Topic: Capcom Announces Viewtiful Joe 2

[StrikerObi]

Get ready to Hen-Shin-A-Go-Go again!

Sequel to 2003 Game of the Year Delivers Even More Viewtiful Style, More Attitude, New VFX Moves and Characters

SUNNYVALE, Calif. - April 21, 2004 - Capcom, a powerhouse in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, today announced the highly anticipated Viewtiful Joe sequel, Viewtiful Joe 2 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo GameCube. In Viewtiful Joe 2, players will reacquaint themselves with the cel-shaded, comic book movie realm and stunning signature gameplay elements that are synonymous only to Joe.  Capcom's quirkiest action superhero once again takes center stage in this engaging action brawler that has new moves, a playable heroine, and inventive character designs with gameplay that perpetuates more punch and style than its predecessor. Viewtiful Joe 2 is set to unleash it's viewtifulness onto the real world this winter.     "Viewtiful Joe was the killer app for the GameCube in 2003, and this winter Viewtiful Joe 2 will raise the bar for excellence and innovation even higher with the second generation of the series," said Todd Thorson, director of marketing at Capcom Entertainment. "With new visual effects, enemies and challenges, Joe and Silvia are ready to take on an all new Viewtiful adventure."

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.  

Viewtiful Joe 2 boasts the following features:

More viewtiful 2D/3D hybrid action spanning more stages

New second playable character - Now gamers can select Joe's girlfriend, Silvia, who not only struts around with her infamous pompoms but also wields a weapon that fires projectiles to fend off the fiendish foes that she encounters.  

Over 40 different types of enemies to obliterate!  

More diverse stages to explore -  Viewtiful Joe 2 takes players through awe-inspiring detailed environments including a jungle, underground ruins, ancient Japan, snowy mountains and outer space.

Six variations to the Six Machine - Now Joe's trusty aircraft transforms into various shapes to support his activities throughout various stages such as a racer, cannon, drill or submarine.

In addition to the infamous "Slow," "Mach Speed," and "Zoom In" visual effects (VFX) powers, the action is even hotter this time around with the new "Replay" VFX power.  Replay a punch for three times the damage. Need to restore some health? Eat a hamburger and replay it so you get three times the effect! But beware, try not to use Replay when getting hit or take on three times the damage!

Grab a hold of the enemy to swing and throw them around with vigor!

[Zero]

i am so pumped for this game, i just wonder how the co-op with work with the VFX . . . will it just be one gauge?  or two?

[the_zombie_luke]

Yeah, that's the only problem with cooperative. I do wonder how it will work. Maybe both players have to slow down time at the same time? I'm sure Capcom can think of many good ideas for cooperative.  

[Flames_of_chaos]

Hrm looks like Capcom isnt keeping viewtiful joe 2 exclusive oh well. I guess Capcom just favors Sony's and Nintendo systems.

[vudu]

Quote
Originally posted by: Lord_die_seis
I guess Capcom just favors Sony's and Nintendo systems.

read:  japanese companies hate american companies.

[the_zombie_luke]

Then what can you say about Tecmo giving the X-Box so much support, Kingvudu?

[vudu]

tecmo is a crappy japanese developer.  they know they can't hold their own against other japanese developers, so they choose to publish on the xbox and be (almost) the only japanese developer for the system.  

:odges numerous thrown objects from xbox fanboys::

[mouse_clicker]

Quote
Then what can you say about Tecmo giving the X-Box so much support, Kingvudu?

Tecmo likes money more than they hate American companies.

[theasylumofthedamned]

Hell, ALL companies like money more than anything.

Back on topic, I hope to God that this will have 2-player simultaneous play...

[nickmitch]

God damn it!!! Why does it have to be on PS2?!?

[Djunknown]

Quote
tecmo is a crappy japanese developer. they know they can't hold their own against other japanese developers, so they choose to publish on the xbox and be (almost) the only japanese developer for the system.

I have to disagree on this one.

Tecmo are power whores, who when they actually take themselves seriously, can make a dynamite game. The DOA series are pretty decent fighters, but they shoot themselves in the foot by over-empasizing their ladies. The fact that Mr.Itadaki(?) is as pompus as Yamauchi doesn't help either.

But Ninja Gaiden for the 'box is to 3d as Viewtifu Joel was to 2d. An action game where sissies and pansies need not apply.  
Some evidence

Speaking of which, more Viewtifulness! Yay! Interesting that Sony is taking this title, with their almost anti-2d stance and all. Oh well. Can't wait to see it in action. Henshin a-go-go...again-gain! (oh man that was horrible...)

[Madman Adam]

This is very cool indeed.  The first game was quite ingenious with the VFX.

But the reason that the PS2 is getting Viewtiful Joe 2 is because the original didn't have as high a sales figure as Capcom would have liked.  And even if it did, Capcom recognises that this game could have good sales on the PS2.  So it comes down to money.  This reminds me of Time Splitters.  PS2 got the original, and the other systems got TS2.  I know it has to do with when the first one was released (ie. before the Cube and Box were out) but it made sense to make that move, and it makes sense for Capcom to do what they are doing now.  

[Mario]

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But the reason that the PS2 is getting Viewtiful Joe 2 is because the original didn't have as high a sales figure as Capcom would have liked.

Actually sales of the first game far exceeded Capcoms expectations.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

In other words, it was a risky, but successful, experiment.

[anubis6789]

Hey Mario, not to say that you are lying or anything but could you give a link to were it is said that Capcom expectations were exceded by VJ1. I'm just used to hearing that all Cube third party games sell bad, and would like a link to use in argument to prove the oposite.

[FFantasyFX]

Quote
Originally posted by: Madman Adam
But the reason that the PS2 is getting Viewtiful Joe 2 is because the original didn't have as high a sales figure as Capcom would have liked.  And even if it did, Capcom recognises that this game could have good sales on the PS2.  

The original Viewtiful Joe has sold about 200,000 copies in North America so far.  A decent figure.  I'm not sure how Capcom was expecting the game to sell, however.

I think there is an outstanding possiblity that the PS2 version of Viewtiful Joe 2 will NOT outsell the Gamecube version.  Quite frankly, I don't think the series is a very good demographic fit for the PS2.  We have a similiar situation with Sonic Heroes.  Despite the PS2's massive userbase, the Gamecube version of the game has outsold the PS2 version in North America.  Why?  Probably because the Gamecube already had a a ready market for the game, thanks to the earlier Sonic ports.  The three week exclusivity period helped as well.

I'm very interested to see how the original Viewtiful Joe does on the PS2.  Gamecube games ported at a later date to other systems have had an absolutely abysmal track record so far.  It seems that the XBox and PS2 userbases dislike late ports as much as we do.