Story: Joe is an average guy who loves movies and superheroes. It is during a Captain Blue movie that Joe's girlfriend, Silvia, is kidnapped by the Jadow. She is dragged into the cinema screen and Joe follows through to get her back.

As Joe you must go through seven massive levels to find out why the Jadow wants Silvia and to rescue her.

Doing this isn't easy though so it is a good job that Captain Blue's spirit is at hand to show you your new super powers as Viewtiful Joe.

The game only has a one-player mode although there are several difficulty levels that do take a lot of practice to beat.

Rating = N/A

Graphics: I am not the biggest fan of cel shaded graphics. But they are put to good use in this game as the visuals are stunning. The comic book look of the graphics really suit the movie stylings of the game.

The backgrounds, especially on the street levels, are very detailed and look excellent. The small animated touches that populate them give them life and character which makes the levels a joy to play through. The only problem is that some of the sewer areas, in level five especially, seem bland in comparison.

Joe moves fluidly and all of his moves are well animated. They help to bring out his personality which you can't help but like. It is quite rare that you find a likable main character who doesn't annoy the hell out of you over time. As for the other characters they all look as though a lot of time and attention have been used to create an extraordinary and original cast.

I must mention the special effects such as the slow, mach and zoom commands. Each looks amazing and when used in conjunction with each other they produce a most dazzling display.

Rating = 9/10

Sound: Probably the most forgettable part of the game. Although the rock soundtrack is good it really doesn't cement itself into my mind. It does suit the frantic nature of the game but I can't help but feel that it should have been better.

The sound effects are spot-on. When you hit an enemy it really does sound like you've hit them and the explosions are great too. The sound effect sound even better when in slow mode.

The game is also well voice acted. It can sometimes sound a bit cheesy but it is not meant to be taken seriously.

Rating = 7/10

Controls: Although it can seem overwhelming at first the controls are actually quite easy to learn and use. The control stick is used to move Joe. The A button is jump, B button is zoom, X button punch, J button is kick, the L button is for slow and the R button is for mach speed.

I guess one of the reasons that the control method is so easy to learn is the way in which you learn new techniques as you play through the game. It isn't lumbered on you from the off. Each major technique such as the slow, zoom and mach speed has a small tutorial. It is the moves that are bought in the shop that cause problems though as they only have one small sentence to tell you how to use them with no tutorial.

The beauty of the control system is that with simple controls numerous combos can be made yet the on-screen action makes it seem complicated and skillful. A great game to show off to your friends with.

Rating = 10/10

Playability: This is one of the best games I've played in a long while as it is just a breath of fresh air from all of the sequals and faceless first person shooters.

It has a distinct retro feel to it due to it being a 2-D fighting game. Also enemy attack patterns must be learnt to find their weaknesses to destroy them easier. This mothod of fighting reminds me of old 2-D shooters such as R-Type.

The game is also varied with new skills and obstacles to deal with in each level. There are even puzzles which usually involve using your special effects powers to open a new route through the level. Some stages even allow you to ride your Six-Machine in a horizontally scrolling shooter which still allows you to put your special effects powers to good use.

One area that the game mainly excels in is the boss battles. Each one is challenging and epic and requires quick thinking and fast reactions to win. You will remember each battle long after you have beaten the game.

Rating = 9/10

Value for money: If you play the game on kids mode it is way too easy. With some practice the game can be completed in a day or too. In order to not ruin the game I advise that it be played on adult mode first. This is actually very hard though. It did take me a few weeks to finally finish it and despite the amount of times that I died I did not get too frustrated. If there was a mode that was in-between kids and adult mode it would make it more managable and accessible to the new player.

Despite completing the game I have still found myself going back to it and I do feel that it was £19.99 well spent.

Rating = 8/10

Rarity: As it is a new game it is not rare and can be bought anywhere. In games stores it has gone down in price to around the £20 mark.

Most online stores stock it for around £15.

Rating = N/A

Overall: One of the freshest titles in a long while. It is games like this that make the Gamecube worth having.

If the games difficulty were a bit more forgiving then it would have probably have got a perfect score but as it stands I would recommend it to anyone who wants an old school challenge.

Rating = 9/10