If you have any fond memories of River City Ransom you will probably fall in love with this game!
Scott Pilgrim plays just like the greatest side-scrolling beat-em-ups (especially the aforementioned RCR) by allowing you to take one of four (plus one unlockable) characters and tackling 7 different levels while at the same time gaining experience by defeating opponents (which unlocks more attacks and abilities) and collecting money that they drop (which you can spend in stores to increase your health, special energy, strength, defence, willpower, and speed). Each of the 7 levels culminates in an outrageous boss fight which will test all of your abilities to the limit! Speaking of abilities, collecting money from defeated opponents is vital, as you can then purchase food and other items with it which will allow you to level-up your basic statistics in order to do more damage, take less damage, move faster, and possess more special energy for powering a handy area-clearing attack.
One of the greatest strengths of this game is its old-school visual and audial aesthestics which will bring many gamers back to the glorious 8 and 16 bit eras when side-scrolling beat-em-ups were all the rage! Additionally, the game has an addicting quality to it by way of gaining levels and increasing basic statistic that makes this game truly hard to put down! Of course, the desire to witness what insanity will be thrown at you next and what diabolical boss you will face also adds to this game's charm!
Unfortunately, like many great games, this one is not without some drawbacks. First, there is no online co-op play. Especially considering that this game can be played with up to 4 people offline, it is really a shame that this fun cannot be taken online. Also, it is obvious this game was designed to be played with two players. Getting through the game by yourself is possible, but very difficult, and when there are more than two players on the screen at a time, the action can become totally chaotic and confusing.
Despite a couple of disappointments, this game is likely to engross any gamer who even remotely enjoys side-scrolling beat-em-ups, especially if said gamers happen to harbor any lasting nostalgia from the glorious days when these kinds of games ruled supreme!