Scarygirl has tentacles? I thought you said something else
Co-Optimus always says you should not fight a boss alone. Therefore, the introduction of the second player local drop in/drop out co-op is a real aid. The second player takes on the mantle of a mysterious kung fu rabbit who aids Scarygirl. He plays slightly differently than Scarygirl, using his paws as weapons, rather than a whip. With two players working together the game gets easier, especially against some of the difficult boss fights. As with many games, playing as a twosome proves more fun, but the co-op is not implemented as cleanly as it could be.
In terms of straight forward play, the co-op is perfectly adequate; players can use special co-op moves to wipe out a foe. However, there are a couple of little issues that make the second player feel more like Tails in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, than a real co-op equal. Firstly, if Scarygirl runs too far off the screen Player 2 is zapped and warped forwards – the reverse does not apply. This is happening in an increasing number of local co-op games, but it is still irritating. Another flaw is a blessing and a curse; the Game Over screen only appears when Scarygirl dies. This means that if player 2 was to perish they are respawned at the next check point. Great if you want to go gung ho on a boss, but it does make you feel like the unwanted child of the game, as your presence is almost ghost like.
Scarygirl’s co-op is a reasonably implemented part of the game that enhances the overall experience. There are faults with it, but the co-op is functional. However, as good as the co-op is (or is not), it can only sit on top of the single player experience and it is here that Scarygirl suffers. The art is great to look at, but almost every other element of the game is average at best, substandard at worst. The thought of having to use floaty jumping to take on endless dull enemies is not particularly appealing. The co-op makes these basic flaws slightly better, but not enough to make the game more than average.
Editor's Note: The Co-Optimus Co-Op Review of Scarygirl was based on the Xbox 360 version of the game.
Verdict
Co-Op Score
Overall
The Co-Op Experience: The entire game supports drop-in, drop-out co-op. The second player controls Bunniguru, ScaryGirl's martial artist sidekick. An offensive character with unique martial arts moves, he can't grapple enemies or the environment like Scarygirl. Together they can perform team up moves.
Co-Optimus game reviews focus on the cooperative experience of a game, our final score graphic represents this experience along with an average score for the game overall. For an explanation of our scores please check our Review Score Explanation Guide.