Run! Don't let these red-eyed critters get you, Scarygirl!

It’s hard not to be intrigued by Scarygirl, an odd, pirate-like girl with an eyepatch, a stitched-up mouth, and a hook for a hand. Protected by a giant octopus, haunted by dreams of a mysterious man — her life sounds ridiculous, but with almost no dialogue or text, Nathan Jurevicius’ 2009 graphic novel still enticed us with its trippy art and stylish storytelling.

As a side-scrolling XBLA game, Scarygirl masters part of that equation. Your search for the Tree of Knowledge takes you through all kinds of attractive, even seductive, environments — from windy, icy cliffs to claustrophobic purple caves. Charming music helps give the settings a bizarrely idyllic feel.

Using your tentacle-like arm, you can swing yourself across chasms.

Unfortunately, the gameplay isn’t nearly as entrancing as the game world. Much of the time, you’re either clobbering animal-ish enemies head-on or hunting for gems. Scarygirl is definitely a collector’s paradise: these glowing crystals are everywhere, and you can cash them in for various gear (e.g., a stronger melee weapon), new abilities (like breathing longer underwater), and other goodies. Alternate routes encourage exploration — and offer even more gems — but whichever paths you take through a level, the punching/smashing/jumping often feels methodical and only mildly compelling.

Local co-op adds your mentor, Bunniguru, to the game, and we did like his more martial-artsy moves. 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.

PUBLISHER: Square Enix  •  DEVELOPER: TikGames  •  ESRB: Everyone 10+  •  MULTIPLAYER: 2 in co-op (local only)  •  ACHIEVEMENTS: Steady flow  •  COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)

On Xbox Live Arcade

+ Really good presentation, with a beautiful game world and entertaining music.

+ Collector/explorer types will appreciate the gem-nabbing part of the game.

– Action-wise, it feels samey and not very engaging.

? Is it just us, or are the mouth stitches and the bony hand just a little too creepy?

6.5