Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble

Capcom is no stranger to branching out into strange territory with their franchises. After all, who would have thought that Onimusha would have lent itself to a multiplayer fighting game? The recent Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble for the Gamecube might have raised eyebrows in a similar fashion, but at least the decision made sense; Viewtiful Joe is known for its fast fighting action, after all. And consequently, Red Hot Rumble was a better game than Onimusha: Blade Warriors. And now Capcom is preparing to port the title across to Sony’s PSP.

For those unfamiliar with Viewtiful Joe, the games parody cinema while delivering some of the most satisfying beat ‘em up action found this side of Streets of Rage 2. Red Hot Rumble, however, delivers a different style than that of the main entries. Instead of offering linear levels to traverse though, the game focuses on a series of multiplayer bouts similar to Super Smash Bros: Melee. There’s a story to account for the switch in gameplay, but it’s largely irrelevant.

The PSP version is a direct port of the Gamecube version, but offers some new features exclusive to the system. One addition is the trial mode that offers a series of challenges that must be overcome. Another addition is the inclusion of Devil May Cry star Dante. They might seem trivial, but they are certainly welcome. However, because the game is a direct port of the Gamecube version, some of the major issues of the original game remain unaddressed. For example, the screen is still far too cluttered, and it becomes difficult to know exactly where your character is at any given moment. Super Smash Bros: Melee was able to provide frantic battles without such sacrifices, so it becomes difficult to accept such an issue as part of the package. Other problems are inherent to the PSP; Street Fighter Alpha 3 already demonstrated how the PSP’s d-pad is insufficient for fighting games, and Red Hot Rumble only cements the fact. Those that are truly interested in the title would do well to hunt out Capcom’s own d-pad modification.

However, those looking for frantic multiplayer action should keep an eye on Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble. The game supports multiplayer over ad hoc, but, unfortunately, does not support online play. However, that should not prevent anyone from finding lots of enjoyment in the latest instalment to the Viewtiful Joe franchise. If multiplayer fighters with a penchant for the insane are your preference, you would do well to check out Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble on its release. Keep checking NZGamer for a full review in the near future.