Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game Complete Edition Review

"KO"

Campaign

January 22, 2021 at 10:08pm
By Jason Stettner

This is the return of a classic 2D beat’em up inspired by the comic book series and the movie, the latter of which released around the time of when this game was first made available. This is the full version of that game featuring the extra content which includes the Knives Chau and Wallace additions.

This is very much a definitive, or well complete edition of that game. I hadn’t played the original, while being quite a fan of the film so it was great to finally give this one a whirl considering it had been delisted for so many years and therefore unplayable to newcomers.

That aside, you get to follow the story of Scott Pilgrim as he battles against the League of Evil Exes. You’re able to play as a wide range of characters, as you brawl through a number of levels. At its core, this is actually quite well done being aesthetically pleasing and fun to battle in.

At the same time, I hated the light RPG mechanics that were added in. I’ve never had to grind out a brawler in order to progress, and that was annoying. It has a brutal difficulty curve as well. It won’t be as hard once you get cash in order to buy items, but you’re really given no reference or guidance in doing so.

I feel this may turn away some individuals, as you might be expecting more of a straight forward brawling title like I was. That aside, the levels are decently long and feature boss battles that perfectly capture each of the evil exes. The scenes are also beautifully presenting the story, alongside brief cinematic moments and in general it tells the story very well.

There are also hidden secrets to discover along the way. Aside from just the main campaign, there are also a few mini game options from the main menu, these were fun extras to have included that added just a little more value to the overall experience. I should also mention that this can be played locally or online for up to four players.

Gameplay

The game carries a lovely, distinct art style that does appear to somewhat be right from a comic. The sprite work is very dynamic, greatly detailed and fluid no matter which character or action you’re pulling off. You get a great selection of combos to unleash, and you unlock more as you continue to level up.

The areas are decently large in scale, and very detailed with a large body count being present in terms of the fairly varied foes you take on. Each boss battle is entirely distinct, and exciting to see in action if you’re familiar with the source material. The difficulty can be insanely brutal though, so keep that in mind.

It was nice to have a large roster of characters, at the same time grinding them out is tiring. I had wished it would have been easier going since I did have initial aspirations of seeing the different possible outcomes from the large roster of characters that were present within the game. I wanted to also mention that the music is delightful, and really helps to fill out the atmosphere of this brawling experience.

The Conclusion

Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game Complete Edition is a solid brawler that features some rather brutal difficulty to it, and a bit of a grind factor as well. It’s still relatively well done, and I’m sure many will enjoy what it has to offer.

I would have enjoyed it more without the RPG mechanics being added in, at the same time it was enjoyable. It was nice to have online multiplayer coop action, alongside the existing local multiplayer as well. It’s got some decent game time to provide, especially if you want to experience the different characters that are present within it.

This can be a blast, carried by great beats and even more spectacular beat downs as you take out various foes on a path to gain Ramona’s love from that League of Evil Exes. Aim for some knock outs, and be prepared to battle it out in this charming tale of desire.

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Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game Complete Edition Review on Xbox Series X
Review Code Provided by Ubisoft

Rating Overall: 7.5