-scrolling brawlers like River City Ransom and Double Dragon. Joe has threesome 'VFX' powers, which are then designed to emulate camera tricks seen inside motion-picture show like The Matrix: Slow induces Joe's attacks to become extra mighty, also when increasing his unconditioned reflex & rendering him a ability to dodge virtually all attacks. Mach speed allows Joe to start at unbelievable speed & may reason his attacks to weak the foe burning. Zoom gives Joe access to the recently class action of attacks & may power higher his normal attacks. A lot one come utilized around combat & to solve a gage's puzzles. Both of Joe's attack powers may be utilized at a equivalent period, either Slow & Zoom or even Mach Speed & Zoom. One of a virtually all right attacks in a game, the "SlowZ-RHOH" (Slow Zoom Hot dog A single Hundred), is handle enabling Slow, Zooming, so punching your computers enemy. Tons of the VFX powers come compulsory for preceding at least a single metropolitan area in the game. Joe hwhen the VFX meter which empties as he utilizes his powers. In case it diarrhea out, Joe reverts to his normal state until a foremost bar of the meter refills. Around his normal state, Joe will require double damage, has weaker attacks, & loses a double go for it ability.

Cast
Joe: a hero, a superhero fanboy world health organization gets to survive his dream when Viewtiful Joe when he saves Silvia from either the Jadow. Silvia: A heroine, she was abducted per Jadow for their evil project to succeed. She team by owning Joe in the sequel. Captain Blue: Joe's idol & guru. He gave Joe a V-View which enables him to apply his VFX powers. notwithstanding, Captain turned to become King Blue, trueness leader of the Jadow, making him the go individual Joe EVER required to become a villian. When he revealed, Blue is the father of Silvia & ended higher treed in the picture globe, losing touch using reality in the run. Joe emancipated him from either his maddness & Blue resumed his admittedly place in the film, when director to the "sequel". Alastor: An professional of a Jadow that utilizes the nickname "The Midnight Thunderboy". He number 1 confontated Jou in the pretence of A second Joe. Though he by owning a Jadow, Alastor doesn't care just about doing evil, however instead looking out the ultimate battle, & may be considered a "anti-hero" to an extent. He considers himself Joe's competition. Goldie: Silvia’s twin sister. She appears inside Silvia’s story. Ivory: Captin Blue's married woman. She appears inside Blue's pic. Charles a Third: The bat-rather professional of the Jadow, codenamed "Dark Fiend". Chesty & clannish. Hulk Davidson: The rhino-prefer professional of the Jadow, codenamed "Iron Ogre". He scarred Capt. Blue in the period of last battle it experienced. Wields the Battle ax. As well sings ("Davidson is in the house! Hulk Davidson is born to be wild!") & collects bike (so he is known as when a Harley-Davidson motorcycle company). His green skin suggests he will develop as well been known as fallowing a Western superhero The Incredible Hulk. Gran Bruce: The shark-prefer professional of the Jadow, nicknamed "Aquatic Terror". Is well moo on the intelligence shell than virtually all of the more characters in the game. Fire Leo: A previous leader of the Jadow & its virtually all right member. Nicknamed "Inferno Lord".

Playable characters
Additionally to Joe, a game has many more playable characters:

Silvia – Unlocked by clearing Grownup mode. She is the fastest runner in the game however will require double damage after hit. Her attacks come slightly weaker than Joe's, however her VFX meter drains further slowly. Alastor – Unlocked by clearing V-Rated mode. He has a strongest attacks inside a game & has the ability to double go for it in normal mode. Your family own to click the button to 'Devil Trigger' him into Viewtiful mode, where he potty apply his VFX powers. But, existence inside Viewtiful mode induces an car drain outcome in his meter whether or even does'nt VFX powers come existence utilized. A top side is that when you have his powers a drain carries in at a equivalent rate (unlike a more characters in which it speeds higher if you combine powers). Captain Blue – Unlocked by clearing Ultra V-Rated mode. He has a greatest lone go for it in the game however he doesn't have a double go for it. He besides hwhen a ability to fly horizontally when hanker as a go for it button is pressed, however he can't look at a skulls that suggest in which an enemy is attend attack. Dante – Unlocked only within PlayStation Two version by swimming any mode. Additionally to close range punches, kicks, & blade attacks, Dante might utilise his 2 side arm to attack faraway enemies. Nonetheless, inside case a guns come utilized while in Slow, a bullets is slowed down good rather when enemies fire their guns.

