Metacritic Games

Viewtiful Joe 2 (GameCube)

At the beginning of this new adventure, we find Joe and his girlfriend, Silvia, ready to face even tougher enemies and greater challenges. This time around, not only will gamers be able to play as Joe, but as Silvia right off the bat as well. In addition to being equipped with her pompoms, Silvia will be packing some heat as she wields a projectile weapon to help defeat the encroaching evil that lurks in the shadows. Keeping to the stylized yet richly detailed visuals, Viewtiful Joe 2 stays true to its masterfully crafted roots and delivers an even more brilliant and polished videogame. New cinematic visual effect (VFX) powers, such as “Replay” which allows gamers to repeat a part of the action for heroic results, have been implemented to help solve ingenious puzzles, defeat unique yet relentless enemies and add variety to gameplay: Spanning across an increased number of stages and environments including a jungle, snowy mountains and outer space, Viewtiful Joe 2 incorporates more impressive quasi 2D/3D action with over 40 new types of adversaries to obliterate. The not-so-average-Joe will once again break the gaming mold and deliver an experience unlike any other with his polished martial arts attacks, high-flying acrobatics, and compelling storyline. [Capcom]

Capcom Entertainment
Fighting, Action
Players: 2
T (Teen)
Developer: Clover Studio
Released November 18, 2004

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

86 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 Play Magazine
Among the myriad of reasons why I loved this game more every second I played it...is the way the puzzles and especially the visual presentation evolve. [Dec 2004, p.70]
95 NintendoWorldReport
Movie buffs will adore its tongue-in-cheek style that lampoons a slew of classic films.
92 Nintendo Power
What pushes VJ2 over the top, and again into perfect-score territory, isn't its tag-team dynamic but rather its even edgier sense of humor. [Jan 2004, p.135]
91 Cinescape
What does change up quite a bit is the amount and complexity of the puzzles in the game. It's actually pretty refreshing to have so many situations that require something besides combat.
91 TotalGames.net
A title that really has to be played to be believed and if you want to get the most out of the game, see everything and take advantage of the unlockables you'll be playing and believing for a long, long while.
91 Armchair Empire
Though there are minor improvements over the original, Viewtiful Joe 2 is a rip-roaring ride with plenty of fun packed into the experience.
90 GameZone
An outstanding game that offers top notch addicting gameplay.
90 AceGamez
Viewtiful Joe 2 is as big a triumph as the original, resisting the urge to change a winning formula but building on it with even cooler settings, funnier bosses, more variety in the gameplay and a cool new way to manipulate time.
90 Game Informer
Viewtiful Joe 2 rejuvinates my obsession, but it doesn't take it to the next level. The changes to gameplay are miniscule at best, and I wouldn't necessarily say I'm fond of them. [Dec 2004, p.160]
90 GamePro
Don't expect a re-invention of the wheel and you'll be provided for; otherwise here's hoping that the hinted-at third installment will be a bit more inventive.
90 Gamezilla!
There's nothing new here, just more of the same Viewtiful Joe goodness.
90 IGN
A super stylish, extremely challenging and riveting time in Movie Land.
90 eToychest
With all of the additions Viewtiful Joe 2 introduces, the game is still very similar to the first game, right down to a final showdown prefixed with having to fight all of the previously defeated bosses. Not that I mind terribly, as this is a functional formula that proves it still can deliver in spades.
90 Cheat Code Central
It's hard not to like this game. The presentation is near perfection. It's got a great sense of humor and it's full of personality. The control system takes some getting used to but it's really effective and responsive.
90 N-Insanity
Old-school gamers rejoice—VJ2 is somewhat of a second coming.
90 GameBiz
With rockin’ visuals, sound and gameplay, it shines as the antithesis to churned out sports sequels and World War II FPSs.
86 GameSpot
Delivers more, more, more of what made the first game superb--but it's so similar to its predecessor, it's inherently less inventive.
85 1UP
A whole lot like the game before it, except better in just about every way.
84 Inside Gamer Online
But really, why fix what isn't broken? It's great to have a new iteration in a potentially classic franchise, and Viewtiful Joe 2 is as joyous to play as the first, some slightly more frustrating puzzles notwithstanding.
83 Gaming Age
Graphics and gameplay probably don't get much better in a 2D game than they are in Viewtiful Joe2. The faint of heart might long for a few more difficulty options, as the action can get hairy in a hurry. But this is still a fun, challenging game that's extremely easy on the eyes.
83 Game Revolution
The inclusion of Sylvia doesn't really add much to the sequel. But this kind of thing doesn't come along very often, so embrace Japan's love of nonsense and make this Joe a real American superhero.
82 Gaming Target
VJ2 has plenty of style and furious action but it could be argued that it needs some help in the balancing department.
82 Electronic Gaming Monthly
All it really offers over the first game is a second character and a new skill or two - yet it never feels tired or rehashed. [Holiday 2004, p.101]
82 My Gamer
It is this excellent implementation of teamwork between the two that makes Viewtiful Joe 2 more than just a cookie-cutter sequel and adds in a new layer of depth to the original formula.
82 Nintendojo
A more than worthy sequel to VJ.
80 GameSpy
It's challenging, but never to the point of frustration; Sylvia makes for a great new character; and the implementation of the VFX Powers adds an extra dimension to what could have been nothing more than a simple punch-fest.
80 G4 TV
In some cases, notably in the variety of bosses and in the unlockable bonuses, the first title is better than the sequel.
80 Yahoo! Games
If you played the original Viewtiful Joe and enjoyed it, Viewtiful Joe 2 is a classic case of more of the same: a fairly conservative upgrade to a winning formula.
80 NTSC-uk
The overwhelming similarity to the first will leave some with a "seen it all before" feeling and it does nothing to entice back those who have been alienated first time around. On the other hand, the game is still one of the most unique and entertaining experiences around.
80 EuroGamer
It's a straightforward sequel with a few more bells and whistles than before, and it lowers the bar of entry somewhat compared to the GameCube original.
80 PALGN
While Viewtiful Joe 2 is more of an extension of the first game than a true sequel, there's no denying that there's some top quality gaming available here.
80 AltGaming
An exceptionally good game. Daring to remain different, continuing to be wildly imaginative and striving at being furiously frustrating, those who loved the original will find much pleasure from this sequel and see its price tag as just an expensive luxury.
80 GameCube Europe
A true sequel; playing it feels more like playing new Viewtiful Joe levels than playing a new game.
80 games(TM)
Capcom has provided a sequel that surpasses its predecessor in every way. There are few games that are as stylish and playable, and this is tough enough to challenge even the most dextrous gamer. In short – Viewtiful. [Jan 2005, p.96]
80 Edge Magazine
As a sequel, it's not so much an extension as a remix, but one so capable and confident that 'remix' could very well be one of Clover Studio's own personal VFX powers.
80 Kombo
This is one of the most difficult games you’ll play this year and that’s a compliment.
75 Detroit Free Press
There is also constant, driving techno music that isn't overwhelming and meshes pretty well with all the craziness.
70 GamerFeed
There's not much to differentiate Viewtiful Joe 2 from the first, as new VFX power and the ability to switch characters mid-level are the only major gameplay changes. That's why it is so disappointing that the new powers are so limited and under-utilized.
60 Gamer.tv
The only real problem with Joe 2: It's way too similar to the previous title...Still, a terrific game. Challenging, but never to the point of frustration.