Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition (Switch) Review
Release Date: January 14, 2021
Publisher/Developer: Ubisoft
Platform: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), Xbox One(Series S|X), PlayStation 4(5), PC, Stadia
Price: $14.99 digital, with a slew of physical options currently taking preorders on Limited Run Games
One of the early victims of digital delisting, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’s video game met with rave reviews. A perfect storm, the game was precisely what it needed to be: the comics themselves were so fused with action, fighting, and classic video games that an old school brawler was the perfect fit. Add in wonderfully animated sprites and a rocking soundtrack by Anamanaguchi, and this (along with the X-Men and TMNT arcade games) kept my personal Xbox 360 hooked up long after the X1 joined the family. Now, Scott and company have nestled in neatly next to Sunset Riders on my Nintendo Switch for some awesome classic arcade gaming on the road.
Read any of the reviews from ten years ago and they still ring true: Scott Pilgrim’s precious little videogame is excellent for fans of the IP and anybody just looking for a modern brawler. RPG lite mechanics allow you to level up and earn new moves, or go into shops for stat-boosting power ups. Taking down the Evil Exes is a blast no matter what, but the game truly shines in multiplayer with it’s Castle Crashers-esque revival and support structures. Multiplayer is more fleshed out for gamers who didn’t get the DLC back in the day, as Wallace Wells and Knives Chau join the default roster with all of the members of Sex Bob-omb.
Also unlocked from the get-go are all the bonus modes from the original, including a dodgeball game, boss rush, and endless zombie attack mode. If you’re new to the game, I suggest staying away from the boss rush till later, as it just lets you run through major events you might not have even seen yet without consequence. These sections were neat to unlock back in the day. I can see it being good for those who mastered the game back in the day to jump back in without the work, but also they seemed to be tailored to characters that have been leveled up. I went into Zombie Mode and went fifteen minutes pounding on the undead before even one went down for the count using a level one character.
The Switch feels like an ideal place for a game like this. Scott Pilgrim rolls with the punches on multiplayer, allowing you to easily pop from tablet mode to single Joy-Con for sharing without having to majorly back out to the main system UI (why some games do this I’ll never know). Playing on split Joy-Con is a little cumbersome as usual, but you have all the needed buttons so nothing is compromised. (I do get spoiled using my Pro Controller of course.) Some may note the lack of Achievements/Trophies as a reason to get this on a different system, but the sheer portability and drop-in nature of such a game makes me feel glad to have reviewed it on Switch.
Hopefully, licenses will be able to be kept together this time and Scott Pilgrim: The Game-Complete Edition can stay on storefronts a lot longer than the original version. Those worried about it can pop over to the Limited Run website, where several levels of Collector’s Editions for all platforms (could be the first Xbox Limited Run game!) are available. Either way, if you are a fan of classic brawlers, Scott Pilgrim’s game is well-deserving of the extra life it earned on new consoles.
Pros:
-It’s the classic game, back from the dead!
-Killer soundtrack mixes new design with classic chiptunes
-Gaming on the go with the Switch is great for a classic brawler
-Smooth transitions between control styles
-Some killer Limited Run Special Editions
Cons:
-Bonuses unlocked from the start risk spoilers; are more for leveled characters
-Some may lament lack of ‘cheevos or trophies
Special thanks to Ubisoft for resurrecting this gem and providing a code for review!