Criticism
Viewtiful Joe received its fair part of criticism due to its super high difficulty potentially on the lowest of the offered settings. Occasionally one comments could use at times been undue when a difficultly level was an intential throwback to old-school arcade games which were great deal extra demanding than a bulk of todays computer game. Briefly: Viewtiful Joe is considered super hard but not unfair.

Sequels and re-releases
Viewtiful Joe - PlayStation 2 re-release (aka Viewtiful Joe: A Future Hope around Japan) has the fresh playable character: Dante from Capcom's Devil May Cry series. It too has an gentler "Sweet Mode" difficulty guide. Viewtiful Joe Revival - This Japan-lone re-release for the Nintendo GameCube also has an added "Sweet Mode" for decreased difficulty. Viewtiful Joe 2 - Released for two PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble (formerly "Battle Carnival", & VFX Battle) has been announced for each PlayStation Portable and Nintendo GameCube. Its declared GCN release date is November 18, 2005. a back features a number of Twenty characters, from either either non single a game series however from the anime series aswell. Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble (known in Japan when Viewtiful Joe Scratch!) was announced for the Nintendo DS with a scheduled release in November 15, 2005. the game features a level of innovation that wasn't seen around Viewtiful Joe 2 thanks to the use of the DS's touchscreen.

Kamen Rider References

A pose struck by Joe when he makes his transformation into Viewtiful Joe is about exactly a equivalent when a classic henshin pose from a Kamen Rider series. One of Viewtiful Joe's moves - a Hot dog Kick - emulates a classic finishing move held by about each Kamen Rider: the Rider Kick. "The loser has to dress in yellow." (prior to a fight using An additional Joe [Unfortunately, in what is assumed to be a mistake, Joe actually says "The winner has to dress in yellow]) This is a reference to the older series of Kamen Rider, in which the protagonist would often have to face an evil double that was distinguished from the hero by the yellow scarf that it wore.

A couple of references were also made in the Japanese dub of the Viewtiful Joe anime, such as the mention of a "Double Hero Kick" (an allusion to the Double Rider Kick performed simultaneously by the first two Kamen Riders).

Super Sentai/Power Ranger References

The hero costumes worn by Joe, Silvia, and Captain Blue (among others) are clearly based on the costumes worn by the various hero teams from the Super Sentai and Power Ranger series. King Blue strangely resembles the Chouriki Sentai Ohranger villain known as Emperor Bacchus-Rage. For Power Rangers ZEO fans the villain would be better known as King Mondo. The penultimate battle in the game is set up much like a zord battle, a prominent feature from Super Sentai and Power Rangers.

Voice-cast

US
Dee Bradley Baker: Joe/Viewtiful Joe Gregg Berger: Captain Blue/King Blue, Narrator Christina Puccelli: Silvia Mikey Kelley: Alastor Roger Rose: Charles the 3rd, Gran Bruce Kevin Michael Richardson: Hulk Davidson, Fire Leo Hideki Kamiya: Six Machine

Japan
Tomokazu Seki: Joe / Viewtiful Joe Banjou Ginga: Captain Blue/King Blue Natsuko Kuwatani: Silvia Shinichiro Miki: Alastor Mitsuru Ogata: Charles the 3rd Akimitsu Takase: Hulk Davidson Shouto Kashii: Gran Bruce Yuji Ueda: Fire Leo Hideki Kamiya: Six Machine