Now, I don't import much at all. In my life I have gotten four games not of my native country, so it takes a pretty interesting and special game to make me shell out the extra money to get it early. After E3 this year, I knew that Capcom's triumph of aesthetics would be it. As anyone who attended E3 or played the GameCube preview disc can tell you, Joe will definitely be one of the most unique games to hit the U.S. in a while.

Whereas many games like Space Channel 5 and Jet Set Radio Future had more than enough style but fell flat when it came to substance, whether you are in need of a little style or substance, Joe has more than enough for your sorry self to borrow.

The game has a look that falls somewhere in between a comic book and a shiny Hollywood action movie and has the special effects to match. Joe can slow down time, speed it up, or zoom in the camera so that he can perform even more flashy moves. This isn't your daddy's platformer either. You're not going to spend your time merrily hopping about and stomping cutesy big-eyed enemies. Joe dodges bullets, deflects missles with his fists, and does it all with a sense of flair that Sonic the Hedgehog could only dream of.

Keep it fancy, and you get rewarded with "Viewtifuls," which are points that let you upgrade your abilities between levels. This keeps the game fresh from level to level, since you'll usually have something new to incorporate into your fighting style besides the normal kicks and punches. Since the enemies aren't all that varied (there's a few different ones in later levels, but mostly it's just the game throwing more of them at you at a time), that goes a long way. Mixing up moves and handily beating several enemies at a time becomes second nature after a while, thanks to the nearly perfect controls.

There's not much story here to keep you going either. It's not that it's bad, it's just that Joe is about stylish beatings, and not so much about storytelling. Though when you get down to it, the story of a guy who finds his hidden powers and is out to save the girl is presented in a fashion that carries it well over the thin line between "cliché" and "avant-garde." The well written dialogue between characters and fine voice acting help too. The developers also did a great job of fleshing Joe out as a character, despite this not being a story-driven game.

The big question on hand, though, is should you bother spending the extra money to have this game right now? The answer is yes. With the Freeloader disc now out and making importing for the Cube easy and affordable, there's no reason not to. "But AFX," you say "I am nothing but a dirty gaijin. Surely I won't be able to enjoy this gem of a game." Well yes, you are dirty, but luckily, you don't have to know any Japanese. The menus and dialogue are all completely in English, so you should only have moderate trouble following them. Besides, who wants to wait until September when you could be playing the best GameCube game of the year right now? It's not long, it's not terribly tough, but it is a real work of art.

· · · AFX