Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble!

About

Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble is a side-scrolling action game that mixes platforming and beat-'em-up combat. You control Joe, a slick vigilante with over-the-top moves, and his sister Jasmine as you fight through levels filled with enemies and environmental puzzles. The Nintendo DS hardware plays a key role here, the top screen shows the action while the bottom screen and stylus let you interact with objects, draw paths, or trigger special moves. Combat is fast and flashy with combo-heavy gameplay, and the cel-shaded visuals give everything a cartoonish punch. The game stands out for its clever use of the DS’s dual-screen setup which was ahead of its time for the platform. Jasmine’s inclusion as a playable character adds variety though her section is shorter. While not as long as similar titles it’s praised for its tight controls and creative level design. With a Metacritic score of 78 it’s a solid entry in the action-platformer niche that fans of the genre still revisit for its punchy rhythm and quirky charm.