Gaming Viewtiful Joe

[Turkey]

(As if you didn't see this coming)
Note- As always, thanks to IGN for the images.

You've played action games before, but what about "VFX action games"? This Summer, Capcom releases another entry of their "Capcom 5".
[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/viewtiful_011603_160.jpg[/IMG]

Directed by Shinji Mikami, the father of Resident Evil, Viewtiful Joe is an homage to classic beat-em-ups, like Final Fight and Kung Fu.
[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/vjoeart3.jpg[/IMG]
[SIZE=1]This is your average Joe, before becoming "Viewtiful".[/SIZE]

See that guy up there? You'll be playing as him. While he has some decent fighting skills, he needs discipline. That discipline is given to him by a guy in costume, of course.
[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/vjoeart2.jpg[/IMG]

After defeating his mentor, Joe gets the power he needs to save his girlfriend (yes, the classic storyline is also here).

[SIZE=3]Gameplay:[/SIZE]

The game moves on a 2D/3D plane (like SSBM). Joe has the basic moves (punch with Y, kick with X, double jump), but the charm is in the L button. With it, you can slow time (bullet time use #39593453), which can be used temporarily. When activated, the "Special Effects" bar drains, until it empties, and Joe turns average again. After a few seconds, the meter goes up again.
However, the bullet time in this game is wisely used, since the game's puzzles are designed to use this ability. The combat is also modified when the ability is used, giving way to some impressive moves, like smashing and re-smashing a baddie before he even begins to fall. There are also other abilities like "Zoom" and "Mach Speed", but I don't have any detailed info on them.

[SIZE=3]Graphics:[/SIZE]

Stylish. That's the best way to describe them. As you can see from the pictures and videos, the game moves at a constant 60fps, and everything moves fluidly. Cel-shading is the word of the day, and the areas feature lots of details, and cool character design.
[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/viewtifulhoopagc9.jpg[/IMG]


In the end, Viewtiful Joe promises to be the big hit of the Summer. With great graphics, cool gameplay ideas (and flawless execution, according to those who've tested it), and more style than legally accepted; I fail to see how Capcom can screw this up (and I doubt Mikami will lose his talent all of a sudden).

[Semjaza]

Someone else here is really excited about this game other than you and I. I think Cyko heh.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to it. Impressions have been great so far, and it sounds rather unique. I was slightly worried that it'd be a lot like a 2D Devil May Cry at first, but it's becoming anything but.

Summer should hopefully be rather good this year... With games like this and the new F-Zero. Yay!

[Guest Musahi]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i]
[B]I think Cyko heh.[/B][/QUOTE]

^_^ Yeah he is the one that made my banner!

This game looks viewtiful! The graphic style of this game is so unique. It is one of the most beautiful games on the cube yet. The colors are so vibrant and bright. All the clips I have seen run as smooth as can be. I really love the idea of slowing down time, and zooming in to see your attacks being executed at close range. I just wish I could find a [b]date[/b] for when it will be released.

*is giddy like a school girl*

[Charles]

I'm looking forward to this one. It's probably the closest I'm going to get to Comix Zone, from a design standpoint, for quite a while.

Like Cyko, I'm really stoked over the Matrix inspired time slowing ability. And, I'm happy with how the cel shading technique has been being used lately. I was beginning to grow tired of it, but games like Viewtiful Joe and Zelda have used it in interesting ways. It's like it's being utilized for a purpose rather than existing solely for marketing publicity. You know?

Hopefully, the game will have some 70's retro music to compliment the look.

[Semjaza]

[IMG]http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_Gamecube_Viewtiful_Joe_49.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_Gamecube_Viewtiful_Joe_45.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_Gamecube_Viewtiful_Joe_46.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.newtechnix.com/Webmasters/supertony/Images/News_Gamecube_Viewtiful_Joe_44.jpg[/IMG]

Here are some newer shots. They seem to want to make the fact that you're trying to make a movie more obvious than they did at first...

[hiachi]

just a little factoid, but zelda doesnt use cel shading except for one enemy that i dont know the name! Cel-shading is when the model has a black outline around it, zelda just uses a light shading tecnique that gives it a water color or cartoony look.

