Scott Pilgrim has long been a popular cult classic series, and it has only recently expanded into other media, like video games. Ubisoft previously worked on a side-scrolling beat ’em up set in the Scott Pilgrim universe, but it never received a follow-up or sequel. Tribute Games, who have worked on several gorgeous pixel-art style games, including Marvel Cosmic Invasion, TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, and Mercenary Kings, have taken on the task of releasing the next game in the franchise, and it is quite a ride.
The story of this new game is set in the future, where Metal Scott, a doppelganger of Scott Pilgrim with a Mega Man-style design, captures the entire band of Sex Bob-Omb and their instruments. Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, and some of the other gang members are left unharmed. Meanwhile, the city of Toronto is now ruled by different gangs, including Vegans, Robots, and Demons. In the absence of their friends, Scott and Ramona team up with former enemies turned allies like Gideon, Roxie, and Lucas to rescue the band. The journey takes them through time portals and alternate dimensions, featuring a wide variety of levels. The story is loosely inspired by the Netflix show but adds its own twists to the characters.
The core gameplay is quite simple. It is a beat ’em up with support for up to four players in local and online co-op. Combat is straightforward, with a light attack, a heavy attack, and combinations of both to perform different combos. The defensive mechanics focus on blocking, dodging, and throwing enemies around. Each character has their own toolkit with special moves and supers. There is a surprising amount of depth in the combat. It may seem simple at first, but it becomes quite fun if you spend some time learning how it works. Every playable character feels unique both in and out of combat. Some characters focus on melee attacks, while others are more effective at keeping enemies at a distance. Lucas is one of my favorites, acting as a brute and heavy hitter, while Scott works more as an all-rounder.
The game also offers some customization through costume changes and stat adjustments. The equipment system lets players add assists and boosts, while light role-playing mechanics allow you to improve different stats. Instead of gaining experience points, these upgrades come from buying items in shops scattered around the city. Exploration can also be rewarding, as enemies sometimes drop items, and certain levels include optional challenges that offer additional rewards.
The soundtrack of the game is once again composed by Anamanaguchi, who also worked on the original Scott Pilgrim game. It is just as fun as I remember, with a mix of rock and pop tracks. The music fits very well with the combat and helps make the experience more engaging. It is safe to say that the soundtrack is easily one of the highlights.
If we focus purely on the story, the game does not take very long to complete. I was able to finish the campaign in under five hours, but there are still reasons to replay it. The game offers different endings depending on the character you choose to play as, and both local and online co-op can be enjoyable, especially with friends. There is also a New Game Plus mode that lets you carry over all the cash and items you collected. Even with all this, the game still feels like it could use more gameplay modes, such as Arcade or Boss Rush.
Visually, it is one of the best-looking pixel art games I have played. The animations are smooth and clean, and the presentation looks great, with every background and character nicely animated and detailed. My main platform was the Switch 2, where the game runs well in both modes. It looks good whether you are playing docked or in handheld mode.
While Scott Pilgrim EX is a great beat ’em up brawler, the lack of gameplay modes does hurt its appeal. The open-world structure can also feel overwhelming if you are playing this type of game for the first time. At times, there is simply too much happening on the screen, which can make it hard to keep track of your character. The difficulty also feels a bit too easy, especially if the player starts investing in upgrades early on. The game also leans heavily on references for existing fans, which might make it less welcoming for newcomers.
If you enjoyed the first Scott Pilgrim game, this is an easy recommendation. It works as a bigger and improved follow-up with a great soundtrack, deeper gameplay and customization, and decent replay value. For those looking for some co-op fun, this is a solid pick, especially on Switch 2.
Scott Pilgrim EX Game Information
- Price: $28.99
- Publisher: Tribute Games
- Developer: Tribute Games
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
