Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble
Score: 83% ESRB: Teen Publisher: Capcom Developer: Clover Studio Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action
Graphics & Sound: Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble is a surprisingly good translation of the series onto the DS. The series' visual style comes through at full force, complete with the 2.5 D camera tricks that come into play during the action. There are, of course, a few blurry textures and models are ever-so-slightly reduced in poly-count, but overall it is a really great transition to the DS – especially considering that the DS isn’t exactly a poly-pushing monster in the first place. Graphics hit you on two fronts… or should I say two screens. The bottom screen shows a wide-angle shot of everything that is going on. This is where the game’s main action takes place. The top screen also shows action, though at a much closer angle. At times, the top screen also plays a part in the various puzzles that pop up during the game, but more on that in a few. As far as sound goes, Double Trouble manages to cram in some catchy little tunes that fit with the game’s over-the-top and outright strange presentation. And, of course, where would a Viewtiful Joe game be without Joe’s memorable battle cry, which rings out beautifully over the DS’s speakers. "Henshin A Go-Go, Baby!"
Gameplay: The set-up for Double Trouble isn't much different from past games. After a group of misfits called the Madow steal the film roll of Captain Blue's latest film, Joe's sister, Jasmine, sets out to reclaim it. This causes Joe to follow her and make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble; which, of course, she ends up doing anyway -- leading Joe through six movie-themed levels. Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble remains faithful to the series' main “concept” that everything that happens in movies (namely, over-the-top special effects) is possible in the real-world, as long as the action is viewed through a movie camera. Because of this, mild-mannered slacker Joe can turn into the flashy, VFX-powered superhero, Viewtiful Joe. Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble is less-combat focused than past titles. In any given level, you’ll only face a handful of enemies, most of which can be defeated within a few seconds of pounding on the attack buttons and with use of the VFX powers. The focus on more puzzle elements is more than welcome, though it would have been nice if some challenge had been included. Each level begins with a fly-over of the entire level that shows you exactly what to do, which does tend to take some of the challenge out of things. Another sore spot in an otherwise great game is the rut the game seems to work its way into, leading to a seemingly endless succession of levels you’ll swear you’ve already played before. Double Trouble shows all of its tricks way to early, so at the halfway point, the game becomes more about repetition rather than fun gameplay. Beat up a few enemies, use a VFX power, beat up a slightly stronger enemy, use a Scratch power… lather, rinse, repeat.
Difficulty: Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble offers two difficulty levels, each offering their own challenges. “Child” difficulty is for the more casual of fans who took to gaming after the original PlayStation, while “Adult” is for the more hardcore sadists who like limited lives and continues. In addition to just being crazy hard, the Adult difficulty level also presents some really interesting gameplay choices. During levels, you’ll collect coins that can be spent to upgrade Joe’s moves between levels. While in Adult mode, however, you’ll also have to decide if you want to buy extra lives. The choice sets up an interesting dynamic in that you’ll definitely need a few extra lives, but at the same time you’ll want some special moves as well. If small conundrums like this are enough to give you a headache, stick to the easier difficulty level.
Game Mechanics: All of Joe’s VFX powers have been retained in the DS version and are joined by a set of new touch-screen activated powers, introducing a new set of play mechanics to the series. Unlike the original VFX powers, which include the ability to speed up and slow down time, the touch powers are mainly used for problem solving. One power, Slide, lets you swap screen positions, going from the bottom screen’s wide-angle view to the top screen’s close-up one. This ability is mainly used for puzzles that require touch-activated items like typing in numbers or manipulating controls. One of the more oft-used powers is the Slice ability, which lets you cut the screen into two sections and “create” a new scene. In other words, if a wall is blocking your way you can cut the scene in two, and jump behind the wall. Puzzles that use Slice end up being some of the game’s more original and more enjoyable, as well as some of the more challenging. Touch powers are great and all, but aren’t the most responsive seen in DS titles. Most of the movements require almost exacting precision, so there are times when one finger movement might activate one power when you really meant to activate another. Aside from a few technical issues, Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble is a fitting follow-up to the Viewtiful Joe series and a successful jump to handhelds. Fans of the series should definitely add this one to your collection. Newcomers, however, will probably want to give one of the console titles a look first before jumping into Double Trouble. It is good fun, though its really something that isn’t for everyone.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3 Kameo: Elements of Power