Viewtiful Joe

GameSpy

A slightly reduced retail price and the cool unlockable stuff make VJ for PS2 one of the best buys I've seen all year. It offers something great for those of you that already Joe, and something truly epic for those of you that don't.

Stuff

You're looking at a solid 30 hours' worth of game play, more if you actually master the special VFX powers Viewtiful uses to control the flow of time.

GameShark

Wonderfully animated backdrops, inventive enemies, and difficult boss battles set Viewtiful Joe apart from the pack as a truly incredible game and a must have.

GameZone

The game offers a smooth control scheme and even though I would have liked to have seen more powers in Joe's arsenal, its a blast to play.

Game Informer

The concept is simple, but a combination of stylized moves, tongue-in-cheek humor, and merciless difficulty make Viewtiful Joe absolutely irresistible. [Sept 2004, p.107]

TotalPlayStation

It's just evilly fun, and it'll kick your butt and you'll hate it for being so hard, but it won't really matter, because there's enough charm and downright fun here to keep you coming back.

Gamezilla!

An intriguing game to behold, making it almost as fun to watch and listen to as it is to play. But what makes this game an essential to any true gamers’ library is that it’s cool to its cel-shaded 2D/3D roots.

Gamer's Hell

Fun. That is exactly what Viewtiful Joe is, worlds of fun. It might be a tad on the short side, but hey, time flies when you're having fun, right?

IGN

Nothing short of pure unadulterated entertainment.

Gaming Age

A fantastic 2D game that everyone should pick up. It’s at a value price now and the PS2 version includes an unlockable Dante from Devil May Cry, who uses cute little guns Ebony and Ivory to blast people to pieces.

Game Revolution

There is nothing cooler out for the PS2 right now. Viewtiful Joe is a singular game of incredible craftsmanship and provides a unique experience that no fan of the action genre should miss.

Play Magazine

This is the definitive version of Viewtiful Joe. [Sept 2004, p.73]

Eurogamer

A startlingly inventive and engaging game, which dares to be different - and does it with style.

Total Video Games

Truly games such as this are a rarity these days; it’s a perfect blend of substance and style both in terms of visuals and gameplay, whilst the true testimony of the game is the fact that it’s still as refreshing, addictive and challenging as it was when it was released close to a year ago on the GameCube.

GamerFeed

Viewtiful Joe has the kind of gameplay, graphic presentation, and overall appeal that you seldom see in games anymore, and it deservedly belongs in your library.

PSX Extreme

If you already own Viewtiful Joe for the GameCube, you probably shouldn't let the inclusion of Dante lure you into buying the game again for the PS2. It's the same game, just one year later.

GamerArchive

The sheer addictive quality and the fact that Capcom have (once again) gone completely against the grain for the recent trend of titles on this generation of consoles brings about a delight that very few games manage to inflict upon their game players.

GamePro

Luckily, novice joystick jockeys can rest easy knowing that Capcom has graciously inserted a new "Easy" difficulty setting while also adding Devil May Cry's Dante as a selectable character in this Playstation 2 version. [Oct 2004, p.80]

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

The PS2 release alleviates the GameCube version's insane difficulty, thanks to a simpler difficulty level known as Sweet. [Oct 2004, p.94]

Game Power Australia

It's a true classic, and at $59.95 (AU), it's a steal.

RewiredMind

As games lean increasingly toward po-faced realism, Viewtiful Joe provides a refreshingly irreverent and honest game whose old-school sensibilities prove that old dogs can still learn new tricks.

eToychest

Its addicting gameplay, and massive replay value make Viewtiful Joe well worth its $30 price tag.

PSM Magazine

Easily one of the most original and involving action titles to cmoe along in ages. [Oct 2004, p.22]

GMR Magazine

Simply put, you need to play this to understand. [Oct 2004, p.94]

GameSpot

Viewtiful Joe deftly delivers a fantastic cel-shaded look while also adding a really great series of unique gameplay twists that make it much, much better than the average side-scroller.

TotalGames.net

It sets down the ground rules early on and adheres to them with a wonderful strictness that many games are terrified to do.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Everything runs silky smooth, the PS2 pad actually seems to respond better than the GC controller, and except for the occasional bit of grainy graphics, this is a perfect replica of the original. [Oct 2004, p.106]

Gamenikki

They don't make action games any tighter than this one; Viewtiful Joe on the PS2 is like a ray of light peering through a dark cloud of cookie-cutter titles.

3DAvenue

Viewtiful Joe is a very hard game and not just because of the level design.

games(TM)

This is without doubt one of Capcom's finest offerings for the Sony console…A sublime clash of old-school action and devious design, Joe on PS2 is more Viewtiful than ever. [Nov 2004, p.120]

Times Online

Just for its astonishing look — imagine a very bright 1950s cartoon about a future full of robots — this port from the Gamecube is worth the money.

AceGamez

The cutsey graphics and outrageous effects enhance the title past the ordinary and in conjunction with the graceful combat mechanic, it's hard to put any downers on it.

PSX Nation

Every now and then, a truly great game comes out. Viewtiful Joe isn't quite one of them, but it does a nice job of setting the stage for things to come (like the sequel, duh).

Cheat Code Central

About eighty-five percent as good looking as the Cube version. There is some slowdown and some of the more sophisticated special effects have been eliminated or significantly downgraded.