Scarygirl

There's a decent game here overall. It isn't particularly difficult, and experienced gamers will be able to blow through it in a day or two, I imagine. But it looks cool, and it harks back to a simpler time, when 2D platformers ruled the roost.

If you've already blown through Rayman Origins with four buddies, Scarygirl will have little to offer you in terms of challenge. If you're new to the platform genre, however, Scarygirl is a fine little experience that won't frighten anyone.

Scarygirl isn't a total disappointment. Sure, the combat isn't its strongest suit, and being steamrolled time and time again by the tough battles later in the game gets old, but it's hard not to be drawn in by this curious cartoonish realm and the weirdos who live in it. This highly imaginative and beautiful game redeems itself with quirky creativity when its mechanics occasionally fumble.

Scarygirl is simple, attractive and well done. It doesn't surprise and the graphic approach could have been better than the chosen 3D models, especially knowing the chaming style of the Flash game. However it´s an entertaining platformer with tons of actions and a nice style.

What we really craved, though, were a little more story (beyond quick cutscenes and text) and some interesting puzzles - stuff that might've given us a better connection to the source material. As is, Scarygirl's pretty but feels a bit empty.

Despite some technical issues, Scarygirl offers a fair five hour playthrough with a cool style based on the original graphic novel created by Nathan Jurevicius.

From the homonymous comic, an action platform with some variety. Combat system is slightly redundant and gameplay is frustrating in advanced levels.

Scarygirl has a great visual design that blends the creepiness of Coraline with the charm of Tim Schafer's Pyschonauts and quite often achieves that living storybook charm. I loved the use of the narrator for the opening movie and to preface each chapter, and the music and sound effects fit the game flawlessly. Sadly, the game flops in the gameplay department with buggy combat and glitchy platform jumping sections where one misstep will send you back to a poorly placed checkpoint to do it all over and over again. Repetition to the point of frustration is not fun and not good gameplay. It might have been back in the early 90's, and if you are comfortable with that old-school nostalgia then Scarygirl might be for you.

The biggest problem is that there really isn't anything you haven't seen before. [Issue#83, p.105]

Lovely design, ruined by imprecision. [Apr 2012, p.109]

With its very original story in its very original visuals this platform game has been toying with the genre of 2D fighting games. It won't knock you out, but if you fancy this genre or the unusual hero(ine)s you'll be entertained for a while.

Scarygirl is cute, workable, but otherwise routine - its style inching ahead of its substance.

Scarygirl has style to spare, but vexing combat and loose controls get in the way of a great time.

If you're hankering for some PS1 platforming of old but can't find the console in the clutter of the attic, this title should fulfill that need for the day or two it takes to complete.

A fun, attractive 2D platformer of the sort that can nowadays only exist on services like Xbox Live Arcade. Although it's not quite as distinctive as the art style suggests.

Behind the comical façade hides a short and generic 2D-Jump&Run in the tradition of Bionic Commando. You fight, you jump and you swing with a continually growing array of tools but the unbalanced difficulty level drags you down time and again.

You'd have to have a hell of a lot of spare time and cash to make room in your life for this. [Issue#119, p.119]

Scarygirl just isn't worth the price, except for huge fan of Jurevicius' art, or those desperate for something new to play in January's barren wasteland of game releases.

In the end, if Scarygirl retailed for less or spent a little more time in the oven getting the elements a bit more tweaked, then I'd say the game would be worth the money. As is, you may want to trial this bad boy (or girl) to see if this adventure is worth putting up the 15 bucks. Otherwise, unless you are a big fan of the content, it's decent enough to hold off until it is on sale or something in the future.