Based on a graphic novel I’ve never heard of, Scarygirl is now a downloadable video game on Xbox LIVE and coming soon to PSN (360 version reviewed here). In the game, a young girl with a tentacle for an arm was abandoned, but a friendly octopus took her in and named her Scarygirl. Blister the octopus clothed her with outfits he found under the sea, so she dresses like a pirate. He even built a nice house for her. But when Scarygirl keeps having prophetic dreams, a guru bunny tells her to go on a journey. Now you can help Scarygirl on a 2-D platforming adventure!

Scarygirl is best described as a 2.5-D platforming jumping game. The graphics are 3-D but you can only move in a 2-D plane, similar to classics like Klonoa. Scarygirl can run, jump, and hover in the air by using her tentacle arm like a propeller. Scarygirl can also use her tentacle arm to grapple and swing from certain objects, and whip enemies with light and strong attacks. There is quite an extensive combo system for attacking enemies, and you can even buy and unlock new moves and abilities.

Scattered about the stages are diamonds you collect, and every so often you’ll meet a merchant on your adventure. Spend your collected diamonds here on new moves, items, and other goodies. Scarygirl will travel though territorial owl infested forests, steep mountains, ice caves, and other locales. But she doesn’t have to go it alone! A second player can join in at any time as the guru bunny for some simultaneous co-op action.

The only main problem with Scarygirl is the play control. Movement feels a little loose on the 360, and you use nearly every button on the controller so sometimes I forgot which ones to use! But if you can’t get enough 2-D platforming action, or if you just like the Scarygirl graphic novel, then you may want to check this one out anyway.

Kid Factor:

Scarygirl is rated E-10 with ESRB descriptors of Cartoon Violence and Tobacco Usage. While you do whip, smash, and squeeze the life out of enemies, they only disappear into sparkles when defeated. Some characters smoke pipes, but you don’t see too much of that. While some of the slightly creepy characters may frighten very young children, if your kids are OK with movies and art styles found in Nightmare Before Christmas or Caroline, they’ll be OK with this game, too. Younger players might get frustrated at the difficulty of the later levels, but luckily you get unlimited chances, ample checkpoints, and a second player can always join in to help. You might want to make sure that the less experienced gamer is player two, though; since you don’t have to start over if player two dies, only if player one does. Reading skill is helpful for instructions, but most text is accompanied by voice and pictures cues.

Tags: Game Reviews