Zero Punctuation Season 10 Episode 39 Capcom Five

In the 39th episode of season 10 of Zero Punctuation, entitled "Capcom Five," game reviewer Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw takes a deep dive into the five games that make up Capcom's 2005 lineup for the Nintendo GameCube, a collection of titles that had significant hype but ultimately failed to meet the company's expectations.

First up is "Viewtiful Joe," a side-scrolling action game that puts players in the role of a superhero tasked with saving a damsel in distress. Yahtzee praises the game's clever use of time manipulation mechanics, but notes that the difficulty curve ramps up quickly and may turn off some players.

Next is "PN03," a sci-fi shooter that features a female bounty hunter as the protagonist. Yahtzee finds the game's focus on style over substance to be a drawback, as the gameplay feels repetitive and shallow.

Third on the list is "Killer7," a strange and surreal first-person shooter that Yahtzee admits he never played at the time of its release due to its unusual premise. However, he is impressed with the game's unique art style and storytelling, even as he struggles to fully understand the plot.

Fourth is "Resident Evil 4," arguably the most successful of the five games and a title that has since been ported to numerous other platforms. Yahtzee praises the game's improvements over previous entries in the series, such as its more agile controls and greater focus on action, but notes that some of the later sections can be frustratingly difficult.

Finally, there's "Dead Phoenix," an action-adventure game that was ultimately cancelled before it could be released. Yahtzee bemoans the fact that he can't actually play the game, but is intrigued by the concept art and the potential for a unique gameplay experience.

Overall, Yahtzee finds the Capcom Five to be a mixed bag of titles that were ultimately hurt by factors such as poor marketing and a lack of clear audience appeal. While some of the games have since attained cult classic status and remain popular among fans, Yahtzee notes that they may not be for everyone and recommends approaching them with an open mind.