Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition Review – Friends Forever

In 2014, we lost Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game to a digital grave. The game became the prime example of why it’s important to release games on physical media as many lost their chance to play. However, we don’t have to worry about that anymore, considering Ubisoft has graced gamers with the release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition. Even though you might have heard about this game many times over the years, it still has faults that may be more prominent in 2021. Still, it is an entertaining beat ’em up made better when played with friends.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game follows Scott Pilgram, who was dating a high schooler, but then meets Romona and falls in love. However, love isn’t that simple, and Scott must fight her seven evil exes. Each stage is capped off with another boss battle, but getting there requires players to fight through hordes of enemies in true beat ’em up fashion.

The gameplay mechanics aren’t as straightforward as you’d expect a licensed game to be. In fact, this game is probably one of the best licensed video games ever mind. There’s a significant layer of complexity in its action design where characters level up and learn new attacks and master combos throughout the adventure. Movement is sluggish, which adds to some of the more challenging aspects of the game, but that is remedied with a powered-up state that characters enter where they move faster.

Maneuverability is only one factor in the game’s challenge. Even on the lowest difficulty, you may find your ass being handed to you by the waves of enemies you encounter. Each stage has a few unique enemy types, but you’ll fight a few of the same grunts multiple times. This is where this Complete Edition could have used a little more work. During times where the screen is filled with enemies, many of them seem to simply “turn off” as if the AI is only really controlling a few of them while the others pace back and forth or stand still and wait for you to get closer.

Stages also have gimmicks like deadly pits or busses that make things a little more challenging. Some of the worst moments are when you can’t seem to land a hit on blocking enemies or when you get knocked down, get up, and then another enemy knocks you down again multiple times. Hit detection can also feel a little off at times as the enemy always seems too high or low.

Still, this is all standard fare for a classic beat ’em up games, and no matter how many times I died, I didn’t want to stop playing. This is enhanced when playing with others because then gameplay becomes more about making memories with a group of friends that mirrors the game’s events. Replayability is kept high as you can replay stages, gain levels, and purchase upgrades for higher stats. Everything about this game is just fun, even with the added layer of challenge.

Graphics didn’t see a wild improvement, but luckily the pixel environments and character design have aged incredibly well. This game looks like it could have released this year with its beautiful animation and settings. It’s all capped off with an incredible soundtrack that will easily go down as one of the best in video game history.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition boasts the two DLC characters, Knives Chau and Wallace Wells. Outside of them, players can play through mini-games, unlock secret areas, and play through the game in different modes. Replayability is kept high in that regard, but I never felt that this game had any shortage of content. If anything, I wish the team went back and refined some of the mechanics.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition is a reunion for some and a brand new experience for others. However, no matter when you play this game, you are guaranteed to have a great time. The beat ’em systems are a product of their time, but they still fit in with modern genre entries. This is a game best played over an evening with a group of friends, no matter if you have a relationship with the franchise or not. Here’s to another 10 years of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game.