Rainbow V

Lore & Background

The Rainbow V is one of several elemental V-Power-ups scattered throughout the world of *Viewtiful Joe 2*. Unlike the standard V-Powers that grant basic abilities, the Rainbow V is a rare and powerful artifact that channels the energy of the rainbow itself. It is said to have been created by the ancient hero Captain Blue, who imbued it with the essence of color and light to aid future Viewtifuls in their battles against evil.

In Their Own Story

The air shimmered as Joe touched the Rainbow V. A cascade of colors erupted from the crystal, swirling around him like a living aurora. 'Whoa! This is... Viewtiful!' he shouted, feeling the power surge through his veins. The room shook as the Rainbow Voom attack charged, ready to unleash a prismatic blast that would leave his enemies seeing stars.

Reader's Guide

The Rainbow V is a permanent collectible hidden in specific stages of *Viewtiful Joe 2*. Once grabbed, it unlocks the Rainbow Voom attack, a charged projectile that erupts in a dazzling spray of colors, hitting multiple foes at once.

This attack shreds enemies weak to elemental damage, since it combines fire, ice, lightning, and more into a single blast. It also triggers rainbow-colored switches and barriers, making it mandatory for certain puzzles.

To use the Rainbow Voom, hold the attack button to charge—Joe's aura will flash through the spectrum—then release to fire. Each shot drains V-Points, so don't go wild unless you've got a full tank.

Did You Know?

• The Rainbow V is one of several V-Power-ups that change Joe's appearance, bathing him in a shifting rainbow aura that pulses with color.
• The Rainbow Voom attack is a direct nod to the 'Rainbow' power-up from classic shoot-em-up games like *Gradius* and *R-Type*, where it would fire a spread of multicolored shots.
• In *Viewtiful Joe 2*, the Rainbow V is the key to a secret area in the final level, hiding extra lives and a rare V-Point cache.
• The Rainbow V's design features a stylized 'V' shape with bold, multicolored stripes, perfectly matching the game's cel-shaded, comic-book art style.