One of the first things that I fell in love with in the series of Scott Pilgrim graphic novels by by Bryan Lee O’Malley were the pop culture video game references. For some reason video games references tend to get left out in favour of comic book and movie/television references in a lot of pop culture laden material.
So to see Super Mario Bros. and Dance Dance Revolution showing up in those books amongst hundreds of other nods was really great to see and a lot of fun.
Which brings me to the Scott Pilgrim game.
Fun.
Epic fun. I mean even that trailer screams fun!! Retro nostalgic fun which completely suits the comic book and I assume (because I am completely devoid of any real free time in which to see it) the film. It’s interesting as I’m wondering if this is more a comic book adaptation game or a film adaptation.
The look and feel screams the comic book.
I love the mock 8bit graphics and the comic style that seem to just jump off of the screen and make me consider how well games like Double Dragon would shape up if only given a refresher rather than a complete overhaul. It’s completely appropriate for my mind to wander to Double Dragon as this game pays as much homage to it as it does Mario Bros.
The moves are extremely satisfying and the game play is challenging enough that it transcends a simple side scroller. I actually installed the demo off of the PSN first and was so hooked by the end of the first level that I had bought the upgrade to full game almost before realising it.
I was surprised though to hear that it is not available on the Wii which I would have suspected it would have been right at home with its graphics. Who knows, maybe they’ll strike a deal with Nintendo eventually…
If you are a fan of Scott Pilgrim then the game is perfect. If you just enjoy a fun side scroller then this game is perfect.
See, the thing that I loved seeing the clip which might not have been apparent is the money is Canadian coins (especially the Toonies… the coins that are grey with the gold center).
That shows attention to detail.
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Lee Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 9:04 am
LOL that’s really cool then and not something I would have picked up. I figured it was just fictional money… mmmm I’m still not convinced O_o
There’s actually a lot of detail jammed into the game, they are clearly fans of the source material which I have a feeling the makers of the first Iron Man game were not
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MC Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 9:06 am
And the quarters have Caribou on them, and the Loonies are those gold coins.
The fact that it is a pastiche on River City Ransom, which the comic was too, should be the indication of what the source material was for this game.
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Dan Reply:
August 18th, 2010 at 4:38 am
No Lee, it’s Australia that has the fictional play money.
Is that game going to be a full price £40 type thing on a grown up console, or is it a handheld game? I think I’d feel a little ripped off if I bought it for a xbox or something.
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In my neck of the woods, it is a 10 dollar download for the PSN and later for the 360.
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Ive downloaded this game, but I’m yet to play it as it keeps crashing on the first level! Over and over!
I’ve tried a fresh download, but havn’t had a chance to try it again since – Deathspank stole my adoring gaze.
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