GameCube Critic Reviews

While the addition of a second player character would have been cool had the co-op mode made the cut, without it Sylvia's presence seems a bit pointless. Nevertheless, a strong outing for the only guy I know that can make pink and red lycra sexy.

Does such emphasis on multiplayer make it a bad game? Not necessarily. But solo gamers who've been spoiled with previous games may not appreciate the new gameplay style. Thus Viewtiful Joe's epic saga continues, with justice and style for all.

The game has some amazing graphics and a style that is hard to match. If you've never played a Viewtiful Joe game and you want a quick experience then RHR is a good place to start.

Be warned, if you are looking for another adventure in the vein of the first two VJ titles you will come out of Red Hot Rumble a little bit disappointed.

Through the crush of it all, Viewtiful Joe's pedigree for fusing entertainment and quality is clearly visible throughout the chaos, even if it doesn't necessarily shine. [Dec 2005, p.100]

This tries to be Super Smash Bros. with some new bells and whistles, and much less-beloved characters. [Dec 2005, p.178]

Get more friends, get more controllers, get Red Hot Rumble. In that order only.

The problem, however, is that there's simply too much going on. It's usually a mystery who's winning in any given level, or even where you are. The seemingly arbitrary point system means you can win all the levels, yet still ultimately lose.

The style and attitude are available in spades, but unfortunately the battles just feel sloppy and unsatisfying. There are some great singular mechanics in play here, but they're all just tossed together in a mess of flashy effects and shallow gameplay.

You'll sincerely want to accomplish goals, unlock characters, and share the experience with friends, but the game's got so much on its spinning plate there's no way to grow reasonably accustomed to any one aspect, and it's far too frenetic to be pick-up-and-play friendly.