Scott Pilgrim Vs The World: The Game

With the recent release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in theaters, a licensed game could sound like a generally bad idea. Fortunately for us this game is anything but a bad idea. It’s a side scrolling beat’em up where you can have up to 4 playable characters, based on the graphic novel series made by Bryan Lee O’Malley. You follow the story of Scott Pilgrim a dopey Canadian slacker with the hoot’s for Ramona Flowers. Unfortunately for Scott in order to date her he must defeat her seven evil exes. You can play as the titular hero Scoot Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers the American ninja, Steven Stills The “talent” of Scotts Band Sex Bob-omb, and Kim pine the apathetic drummer of Sex Bom-omb.

You’re sent through seven unique worlds fighting all types of enemies from dudes dress as fire breathing dinosaurs to some very touch on the nose looking TMNT mouser clones. The variety in enemy types is a welcome change to the same old enemies with different color pallets of next gen games of this era. Each character starts out with the same base moves but as you gain experience from defeating enemies and buying items, you’ll learn various types of attacks each suited for a different enemy type. The game does a great job of making you use various types’ tactics to taking out enemies without attaching the cumbersome tutorials. After you get knocked down once you’ll see the error in your attack and correct it. The combat is deep enough to allow for some cool combos without ever being over difficult.

Don’t get me wrong this game is tough, but tough in the way NES games of old were. With enemies that will continue to knock you down unless you change your tactics. This is the game that gamers of old have been craving. With a score done by the ever talented Anamanaguchi a Chip tunes band from New York. The art is a thing to reveal in, done by Paul Robertson, an artist with a great style from animations like Pirate Baby’s Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 and Kings of Power 4 Billion. There both weird and crazy and I suggest you check them out.

The game has its share of secrets form finding secret doors that let you travel along the sub-space highway, a kind of bonus stage in the game. You’re also able to summon strikers to attack enemies or give assistance to your characters. The only real downfall of the game is there no online play, seems local coop was the intent of the game and though it is insanely fun to get 3 other friends to play the game with you. It would be so much easier to play from your own homes, also that would have probably helped to sell more copies.

Aside from that one miss-step the game is an absolute treat and for 10 dollars on PSN and XBLA (august 25) it is totally worth it. The game has some replay ability as you can collect all the strikers after beating the game and unlockables boss rush mode and zombie mode. Both of which are fun additions offer no real meat to the gaming experience. I’d say get some friends and this may very well be the next best thing to Super Mario Bros Wii mixed with any classic beat’em up.