Where to even begin..well for starters I want to get out of the way that I did not like the first Jo Jo videogame incarnation. Capcom had better days when it came to making a solid 2D fighting game that is for sure. When I heard there was going to be a second one made my excitement grew ten-fold. To top the whole situation off they were going to cel-shade it, my favorite style baby (sarcasm induced trust me) After passing it over at E3 we finally receive our copy of the beloved game and it is in our hands (and PS2’s) now. What came of the once forgotten shameless Capcom mistake? Only this review will tell!
I will try to explain this game as best I can, my Japanese is rusty LOL. The game is not a fighting game as I once had dreaded it to be. It is in fact a beat ’em up, not to mention one with a dynamite story to boot. It follows the manga so precisely that only a true fan could tell you what is going on. It isn’t called a “Bizarre Adventure” for nothing! The cut scenes are presented with such class it would make a film director salute with pride. Using the cel-shading to create an almost comic book appearance this game certainly has style! The characters are very fluid and full of vibrant color, Capcom has made sure that this game sparkles in the visuals category and even running on the dated PS2 hardware it looks fabulous!
Making a game look good while making it enjoyable to the average consumer is a task left to only talented individuals. The chaps at Capcom are rare to disappoint so one would expect Jo Jo to deliver the same quality that seeps from their other releases. Originality is always a strong point and JJBA5 delivers it in every way possible. From the comic style graphics to the page by page storyline this game screams for attention. Nothing can be said if not that this game delivers on a level all it’s own. The controls are simple enough for even a beginner yet rewarding to those that have stood the test time such as us old bastards here at ZTGD hehe. Creating combos with your STAND is as easy as clockwork. For those that do not know your STAND is sort of an alter ego you carry around that can be summoned during a fight. It acts as another character in the battle and can unleash unique attacks sometimes needed in the fight.
Leave it to Capcom to throw in the kitchen sink on all their games. Not unlike other Capcom releases Jo Jo is chock full of extras and goodies for you to unlock, gaining Gio Gio Ability Points earns you extras galore. Everything from picture galleries to extra character this game packs replay goodness all the way through. Also adding to the replay are the different scenarios for each character, you can literally spend hours learning about each character and it’s STAND, and trust me some of this stuff is beyond even my wildest dreams, it is truly bizarre!
Now the question on all the hardcore gamers minds. Should I import this or pray for a US release? Well that depends, if you are a true fan of the manga and can understand Japanese fluently then by all means grab yourself a copy. The collector’s edition even comes with a nice set of characters from the game. If you are just a beat ’em up starved fanatic like myself do not bother, the game is too much story and not enough action to satisfy your needs. Overall not a bad game at all, and light years beyond the first title!
