On December 30th, 2014 a certain videogame vanished from the online shop. Since then it has been unobtainable unless you had an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3 with it downloaded. This title of course is “Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game“. As of December 14th, 2021 however, we can finally say it is lost no more. Now available on PS4, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch, players around the world are finally able to experience the retro style beat em up that is Scott Pilgrim.
Gameplay
“Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game” is a side-scrolling beat ’em up. You and up to three other players take the role of Scott, Kim, Stephen Stills, or Ramona as you venture through the magical land known as Toronto, Canada. Your quest is to defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes. Each character has their own abilities and combo moves. This gives the game plenty of replay value as you go back to make progress with each one. Playing with friends is even better and allows you to perform combo moves to take down even the hardiest of foes.
Defeating enemies earns you coins which you can spend in a variety of different shops. Some shops are hidden and out of sight so keep an eye out for any secret doors. Speaking of secret doors, there are also various Subspace Highways tucked away which will allow you to traverse each stage quicker.
Progression does require some grinding but it never feels like it becomes tedious. You’ll be exploring through stages multiple times as you prepare yourself for the next battle. So take your time, level up, and upgrade your stats while you’re at it. Soon enough you’ll be able to plow through a hoard of enemies with your bare hands. Or if you prefer, you can pick up a variety of weapons from fallen enemies. Whatever gets the job done.
Presentation
“Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game” takes after the comics more than the film despite being a movie tie in with the live-action adaptation. Because of this, the presentation feels much more faithful to the aesthetic the comics were going for. Not to mention it also has a pretty sweet soundtrack by Anamanaguchi to get you in that retro mood.
The game has very minimal dialogue. This is usually reserved for the various shops and their item descriptions. However, if you’re a fan of the comics you’ll be able to recognize iconic locations and characters scattered around the world and automatically know what volume of the comic the stages are currently adapting.
I will say that to fully experience the game it is best to have a basic understanding of the plot or premise of Scott Pilgrim. Some of the jokes and references might fly over a player’s head if they aren’t familiar with the source material. Nevertheless, the game is still fully enjoyable visually and audio-wise for anyone that loved the SNES or Genesis era of games. it also serves as a nice invitation to get acquainted with the comics.
Extra Modes and Bonuses
The base game is what you expect from a $15 experience. It’s small, condensed, and uses its gameplay to make up for its length. Of course, this re-release is even sweeter since it includes all the DLC from the original game. You get a variety of add-on modes to try out on your own such as Boss Rush and Survival Horror. You also receive two game modes to play with friends. These modes are Battle Royal and Dodgeball. To top it all off you also get access to the two DLC characters – Knives Chau and Wallace.
Gripes?
As always it’s finally time to talk about gripes. What exactly doesn’t work about the game? In this case, did anything not age well since its original release? Honestly, the game is pretty solid even now. However, it has 2 gripes. One main gripe comes in the form of multiplayer for bonus modes. Another smaller gripe being the vagueness of food items that can be purchased in-game.
Yes, the foods and items in shops don’t just affect health and stamina. They are permanent buffs to your character’s overall stats such as speed, strength, and defense. These buffs remain a secret until you purchase the items. You will then be told exactly how each item affects you. So memorize which items do what and then purchase them according to your playstyle. That being said, once you figure it out it’s all smooth sailing from there. So hopefully you don’t spend too much time thinking the items are just for healing.
The other gripe comes from a lack of online multiplayer for the DLC modes. Battle Royale and Dodgeball, in particular, would be even more fun with the ability to play with anyone around the world. However, those modes like the rest of the bonus modes only have local multiplayer. It’s not game-breaking but it sure does feel like a missed opportunity with the re-release.
Switch Benefits
“Playing Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game” on a home console such as the PS4 or the Xbox One is a treat. However, there are some added bonuses for playing it on the Nintendo Switch. Content-wise all versions are the same, however, there’s nothing like playing this game on the go in handheld mode. For those who have the original Switch model, you should be happy to know that each Joycon can be separated and used individually to easily drop in another player.
Don’t Miss Out!
“Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game” is an excellent addition to your game library. It has all the charm of the comic and remains an absolutely amazing experience. Its journey through gaming history is a powerful lesson in game preservation. If you’re interested in buying a physical version of the game you’re in luck. Limited Run is currently selling physical editions and more on their website. So get em before they’re gone again.
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