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Viewtiful Joe Part 1

Viewtiful Joe Part 2

Viewtiful Joe 2 does exactly what a sequel should do: it’s bigger and better than the first game. It’s mostly more of the same, but it does add a second playable character (Silvia), and you can switch between the two at any time (honestly, though, I prefer using Joe). It’s a longer game—despite the fact that it still has seven episodes, the actual levels are longer, and the puzzles are better. This is also a harder game than the first, especially the second half. I think the story is better too, as it feels more grand and more fun than the first game’s. Also, the soundtrack is excellent, certainly better than the first game’s (which wasn’t bad at all). Finally, the game has a challenge mode called “36 Chambers of Viewtiful,” in which you must defeat enemies and meet objectives in a given time limit. 

 

The story picks up right where the last one ended. Captain Blue has come to his senses, but suddenly there’s another threat. The Black Emperor has invaded Movie Land (he uses UFOs for some reason); he's the emperor of Gedow. Joe and Silvia head out to stop him, but while they’re gone, Captain Blue is transformed into a rainbow oscar (one of seven) and captured. The Black Emperor wants to get all seven rainbow oscars in order use their power to conquer Movie Land. Determined to thwart his evil plans, Viewtiful Joe and Sexy Silvia rush off to reclaim the stolen oscars.

Episode 1: Ten Million Years B.C. 

Joe and Silvia show up in some kind of prehistoric world without their costumes. The game teaches you the basic moves (punch, kick, and dodging). You can switch between Joe and Silvia at any time by pressing Z. Silvia shoots a gun instead of punching. You’ll notice some dinosaurs in the background (behind a fence, thankfully). On occasion a UFO will show up to beam down enemies. Fight enemies, grab V-emblems, the usual stuff. 

A tank shows up to blast Joe and Silvia, and that’s when they remember those magical words: “Henshin-a-go-go, baby!” Now you’re back in the suits, but you can only use Slow. Use Slow to defeat the tank. Now we’ve come to the intermission, where you can save your game, buy stuff at the shop, look at a hint, and move on (you get to choose to start with either character). 

As you continue, you’ll notice a volcano in the background. The volcano erupts, spewing out a giant boulder that lands on a huge button and pulls up the drawbridge. This is a very simple puzzle. Simply go over to the giant boulder, use Slow and uppercut it to send it straight up and back onto the volcano. The drawbridge will come down again. You’ll also get Mach Speed back, but only Joe can use it. Next there will be a river of lava that you have to cross while avoiding falling rocks. Halfway across is a punching bag. Use Mach Speed to get that fire aura around Joe, and now you can make it to the other side without getting hurt from flaming rocks or lava. 

You enter a giant door that says “Dino Park” and are now inside a compound. You’ll see a giant plug on the ground. Use Slow and uppercut it to plug it into the power, then get on the wheel to the left and use Mach Speed to get the energy level in the green. This will power the station and open the door ahead of you. You’ll fight some enemies in a very hot room in which flames are jumping up into the air (like a fancy kitchen). The last thing you’ll fight is a big drill machine. 

Joe and Silvia now find themselves inside a museum exhibit that’s all about dinosaurs. This is where you meet the first boss, Big John, who is a T-rex, but also a sergeant. He has a walkie-talkie and is barking out orders. The scene here is pretty funny. Joe and Silvia start arguing and Big John wants to fight. This fight is pretty easy. John will do a tail swipe, blow fire, and call in artillery (they drop cannon balls and explosive barrels). Simply dodge the tail swipe and wallop away on John. 

Afterward we’re introduced to Joe’s dad, Jet. He’s going through some old movie reels and discovers that some of them are glowing. Joe and Silvia ask if he can help them find the movies with the rainbow oscars so they can get their happy endings back. Jet agrees. I must admit, the rainbow oscars are ridiculous, but also great. Each episode seems to be a parody of a famous movie. This one was clearly referencing Jurassic Park, and the next one should be pretty obvious too. 

Episode 2: Viewtiful Heroes and the Statue of Doom

Joe and Silvia will come across a huge temple in the desert. This episode is clearly a parody of Indiana Jones (and there are plenty of little statues to put on pedestals). The enemies here will be biancies that are wearing tribal garb and using spears. This is a perfect setting for this game because ancient temples always have puzzles and booby traps, so get ready for some temple hijinks. 

The first main puzzle is to get a small statue to connect with a larger statue. This is very simple, as all you need to do is hit the statue up and then over a short wall and it will fall right into place, opening a door. This will also give you Silvia’s very own VFX power: Replay (it will cause Silvia’s action to be done three consecutive times). The next room has a block falling onto the ground, but then the floor opens and it falls onto spikes and disappears. Use Replay to have Silvia kick the button, which causes three blocks to fall at once, then quickly jump on the blocks and get to the ledge on the right. Simple. You’ll then fight a new enemy, a biancie with a scythe. He will swing at you two consecutive times, so watch out. Once he’s beaten, Joe (or Silvia) will jump into a mine cart. 

This section is pretty fun. As the mine cart moves forward, you can jump between tracks and grab V-emblems. There are no enemies here, but you will need to avoid big rocks that are sitting on the tracks. Then you will fight Big John, who is in a tank (his giant head is sticking out). This is a fun mini boss fight. John will throw barrels, blow fire, and charge you (which will cause rocks to fall on the track that you need to dodge). He will occasionally shoot from the tank, which is basically your only opportunity to hurt him by using Slow and hitting the bullet back at him. After defeating him (again), the mine cart section is over. 

The next room has a timed door. Use Silvia to shoot the green piece into place on the spinning wheel, then traverse across the lava (avoiding the swinging blades) and get through the door before it closes. You won’t make it the first time, but don’t worry, you can go back and start over. Mach Speed will help you get to the door faster. Those temple architects were a little crazy, don’t you think? 

