8 Bit HD Bliss – Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Game Review

With so much hype about this movie this $9.99 downloadable gem of a game is not getting the proper spotlight it deserves, but I guarantee within a week everyone will be talking about this killer game.

There is so much to talk about where to begin? We will skip the story about how Scott Pilgrim has to battle his love interests (Ramona Flowers) 7 ex’s in order to rightfully claim her heart.

The Look- Totally thrown back to the 8 and 16 bit days. Pixels galore only washed in beautiful HD. And unlike other throwback games this is a NEW GAME. Not a remake with some added levels, which makes this a truly unique experience, especially to a generation that has no idea about this type of game, which I will get to in a minute. The characters are also big enough to see on the screen, this way you don’t have to press yourself closer to the TV with all the brawling going on. Its one of the only games that I can sit on my couch in the recline position and play, but that recline doesn’t last long because of the intense gameplay

The Gameplay- THANK YOU!!!! Have you ever played River City Ransom? Probably one of the best games ever made. Have you ever played Streets of Rage? Defiantly in my Top 10 greatest Sega Genesis games of all time. All you do is go around kick the crap out of people to advance to a boss to complete the level in these types of games. Simple enough but Ubisoft added RPG elements that creates  depth and humor which adds  tremendously to the fun factor of this download. As you beat people up through with a the character of your choosing that character gains experience points. These experience points levels up your character and unlocks new moves which you can use immediately after leveling up in the game. After defeating an enemy they leave loose change around that you collect in order to pay of food and accessories. The food not only replenishes your health and gut gages, but depending on where you are and what you order the food also adds experience points to your character. There are different attributes in experience, strength, health, speed, defense, etc and different grub will raise your experience but also target certain attributes and give them a permanent boost. You can even go to spot and buy snacks for on the go replenishment. Accessories also boosts these attributes, but don’t actually replenish health or guts. Whats guts? It was a kick ass show on Nickelodeon but those days are over. Its your special meter, where you can either use a special move in a sticky situation or after your health has depleted it will use your guts meter to replenish some of that lost health, but only when you are down to zero on your health. If you have zero guts that means zero specials and when you die, you die. Sounds complicated but its really not. Simple controls, light hit, heavy hit, block, jump, 2 special moves, a taunt and of course dashing/running. You can pick up trash cans, stop signs, baseball bats, beer bottles hell even half beaten up not yet dead enemies and use them and both melee and projectile type weapons, AWESOME!!!!

Shopping- As I mentioned before you can shop for food and accessories. There is a lot of humor here, check out the names of some of the stuff you can buy, awesome. The game is built sort of like Super Mario 3, where you have a map with levels that you can play up till a certain point. You have to go beat a level which unlocks a new level, go to the ma, hover over the level, click X and bang your in a new level. There are shops that are in the levels and after beating a level you can go back at anytime to visit these shops. After visiting the areas that you need to visit you don’t have to beat the level to get out, just exit to the map.

The Music- Oh that video game music, an this soundtrack does not disappoint. It sounds like a game that came out in the 80’s and I LOVE IT.

This game is Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. I am currently playing on the easiest setting solo and death came to me more than once, luckily there is an unlimited source of continues. This game is meant to be played with friends, and here lies some hidden flaws. The only way to play with friend is if they are present at the start of the game. No instant drop in, no online play. WHAT? With so much time into making this game awesome they forgot to add these 2 seemingly obvious features. Most of the 16 bit games that came out in the 80’s and 90’s that this game was modeled after had an instant drop in feature. The scenario would happen like so;  I would be playing solo, you would come over to my place and be like “I want to get in on some that Scott Pilgrim action” and I would be like “pick up the controller and instantly jump in sunn!”, you CANT do that in this game, single tear. You cant even bust this feature out online, hell you cant even play online! Double Tear, but what does it mean?

Despite the multilayer flaw the game is AWESOME. Hopefully the movie is as good as the game.

4 ½ Meats

Like

Unlike