All this week I am going to be giving ridiculously quick hands-on impressions of all the games I see on the E3 show floor. Since I think everything is a little amazing, they will be rated, from least to most favorite: 1 (A Little Amazing!), 2 (Kind of Amazing!), 3 (Pretty Amazing!), 4 (AMAZING!), and 5 (The Most Amazing Thing I Have Ever Seen!).
I was surprised -- nay, shocked! -- to some of the negative reaction surrounding the videogame adaptation of Scott Pigrim vs. the World. I get that some people may not be a fan of the graphic novels, but to hate on a game with such gorgeous retro graphics (designed by PAUL ROBERTSON, no less) that no one has even had the chance to play? That just seems weird.
Luckily, I got a chance to actually play the game today on the E3 show floor, and I can comfortably declare it is really, really good. There. Now it's official. Haters be gone!
As most of you know, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (released exclusively for PSN on August 10th) is an old-school 4-player co-op beat-em-up with retro graphics in the vein of River City Ransom and The Simpsons Arcade Game. If that is not enough for you to be excited, well, I guess you are a "hater" and should probably stop reading now.
Gameplay-wise, everything felt just like it should: D-pad or analog stick controls your character, square button does a light attack, triangle does a heavy attack, and the x button jumps. The basic controls have been seen before, but it is all the little details that make the game really shine. You can level up your character by defeating enemies and gaining experience points. When leveling up your character, Scott, Stills, Ramona, or Kim learn a new move. Simple, but awesome. You can also collect money that can be purchased at stores for food that will boost your stats. There are even brilliant bonus levels hidden in stages containing huge flying piggy banks full of money. Even cooler, these bonus stages are designed to show off old 8-bit game glitches on the screen, like all the interference and gibberish you used to get when the NES cartridge wasn't pushed all the way in the slot. So cool.
The only reason this doesn't get a perfect score from me is because when I asked if it would obviously be online, the Ubisoft rep said "no." Only local multiplayer. That is fine for me -- I love playing with friends in the same room -- but I know this is going to turn some people off.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World doesn't do anything new, but it is absolutley beautiful and highly polished. It also manages to have a good sense of humor about its style, which I really aprpeciate. I can guarantee I will be downloading this on day one.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (AMAZING!)
Contest:
3:00 PM on 06.16.2010
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I just hope you can boost the speed stat ‘cause everything in the trailer looked a bit slow to me. Still, I really like the look of it and might pick it up.
Too few games have it these days, especially on the PS3, though that's no reason to kill online play, not everyone has friends irl
You can't boost the speed, but you can double tap and run whenever you want. Not ideal, but it helps. :)
I asked that, and, although the Ubisoft rep didn't confirm it, the fact that he didn't deny it means an XBLA release is most likely happening. :)
Awesome Chad, not like I had any doubts, but glad to see you puttin the haters on the ropes. =D
I HATE Ubisoft so much, Scott Pilgrim belongs with Nintendo you bloody morons.
Fully agree. He is an expert fighter in-canon after all - he helps train Scott. He better be at least unlockable.
Will totally be playing this with the roommates
Yeah. Read the screenshot post I did a couple days ago. A lot of non-fans in the comments! So weird! :)
But... "some people" aren't doing this review. If you're ok with local multiplayer then score accordingly. Surely we can't start second guessing others now on whether they'll like the game or not?
*Just me hanging out with Chad In Toronto. Maybe we'll go to some of the places in the books.
Wait WHAT? Why is there no XBL release date yet? AAAAAGH!
Yes, I'm totally interested.
Haters gonna hate.
I guess you could say that the performance was...
/sunglasses
Stunning YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Anyway, can't fucking wait, for this or the sixth book.
Augh, I need more than just a Wii...