Now you’re in the inner temple. Watch out for an eye in the background that will lock onto you and try to shoot you (it’s annoying). You’ll notice a cracked floor, but you don’t have Zoom yet, so use a bomb instead to blow it open. Here you’ll notice four cauldrons. Defeat the enemies, then use Mach Speed to set the cauldrons ablaze and get through the door. In the next room there are four tall dragon statues. You’ll notice that statue 4 is missing a blue orb in its mouth (the others have blue orbs). Roll the blue orb over to the statue, then use Slow to hit it straight up into the mouth. Now some of the statues will start spewing lava downward. You’ll notice that statue 1 is cracked, so push a bomb over to it, use Mach Speed to light it, then use Slow as it blows to knock all the statues over, allowing you to cross into the next area. 

I couldn't find a good pic of this fight to save my life--this is the best I could get :(

We’ve finally made it into the sacred chamber where the guardian is watching over one of the rainbow oscars. His name is Flinty Stone, and he’s a bit dumb and also tends to drift off to sleep. This scene is really funny as Silvia will say something, followed by Joe, and Flinty will respond, “I can’t listen to you both at once, I can’t”). This is a fairly easy boss fight. Flinty will occasionally slam down on you, so be careful. He will also throw an orange orb (although it won’t hit you if you’re directly in front of him). The coolest thing he does is transform into a flying snake form and fly around, zooming into you with a drill attack. This can be a little more difficult because he’ll come in fast from off-screen. Overall, this is an easy fight, especially since Flinty will stand still for so long, giving you ample time to wail away on him. With Flinty defeated, Joe and Silvia get their second rainbow oscar.

Episode 3: Memoir of an Invincible Monster

This level is so cool, and this is where VJ2 starts to really show its shine over its predecessor (not only in setting, but also in puzzles that far exceed what the first game had). Joe and Silvia find themselves on some kind of futuristic movie set. You’ll see spotlights in the background, huge signs, and flying vehicles. The music is really awesome too. After defeating some enemies, you’ll get the last VFX power: Zoom (Joe and Silvia can both use it). 

You’ll come across two tunnels in which hover cars are zooming towards the screen (be careful, they will hit you). Just past the tunnels is a three-switch tower, but you’ll notice that a second tower is stuck in the ground. Go back and have Silvia use Zoom to break through the floor (if you do it with Joe, he will be thrown out because you have just broken into the ladies restroom). Have Silvia go past the stalls and then do Replay Zoom to hit three switches, which pushes the tower up. Now go up top to do Replay Zoom kick on both towers. 

Now you’ll be walking up a big spiral tower. You’ll see a huge switch. Hit it and the tower will become electrified. Make your way to the top, where you will see two giant horizontal plugs above you. Biancies will attack you. Use Slow and hit one straight up so that he’s electrocuted between the two plugs. For once biancies were useful! The next area has you fighting a walking jet, which can be a tough fight. It will try to kick you with its big metal legs, shoot missiles, and shoot jet-streams of fire. 

The next room is quite the puzzle. Work your way all the way down the steps and you’ll see at the bottom that a gear is missing to make this giant machine work. Head back up and about half-way to the top will be a gear sticking in the ground. Use Zoom to come down on it and knock it through the floor. Now go down and punch it over to where it goes and it will automatically lock in place. But the gears aren’t turning yet. Jump on the gears and use Zoom to come down on them, and this will get them moving. Now head all the way back to the top, jumping over gears that are rolling downhill. At the top you’ll take a corkscrew elevator all the way down to the bottom floor. Whew. 

In the next room we finally find out what this place is: a biancie factory. You’ll see a line of biancies in the background, and now you’re at a huge machine comprised of conveyer belts, pounding things, and a huge vent that is pulling air towards you. Head past the conveyer belts to the other side and hit a big switch, which will reverse the stream of air in the overhead vent. Now go back to the other side. There’s a round thing here that you will need. Push it to the vent so that it sucks it up (and you along with it). This thing is actually a tumbler to a huge safe. It will stick in place and then you have to use both Joe and Silvia in order to hit the nob and open the safe. 

Guess who comes out of the safe? It’s Big John in a tank (AGAIN?). Yes, this guy’s persistent. This fight is exactly like the one before, as in, he will do all the same attacks. Unfortunately, this fight can be tough because John will go off-screen, but his attacks are very fast, so they’ll hit you if you’re not anticipating them (or if you don’t know what he’s gonna do next). After beating Big John again, Joe and Silvia head into the giant safe. It’s some kind of hi-tech laboratory. You’ll see the rainbow oscar, but when you go to get it, it moves away. 

We’re introduced to Dr. Cranken, the man, uh, octopus who’s in charge of Gedow’s weapons and research department. We also meet Cameo Leon, who is very chatty, which even gets on Cranken’s nerves. Cranken is clearly one of those villains who loves to talk about his evil plan, and he mentions a black film (oops). No matter. He is determined that Joe and Silvia won’t make it out alive. 

This fight is really cool. Cranken moves around in the background and tries to shoot you with a laser. You can’t hurt him. You’ll be fighting Cameo Leon, who will try to hit you with his super-long tongue. When Cameo climbs up on one of the side walls, you will want to jump up and attack him because Cranken will throw him a hamburger (but if you attack him, you can get the hamburger instead). Cameo will also start spinning rapidly and turn into a pinball, bouncing all over the room. If you can hit him (while using Slow), he will start seeing stars and this is when you can do the most damage. This is a long fight, but also a really great one. 

With Cameo defeated, Dr. Cranken escapes and our heroes move on to the next movie reel. We see Jet in his theatre finding another reel to put on. The next one is really special, as we will see a villain from the first game return. Don’t miss it!