Direct sequel that extends the Viewtiful Joe formula. Two playable heroes, more varied levels and combined powers. Arguably as solid as the first, maybe less surprising but just as tasty. Excellent 2D action, a feast pad in hand.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player12+
Description
Joe battles Jet Black in this Japanese Clover Studio GameCube Viewtiful Joe 2. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in December 2004. Japanese version of the 2D beat'em up with playable Viewtiful Joe and Silvia, new VFX powers and Joe universe bosses.
Viewtiful Joe 2 - Black Film no Nazo review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Denser and more inventive, the sequel's comic-book style pushes the vivid flat colours and cinematic staging effects even further. The VFX powers warp the screen into bursts of colour and heroic framing. This controlled graphic escalation brilliantly extends the brilliance of the original.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,63 GB📅16/12/2004
Published by Capcom
Viewtiful Joe 2 - Black Film no Nazo (GameCube) price, value & rarity
Viewtiful Joe 2 Black Film no Nazo is the original Japanese edition of Viewtiful Joe 2 via Capcom with the Black Film no Nazo subtitle specific to the Japanese market.
Memorable bosses
More cartoonish than ever, this sequel's clashes enrich the arsenal with Replay, which replays the action to multiply your blows. Between deranged bosses and booby-trapped arenas, every duel is solved by juggling time and style. The same comic-book energy, paired with sharpened mechanics, carries on the first game's outsized fights with real flair.
Is Viewtiful Joe 2 - Black Film no Nazo still worth playing in 2026?
A direct enriched sequel, Viewtiful Joe 2 adds Joe's sister Silvia as a second playable character with her own VFX powers and a renewed enemy cast. The art direction stays brilliant, the difficulty remains demanding and the puzzles gain complexity through interaction between the two characters. For anyone who loved the first entry, this sequel is an ideal complement and keeps all of the singularity of the Clover Studio formula. A strong recommendation to fans of demanding beat'em ups today still here in this catalogue.
