Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Review

This stellar title combines the awesome fun of old school co-op brawlers with the HD trimmings of today.

In a world of cinematic, big-budget video games that contain immersive environments, monstrous depth, and graphics and animation that come close to duplicating reality, I sometimes feel alone.  Being a child of the 80’s and 90’s, I have to face the fact that I am an old man who gripes about the music kids listen to these days and resisted getting a cell phone and joining Facebook until only a few years ago.  As such, I am overwhelmed at the technology and scope of the games coming out for current-gen systems, and often feel as if the world has passed me by.  I still lovingly leaf through the pages of vintage issues of Nintendo Power and shed a tear as I pine for the simpler days of the classic NES, Genesis, and SNES.  Am I the only one who prefers the pixilated heroes of Castlevania and the catchy 8-bit melodies of Super Mario Bros. to the motion-captured animations and full orchestral soundtracks of today’s releases?

Apparently not.  Ubisoft’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, based on the series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, takes a cue from the comic’s infusion of 80’s video game references and continues the theme with heartwarming passion.  The story involves twenty-something slacker Scott Pilgrim, a bassist in the rock band Sex Bob-Omb, meeting the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers.  Unfortunately, in order to pursue the relationship, he must defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends.  These battles form the basis of the game’s side-scrolling beat-‘em-up format, an homage to such classics as Double Dragon and Final Fight.  And oh, does it work.

Players choose from four heroes in a character select screen mirroring that of Super Mario Bros. 2: lead protagonist Scott, as well as his new squeeze Ramona Flowers, and bandmates and friends Stephen Stills and Kim Pine.  Four players can take on each stage simultaneously, with such humorously obligatory fighting-game locations as the city streets, ninja dojo, and the top of a train.  Basic abilities include fast attacks and power attacks, jumping, and blocking, with many more cool moves unlocked as each hero gains experience levels.  These moves include counter-attacks, judo-throwing enemies who block, punching downed foes, dodging rolls, and more.  Also added into the mix are special context-sensitive moves, like racking up 70+ rapid punches during temporary speed-upgrades, and pounding your buttons to explode Neo-style out of a dogpile of thugs.

While brawling through droves of henchmen, ninjas, robots and aliens, almost every object (including trash cans, swords, and downed enemies) in the destructible environments can be picked up and used as a weapon, either for swinging or throwing.  When health points or guts points (used for screen clearing attacks, back-up health, and more) get low, they can be replenished by spending the coins dropped by enemies in a multitude of shops throughout each stage.  These purchases can also increase stats such as strength and speed, as well as build experience, leading to more powerful fighting moves.  Each level ends with an epic battle with one of Ramona’s ex-boyfriends, who exhibit special powers ranging from telekinesis to “being Japanese.”  These battles absolutely rock in their creativity, humor, and general awesomeness, requiring teamwork and strategy to win.  Just to keep things from getting stale, the regular brawling stages are sprinkled with mini-games, such as outrunning a crushing spiked wall and smashing cars and other objects in bonus segments.