Recognising high score when updated with a graphic

I'm not sure where your issue is, but it is not with the code you've posted. To to be sure I copied your code into a script:

 pragma strict
  
 var chapter1Score = 0;
 
 function Start () {
     PlayerPrefs.SetInt("chapter1Score", chapter1Score);
 }
 
 function Update() {
     if(Input.Get$$anonymous$$eyDown($$anonymous$$eyCode.Space)) {
         chapter1Score++;
         if(chapter1Score > PlayerPrefs.GetInt("chapter1Score")) {
             Debug.Log("New High Score");
             PlayerPrefs.SetInt("chapter1Score", chapter1Score);
         }
     }
 }

It works fine. What error did you get when you use your second code fragment?

I'm not in front of it right now, but basically it referenced this line:

 if(chapter1Score > PlayerPrefs.GetInt("chapter1Score"))

saying that the > was incorrect.

I notoced you've added "chapter1Score++;". does that make a difference?

The chapter1Score++ seems to be only for testing reasons.
Could you perhaps explain, what exactly is the error and behaviour that you are getting?
After displaying the "Got new score", you should also save the new score, because it doesn't create a reference to the save location, ins$$anonymous$$d it creates a local copy.

Greetings Chillersanim

As @chillersanim says, the chapter1Score++ was just there for testing purposes. It increases the score so the 'if' fires. Your line of code is fine. Something else is going on. Post the script that is generating the error to the list and it is highly likely someone can spot the issue.

You probably aren't going to want to compare against PlayerPrefs every update frame. It'd be better to use a normal int which stores the playerPref at start. Compare against the normal int and then when your value is bigger at that point update the playerpref and set your int to the new playerpref value.

That's more just a performance tip though not going to solve your problem entirely. Your code looks like it should work fine likely something else.

$$anonymous$$aybe you just need to use Start() to retrieve your player score for the new scenes?

 void Start()
 {
 chapter1Score = PlayerPrefs.GetInt("chapter1Score", 0);
 }

That will give chapter1Score your PlayerPref value correctly every time ins$$anonymous$$d of being 0 every time you go to a new scene.

In this example chapter1Score will only be equal to 0 if you never set it or if you set it to 0.

$$anonymous$$aybe that's the problem? Hard to say.