Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game – Complete Edition is just as good of a game as it was a decade ago. Despite some inconsistent difficulty bumps, the multiplayer carnage, gorgeous visuals, and unbeatable soundtrack make this one worth revisiting all these years later.
Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game – Complete Edition
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: $15
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, Luna, and PC
Scott Pilgrim holds a great deal of personal value to me, standing out as the first game I ever reviewed online as a doofy teenager. As someone who loves the franchise and the game, I jumped at the chance to review the re-release all these years later as a competent adult. While the same flaws that the original had are present, every inch of excellent gameplay and charm has returned as well.
Scott Pilgrim loosely follows the story of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels of the same name. The titular Scott Pilgrim falls for the mysterious Ramona Flowers and learns that he must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. In the game, Scott is accompanied by Ramona, his friends Kim Pine and Stephen Stills, his roommate Wallace Wells, and his other love interest Knives Chau. Together, these twenty-somethings battle their way through a variety of stages and exes in order to earn their own arcade-style ending. The straightforward nature of the story is perfect for a beat-em-up, as you’re constantly working towards the next evil ex until the end.
“Every punch and kick has an impact to it that makes you want to keep going, which is the sign of a good beat-em-up.“
From a gameplay perspective, Scott Pilgrim has some interesting design choices that expand upon the classic beat-em-up formula. As you battle your way through foes with a variety of punches and kicks, you level up and learn new moves. You also earn money to buy anything from health to stat boosts, which can lead to some very fun exploitation if you know what you’re doing. This is almost necessary, as there are some rough difficulty jumps between certain levels. Losing your three lives means you have to replay the whole stage, which can get annoying on some of the tougher stages. I’m all for a good challenge, but the gap between each stage’s necessary skill makes it more frustrating than fun. The game itself is still quite enjoyable, as combat feels weighty and satisfying. Every punch and kick has an impact to it that makes you want to keep going, which is the sign of a good beat-em-up.
The multiplayer is especially fun, as the chaotic nature of playing in a tight space with others makes every death, revival, and team attack feel that much more impressive. The ability to play online is a strong addition to the game, and the DLC game modes that are included (like dodgeball and Boss Rush) are fairly minor, but fun additions to an already packed game.
All the fun secrets are present, from goofy cheat codes that turn money into animals or give you tons of cash to a neat hidden encounter on the world map, there’s lots to find in Scott Pilgrim. This is especially true if you’re a fan of the comic, as side-characters like Julie, Mobile, and Knives’s mom are all present in stages in ways that reference their comic appearances.
The visuals in Scott Pilgrim are nothing short of stunning. The spritework perfectly captures the charm of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels while also standing on its own. Each stage has its own colorful and well-animated enemies that help differentiate them. There’s lots of detail in every inch of each stage, which makes repeated playthroughs more rewarding.
I’m fully confident in saying that the soundtrack to Scott Pilgrim is one of the best in the entire industry. Composed and performed by chiptune band Anamanaguchi, every track is memorable and absolutely bopping. It evokes the nostalgia of a retro soundtrack while taking advantage of modern audio quality to create a soundtrack that you can easily listen to for hours outside of the game.
The Final Word
It has some rough difficulty jumps, but Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game – Complete Edition is a masterstroke of a beat-em-up. The visuals and music are stellar, the gameplay is weighty and fun with friends, and the included content adds even more fun to the title. This is a game that’s worth grabbing, especially because it’ll probably be delisted again some day.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