[Posthumous]

[color=teal][size=1][b]Viewtiful Joe will be a BIG hit in 2003.It's number 3 on EGM's most anticipacted games of 2003.I disagree with EGM and think it should be number 1.I've noticed the 2D,3D, Cel shading mixture that attracts me more and more to this game.Also the story, become a superhero and do stuff.Cool.

I plan on buying this game, maybe a week or so after it comes out.[/b][/size][/color]

[Semjaza]

Cel shading doesn't require a black line around anything, so I'm not sure what you're talking about. Watch cartoons, they don't all use lines around characters at all even. Samurai Jack is a good example of that, and it uses traditional cels.

[SS5 Gogeta]

Wow! I almost forgot about this game. This game is going to be a huge hit. This will now be my most anticipated game besides Starfox and F-Zero of course

[hiachi]

Cel shading is when you put a black outline around an object, dont mess with me buddy, im a game developer, i know the lingo.....

IM not trying to start a flame war, i just wanted to let you know that yes, cel-shading is when you make an object have a black outline, what does samurai jack have to do with this??! Yes it makes it cartoony, but cartoony look doesnt mean its cel-shading, zelda gets its cartoony look from Toon-Shading, where it use realtime lighting like other games whereas it fades from the brightest point on the object to the darkest point, it just has a plain line, everything on one line is darker than ever thing on the other side

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cel shading, is, i repeat, is when the models have a black out line around them, I know that Toon-shading is another word for cel-shading, but thats the only term i could think of for the lighting. Look at Jet Grind Radio, it had NO LIGHTING, no shading, but it was "cel-shaded" as in it had a black outline around it, cel-shading doesnt mean cartoony effects, if it were that ambiguous, we might as well just say the game is "cartoony". I dont know what your talking about modifying the textures, its just textures, they got the lighting worked out so that everything that the light was shining on is the same brightness and everything thats not, the same shade-"ness", So that you get a definite line of shading as you see in many newer cartoons. Ive been (and been one myself) talking to game developers too long to let someone tell me that i dont know what cel-shading is!

[color=indigo]Combined the double post. - Desbreko[/color]

[Posthumous]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by hiachi [/i]
[B]Cel shading, is, i repeat, is when the models have a black out line around them, I know that Toon-shading is another word for cel-shading, but thats the only term i could think of for the lighting. Look at Jet Grind Radio, it had NO LIGHTING, no shading, but it was "cel-shaded" as in it had a black outline around it, cel-shading doesnt mean cartoony effects, if it were that ambiguous, we might as well just say the game is "cartoony". I dont know what your talking about modifying the textures, its just textures, they got the lighting worked out so that everything that the light was shining on is the same brightness and everything thats not, the same shade-"ness", So that you get a definite line of shading as you see in many newer cartoons. Ive been (and been one myself) talking to game developers too long to let someone tell me that i dont know what cel-shading is! [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=teal][size=1][b]hiachi this is a topic for the game "Viewtiful Joe".Not cel-shading.I suggest you make another thread on your look at cel/toon-shading.[/b][/size][/color]

[Turkey]

I made a separate topic for the cel-shading debate, so everyone please delete your oof-topic posts.

[Semjaza]

Thank you. Anyone that wants to post any more about this "flame war," stick it in the other thread. I'll delete anything else in here that has nothing to do with this game. I won't be bothered to move it.

[Zidargh]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=darkblue] After reading what has been said, it seems there has been my opinion written down. But I just wanted to state one 'possible' flaw.
Of course, we all adore (Well I hope we do)intense battle scenes which supply our eyes with enough frames per second to enter a trance. But, I think it's made quite clear that the graphics blend into eachother which may obstruct the aim of the game to a state of [I]confusion[/I].
To be frank, I could not get extremely excited over this game, as through all the originality, it seems so far (Still room for a change of opinion) that it will become a 'bore'.
I understand the fact that I sound like a critic, but I just cannot find this incredibly appealing. Let's just see what the game holds in store.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Semjaza]

Everyone that has played it so far has said completely the opposite... so I don't know what to say just yet to those comments heh.

At first I figured it would be boring. Really, how much could there possibly be to do based on the descriptions we gave?

