The first week of the non-Summer of Arcade games brings us two beat 'em ups - one based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels, and the other a hell-bent story of revenge in Shank.
We could be forgiven for thinking that now that the Summer of Overprice has finished, that we'd return to regular priced games - which to an extent is true, seeing as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game is a perfectly reasonable 800 Microsoft Points (about £6.67). Shank, however, is a whopping 1200 Microsoft Points (about £10.00) - is it really going to be worth that much for a beat 'em up - a genre that often just degenerates into frantic, repetitive button-mashing (in my case, anyway). And, as well as being very short (reportedly only about three hours long), it doesn't even have a decent co-op mode, with it limited to the few 'prequel' levels - not the main story.
Ranting aside, here's this week's selection:
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game
Price: 800 Microsoft Points (about £6.67)
Playing as the loveable loser Scott Pilgrim, you fall in love with a girl called Ramona Flowers, but you soon find out love isn't all rose petals and chocolates - it seems Ramona gets around a bit - to win her heart, you must defeat her league of seven evil ex-boyfriends. If defeating seven evil ex-boyfriends sounds a bit much for you on your own, grab up to three friends to help - because the whole story can be played in local co-op. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game is a classic beat 'em up - much along the same vein as Castle Crashers - in which enemies appear on the screen, and clearing out all these enemies moves you on to the next screen, where there are more to, er, beat. In Scott Pilgrim, there are also some elements of role playing, as you get to collect experience to level up your character and learn new moves, as well as use coins you collect to buy new weapons and equipment.
Shank
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points (about £10.00)
Playing as the mysterious "Shank", players must try to uncover the secrets behind his past, and the reason he is so hell-bent on revenge in this apparently "classic" story of gangland betrayal. Not only a single player adventure, Shank also features a co-op campaign, separate to the single player, which acts as a prequel telling the back story of the revenge plot. Playing as either Shank or his partner in crime Falcone, players must work together to take down enemies using their deadly double team moves.
Following the standard beat 'em up formula, in which players defeat waves of enemies to progress through the level, Shank may seem simple enough for younger children - but don't be fooled - this game is definitely not for the little ones - full of gore, strippers and swearing, Shank is a beat 'em up designed for the older crowd.
