Scarygirl has style to spare, but vexing combat and loose controls get in the way of a great time.
Before it was a full-featured Xbox Live Arcade game, Scarygirl was a graphic novel by Nathan Jurevicius, and then it was a downloadable game for the PlayStation Portable. None of that history is required knowledge if you decide you want to give this newest platformer a shot, though. The only things you need to bring to the table are some solid gaming chops and an appreciation for the bizarre.
Scarygirl is an orphan who lost her parents at an early age and was raised by a wise, fatherly octopus. He built a lovely home for her, a cabin high in a gnarled tree, and he found clothes for her on the ocean floor. Now the unusual heroine looks a lot like a doll that lost a battle with a 3-year-old. Her unruly black hair, pale skin, and stitched-together lips might easily have come from the mind of Tim Burton, and her dreams are fittingly enigmatic. These nighttime visions finally inspire her to embark upon a journey, which is when the game begins.
Scarygirl is a visual treat. The world is pleasingly organic, with distinct and lively environments. Giant blades of grass sway in the breeze, thick weeds choke a path lined with clay, icy stalagmites rise skyward, and fetid pools of swamp water line rock basins. It's a strange world populated by angry animals ranging from frogs and birds to spiders and snakes. Plus, there are lumberjacks who hurl axes or bellow and charge like they're football players. You may find yourself pressing onward just to see how bizarre things get.
Audio sets a fitting, if unremarkable, tone and the delightful narrator is a highlight. His deep voice brings to life a number of lines that capture the game's understated humor with the appropriate subtlety. There's a vaguely menacing tone to everything he says, even the bits that sound cheery, which makes it all more interesting than it probably has a right to be. Clever narration and unique visuals can carry a game only so far, though, and Scarygirl also relies on more conventional methods to justify your investment. At its core, the game is a challenging but largely generic platformer that suffers for the inclusion of some cheap brawling sequences.
Most levels adhere to genre traditions. Scarygirl runs and jumps through varied environments, collecting crystals and defeating enemies as she goes. Her movement is imprecise, however, which makes for some awkward moments. If Scarygirl starts running to the right, she might well take a few final (and potentially fatal) steps after you stop easing the analog stick in that direction. Her jumps are also slightly abrupt, which can result in some awkward landings. Frequently, you need to take advantage of Scarygirl's ability to glide. A tap of the A button produces her first jump, and holding the button causes her tentacle arm to whirl around like a helicopter rotor. Quick taps let you use this ability in short bursts, making for lengthy glides, while simply continuing to hold the button results in a shorter flight.
1 Like @G_gglypuff Let me 'prooftest' what I say by saying that reviews are opinion, and you can't escape that. If fifteen different people review the same game there will be fifteen different scores, am I right? Of course. Just check the player reviews on Gamespot. Actually the definition of a review is an opinion, if reviews weren't opinionated, they wouldn't have a score. If you want facts go read the summary of the game.
@unbentonslaught: Do note that none of us are supposed to be stating opinions in a review site. So, you don't know a single opinion from me about Scarygirl, all that you know is my observation. For any review site to begin calling itself serious, then no opinions should be stated in the review. Also, you again saying crap left and right, uh! This review doesn't match the game it supposedly reviews. Before you begin talking crap again, mind to prooftest what you say.
@G_gglypuff Well your first comment (which I read before I finished reading the review) made me think that the reviewer didn't give an obvious reason why he gave it a 6 out of 10. You stated nothing about the review not matching up with your personal opinion, you said, "And yet ANOTHER review that doesn't review anything." After reading the entire review I realized he definately reviewed something based on his own opinion. If you disagree and enjoy the game that's your business, just say what you mean the next time you comment on something else.
Well, it looks like the reviewer doesn't have any duty of stating any truth. Played the demo, can be barely find this so talked about inaccurate movement. @unbentonslaught: Where's the frustating combat? Have you tried the demo to repeat what you've read? For the record, combat goes quite smoothly, and it's also easy to get used to. No excuse for this "frustating" thing. And the reason I'm freaking out is simple. Some weeks ago I bought Trine 2 based on what everyone said about it. To my surprise, no one mentioned that when you "die", you're taken to a few steps from where you were, with all the characters with half their health and every puzzle and enemy just the way you left them, that is, dying actually gives the player the upper hand, with absolutely no punishment for the lack of skill/coordination. This made me realize that what I was playing was a heavily gamified toy, and I'd never find any challenge of any sort (the puzzles are trivial too) in it. So, how can a toy be rated so high in a game site? Oh! And as a toy, Flower beats Trine 2 with a huge advantage.
@G_gglypuff Not sure why you're freaking out, he says that the combat gets frustrating, is that not enough for you?
And yet ANOTHER review that doesn't review anything. It just lets me know the reviewer can't control the character. What does the rating even mean if the reviewer couldn't even bother to review the game?! Damn!
Author is Jason Venter ... That is a terribly South African name... JASON, if you ever read comments, are you South African? I am :D