However, if you read impressions on how to play it... or watch the various movies... I think you'll see that there is a bit more to it than is apparent.

I guess we all just have to wait and see. I, myself, am looking forward to it quite a bit.

[Zidargh]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=darkblue][B]Oh no, I'm sure there would be quite alot to do, at first.

But really, what my opinion is based on, is of how long would you play the game until it starts to become repetitive. Of course, I agree with you Semjaza on one thing, we must wait and see. But it's just a sense of curiosity really.

On the other hand, if the events given are randomised however, I could find this very interesting. From what I have read, you play a role in a 'film setting' which may lead to more interesting events.

However, I may download a video soon to see if it supports my 'blind opinion'.[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[hiachi]

I got the demo, and I love the style of the game, it seems to me that this is the only game next to JGR that has true "video game style" in it, I love the game, now I understand why everyone's gettin so excited over it.....I played the demo like 3 times in a row, and it never got boring because of the creative battle system!

[Turkey]

Well, the game is finally releasing in Japan in just a matter of hours. I'll be probably importing a copy later in the week, and I'll post a detailed review later.

[Shinmaru]

I just got back from playing a Viewtiful Joe demo at Best Buy, so here's my opinion on the game.

It's pretty good. The graphics look great it motion; they're crisp and very fluid. The fighting sometimes gets a little repetitive until you learn the nuances of the fighting and start stringing together crazy combos against multiple bad guys. [b]That's[/b] when the game gets fun.

[Turkey]

*Reads his last post* Now, why did I say hours? Anyway, the game is out and some people have already played it. One of the features which were never revealed includes an extensive Shop in which you can buy new attacks and abilities.

Now, my copy will be arriving any day now, so I'll be posting a very detailed review soon.

[Semjaza]

Apparently the demo level is the first level in the game... with changes. Different box types, and you don't get the Mach Speed until later on.

Apparently it is MUCH harder than the demo, even the first stage. I was glad to hear that, as many recent GC games are just too simple.

[hiachi]

BTW, Turkey, is your banner of 3D puuchuu's and taking a even bigger guess, made with Blender??

[Guest Musahi]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i]
[B]Apparently the demo level is the first level in the game... with changes. Different box types, and you don't get the Mach Speed until later on.

Apparently it is MUCH harder than the demo, even the first stage. I was glad to hear that, as many recent GC games are just too simple. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=#003399]I've heard similar things about the games challenge. I [b]still[/b] have not played it on the demo disc, but I plan on doing so very soon. I'll post back when I do.

Turkey, I'm just wondering, are you importing from a site? And how much is it going to cost you? I'm really interested in importing this title myself, if I can find Freeloader that is...[/color]

[Semjaza]

I don't know where Turkey gets his from, personally... I do recommend [url]www.playasia.com[/url] though. They aren't the cheapest when compared to some, but unlike the cheaper places they are actually very reliable and send your stuff when they say they will. So many import places have burned me in the past, and I've been happy with this one.

They currently have Viewtiful Joe for $59 or so, and you can get it packed with a Freeloader for like $75.

Otherwise, you should be able to find a Pro Action Replay for GC very easily. Nearly any place that carries games has it now. Freeloader is built into it.

[Turkey]

Wow. Just wow. This game is more fun than I expected. Wait, let me write something decent....

Visually, the game is impressive, but unpolished. While the areas and characters look very stylish and detailed, and the areas have no slowdown; there's a lot of clipping issues. It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't happen in the story scenes too. One thing I especially like is the way everything looks blurry when you turn into normal Joe.

The game is very challenging, like Semjaza said. For example, there is an area that has barrels constantly rolling towards you. You have to activate a switch which opens the door, but you only have a few seconds before it closes. While Mach Speed would help you cross that area, you don't have it at that point. And don't get me started on the enemies and bosses...

Another thing I have to say is that the Episodes are incredibly long. The demo is only half of the first episode, and Episode 2 is even longer. Also, to add more variety to the game, the first stage of Episode 3 puts you on a flying craft. The craft not only has the standard blaster and bombs (both unlimited), but you can use your Viewtiful powers there too.

While I don't know what else to post right now, I will say one last thing: Buy it. I don't care if you don't have the money, but buy it. You will not be dissapointed.