Viewtiful Joe 2 extends the formula with two playable heroes. More tactical combat, trickier levels and still goofy writing. A notch below the first, still excellent.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
A Clover Studio and Capcom action game released in 2004, the direct Western Viewtiful Joe 2 sequel. Joe and his girlfriend Silvia (now playable) traverse new levels to fight the mysterious Gedo council. Deepens the first entry's VFX mechanics with added Replay (ability to replay a Silvia action), new powers and expanded cinematic stage roster. Worthy sequel to the first entry.
Viewtiful Joe 2 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 seconds"
The sequel enriches the concept with a duo of heroes, new cinematic powers and trickier puzzles that wed action and reflection. Switching between characters and combining their special effects multiplies the inventiveness. The dazzling style and the offbeat humour enchant from start to finish. Colourful, snappy and zany, an adventure as original as it is gleeful.
The Western release of Viewtiful Joe 2, the sequel to Clover's 2.5D action game adding a second heroine with her own powers, extending the comic-book style and difficulty of the first. Still findable, its desirability rests on the continuity of a liked auteur saga rather than scarcity, the entry being a touch less lauded than the original. An interesting piece for those completing Kamiya's stylish series.
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 still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004 on PS2, Clover Studio's project extends the highly stylised two dimensional action of the first Viewtiful Joe by adding Sylvia as a second playable hero with her own VFX powers. The system of manipulating time and image, at the heart of the combos and puzzles, gains variety through alternating the two characters. The vivid cel shading, the parodic humour and the raised difficulty keep the strong identity of the series. The lack of deep renewal against the first entry shows. A generous sequel, recommended for fans of inventive action and of demanding challenge.
