20 Dead Gaming Franchises That NEED To Come Back
17. Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe is a 2.5D side-scrolling beat 'em up revolving around cinema buff called Joe who's endowed with film-based powers after being sucked into a movie-oriented dimension.
Although Capcom's unappreciated platformer stands out for its cartoony aesthetic, snarky humour, and brutal challenges, Joe's cinematic abilities are the biggest selling point.
Using slow-motion, Joe can dodge telegraphed attacks in battle. By triggering fast-forward, he can pummel enemies in no time. By zooming in, every punch and kick is more impactful, allowing the visor-sporting hero to make quick work of foes.
Despite the glowing reviews, Viewtiful Joe was tough to market, leading to lacklustre sales. Luckily, it mades enough to warrant a sequel. Unfortunately, Viewtiful Joe 2 tanked, causing the third entry to be canned. Apart from two subpar spin-offs, nothing else came of the franchise.
What's worse is that few people experienced the cel-shaded platformer, since it started as a GameCube exclusive, then received limited ports. If it was re-released or remastered, Viewtiful Joe could be introduced to a new generation, which could spawn a revival.
Considering the games is superhero-centred and constantly rips on comic book tropes (much like Deadpool), Viewtiful Joe would fit like a glove in pop-culture of today.