Scott Pilgrim is head over heels in love with Ramona Flowers. One problem: she has seven terrible ex-boyfriends that must be defeated before he can win her heart, and they’re not going down without a fight!
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a retro-style 4-player side-scrolling beat-them-up primarily based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic books. It is an homage to beat ”’em-ups from the 8- and 16-bit eras, particularly River City Ransom. It incorporates art by famous pixel animator Paul Robertson and a soundtrack by New York chiptune band Anamanaguchi.
Up to four players must fight through the streets of Toronto, Canada, in seven stages, starting with Scott, Ramona, Kim Pine, or Stephen Stills. Each step has many elements culminating in a battle with one of Ramona’s ex-boyfriends at the finale. There are numerous shops, some of which are hidden, and destructible goods and weaponry can be gathered around each stage. Characters develop and level up similarly toasters, and previous levels can be revisited.
Each character begins with only a few moves (punches, kicks, jumps, dashes, and blocks). Still, when foes are destroyed, characters gain experience, unlocking new activities like running tackles and leg sweeps. Defeated enemies drop coins, which can be collected and spent in Toronto’s numerous businesses. Items frequently replenish life while increasing other character stats like strength, speed, defense, and others.
Characters can also spend a “Guts” meter to perform exceptional moves, such as an area-clearing attack that has low strength but knocks nearby adversaries away and a special striker move that summons another character, generally Scott’s love stalker Knives Chau, for a short support assault. If a player kills five foes without taking a hit, their character will glow briefly, greatly enhancing their speed and strength. In co-op mode, players can collaborate on attacks and lend money to one another.
The game has numerous unlockables and hidden bonuses, including a secret character with a new striker move, a Boss Rush mode, and a Zombie mode.
