Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game Review
The game that was given to us a decade ago and was taken away from us oh too soon, Scott Pilgrim vs The World is finally back for us to experience all over again. Originally stemming from a comic book that branched out into video games and a movie, Scott Pilgrim has earned itself a cult following, and rightfully so.
The Scott Pilgrim game is a side-scrolling beat ‘em up platformer published by Ubisoft based on graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley and was released back in 2010 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 before being taken down in 2014. But no worries, the game has since then been updated and released for almost every platform you can think of - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna, and Stadia. It was released on January 14th, 2021.
With that said, get some PlayStation Network Cards ready, ‘cause we’re sure you’ll want to buy the game after this review. The game follows Scott Pilgrim as he tries to defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes with his friends in order to be able to fully date her.
Graphics & Soundtrack
To our delight, the catchy soundtrack by Anamanaguchi still slaps hard and the graphics of the game remain as colorful and bright as we remembered (if not better). The game’s graphics done in 8 and 16-bit pixel art is detailed and well done, a definite recommendation for those who are a fan of the retro aesthetic and pixel art games.
In the background of the games are sprinkled some characters you might recognize, all animated with their very own quirks. Each level is distinct and gets weirder each time with the inclusion of zombies, flying piggy banks, and more. The bad guys vary too, you’ll see familiar faces and quirky characters like annoyed hipsters, actors in dinosaur costumes, and even aliens in flying saucers.
The game pays tribute to a lot of other popular games and media such as the inclusion of select screens from Super Mario games, the Streets of Rage similarities in playstyle, even the Street Fighter-like mini-games. As the game’s setting is based in Toronto, it truly captures the essence and culture of the city itself and now Canadians truly have a game they could relate to.
Leveling & Grinding
There are only 7 levels, but don’t worry they’re not that easy to get to. You’ll be stressing and failing a whole lot before you get past even the first boss (one of Ramona’s evil exes). It definitely takes a lot of grinding to get through the levels which is frustrating but there’s always some sort of variety in the game that keeps it entertaining. No worries, as you level up, things get easier and more moves are unlocked.
Everything could be made into a weapon - from trash on the side of the road to your very own characters which could be picked up and thrown at enemies. Brilliantly done with Ramona and Knives where if either is on the last digits of their health; one will pick the other and throw them at the enemy which deals serious damage.
Aside from that, it is also preferable for you to stick to one character. Mainly because each character takes time to level up and grow to be decently playable so when you switch characters, you’re essentially starting from scratch all over again. Just pick one or two characters that you enjoy the most and stick with them. You could always replay the game with other characters later.
But do note that each character is unique with their own abilities to unlock, so pick wisely!
Multiplayer Mode
As we played through the game, it becomes incessantly clear that this game is definitely meant to be played through co-op or multiplayer for a better experience. We encourage you to try it out with your friends when you have the time.
We say this because when playing the game in co-op, clearing levels gets somewhat easier and after a few runs, as characters are leveled up, it becomes a breeze.
The game features four characters from the original cast: Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, Kim Pine, and Stephen Stills whilst the DLC comes with Knives Chau and Wallace Wells as playable characters. Though if you pair Ramona and Knives together, be warned that they’ll constantly fight with each other even in situations where you’re fighting against enemies. Throwing something at the enemy with Ramona/Knives in the line of fire will often result in them getting hurt as well.
That’s one aspect of the game that sucks, if not humorous. Another aspect that we’re going to whine about would be how crowded the screen gets when waves of enemies start attacking in multiplayer. The screen is basically a mess and it’s hard to keep track of where your character is, and you could easily get lost in the fight.
Game Modes
There are four extra game modes aside from the main game: Dodgeball, Survival Horror, Battle Royale, and Boss Rush. They’re not as exciting as the main part of the game, but they make for good pastimes. Boss Rush is for those who enjoy boss battles and only boss battles, Battle Royale is basically as its name suggests - a battle royale to fight your friends and be the last one standing.
Dodgeball is a game of dodgeball against your enemies with no rules - basically, you’ll be throwing balls at your enemies, and Survival Horror includes fighting zombies who crawl at a snail’s pace so not much to worry about there.
A good effort in trying to diversify but not a good enough effort if you just focus on these games without the inclusion of the main game. They’re great if you want to take a break to look at different settings though.
Verdict
Even after 10 years, Scott Pilgrim is still as weird and fun to play. The game has its pros and cons, but we’re willing to look past it for the offbeat humor and creative storytelling that manages to capture our attention.
We’re glad that they’ve decided to bring back this game in time for its 10-year anniversary, a good reminder of how great of a game it was. So, if you’re down for a trip down memory lane or just a fun experience overall, this game is a good pick.