Review – Scott Pilgrim VS The World Game (Xbox 360)
I had the great opportunity to download the Scott Pilgrim VS The World game on Xbox Live yesterday. I must have put literally over six hours into the game, and decided to give you readers a special review from yours truly. Simply put, this game is effing awesome.
Scott Pilgrim takes you back to the days of old school 8-bit and 16-bit beat-em-ups. I have always been a fan of the genre, with favorites like River City Ransom, Streets of Rage, and more. However one of the coolest things about this game is the fact that it has fun twists and interactive gameplay that make this a must-have download for fans of Scott Pilgrim and the genre itself.
From the beginning you can choose from four characters – Scott, Ramona, Stills, and Kim. Each character has their own unique abilities and stats, which is a plus. For the purpose of the review, and because he is awesome, I chose Scott. He has the ability to perform a spin kick and call upon Knives (his ex) for assistance when in a tight spot. The game stays true to the comic and movie alike, referencing pop culture and touching on younger lifestyles throughout the game.
Combat is obviously what the game is focused on, and it makes the game that much more amazing. One of the twists the game brings to the genre is the ability to gain new moves as your selected character levels up. This brings an RPG-esque feel to the game and makes you want to fight over and over again through the levels to unlock new moves. There are seven levels to kick through, and each level is packed full of enemies to whip. All of the levels are accessible from an 8-bit Mario-style map of Toronto. Each level has its own specific look and feel, and brings an artistic edge to the game. The enemies of these levels are each strange in their own way, from giant flying piggy banks to paparazzi and guys dressed up in dinosaur costumes.
The levels also feature a monetary shopping system. While defeating enemies, you collect money which can be used on accessories, food items to restore HP, and snacks to take with you on the road.
At the end of each level is a boss, which just so happens to be one of Ramona’s evil exes. Boss battles are surely epic and can be considered levels in and of themselves. All of the bosses, with the exception of the first, Matthew Pattel, make appearances in each of their respective levels. It takes a sense of cunning and wit to battle these bosses, and to not have to see a continue screen during the fight which takes you back to the world map. :(
Now the only aspects of the game that are cause for complaints are few and far between. First of all there is no online play, which a lot of players are cross about. I, for one, understand why the online play is not an option because the developers of the game, Ubisoft, wanted to keep as true to the arcade/SNES style of gaming as possible. Secondly, there is no option for another player to just press start and jump into the game, as in the previous titles mentioned in the genre. This is a small issue for me because I am so used to this being a feature, and even in the other mentioned titles it existed. In order to play through with a friend you have to go to the main menu, which is a big problem if you need help in the middle of a level.
Also, I found the game a bit glitchy. I downloaded it on my Xbox 360 and experienced the frames skipping as well as the music. On one of the levels, facing the ninja ex, I somehow got stuck in a scene. I could not move forward or backward, and had to quit to the map and start the whole level over again. These happenings have been rare, but they do happen.
Aside from these few things the game is pretty epic. The game is extremely fun to play.The game also features a great soundtrack by the chiptune band Anamanguchi. The music alone is worth the 800 Microsoft point price tag. The soundtrack to this game has to be one of the absolute best I have ever heard – even the pause menu has awesome music! The music fits every level in every aspect, and you will love it. I know I do, because I find myself playing the game to listen to the level music!
Scott Pilgrim VS The World is a game that is most definitely meant to be played with friends. The game can be extremely difficult on its own. I found myself grinding through previous levels a lot just to level up and gain money to purchase accessories to raise my stats – which is definitely a priority in this game. Scott Pilgrim is pretty much awesome, but he is no superhero. The game presents a perfect display of power balance between characters and enemies. I found myself a bit overwhelmed at times, and also cursing at the screen – out loud. All of this and I still could not stop playing. This is definitely proof to Scott Pilgrim’s sheer manly awesomeness and its amazing soundtrack.
In the end I have to say that Scott Pilgrim VS The World is as inspiring as it is enjoyable. It tells the story of two people in love through one super heroic, nerdy roller coaster ride. The soundtrack kept me enthused and even as I am writing this, I am listening to Anamanaguchi because they are that amazing. The game brings a sense of nostalgia and harmony to your heart that is unlike anything else existing out there right now. This game really takes it home for long time gamers and retro-junkies alike. Keeping true to the old style, the game delivers on a perfect expectation of its genre, and although online play is not an option it stays true to its roots. I definitely would recommend this game to all, and I encourage you to go pick it up right now.
What are you doing still reading this? Go now!
