Scott Pilgrim EX

It’s easy to get retro fatigue when every month brings another wave of throwbacks. Scott Pilgrim EX, however, is a reminder of why this genre became so popular in the first place. The spirit and execution come together in a way that feels fresh rather than forced. There’s real pick-up-and-play value here, whether you’re going solo or just messing around with friends. You don’t even need to be a fan of Scott Pilgrim to enjoy it. After all, getting a bunch of friends together to battle the forces of evil with martial arts and giant turnips is about as universal as it gets.

Scott Pilgrim EX embraces an experience that feels familiar while simultaneously striving to justify itself as a sequel with its own identity. Its blend of beat em up mechanics with metroidvania elements, a diverse cast of playable characters, and multiplayer features inject freshness, although its disjointed narrative diminishes overall impact. Even so, the franchise's unmistakable charm, its constant references, and Anamanaguchi's soundtrack make it a solid offering for fans seeking more of Scott Pilgrim.

Scott Pilgrim EX is a pretty solid beat 'em up with a Bryan Lee O'Malley touch. Tribute Games has done it again with a fun and deep combat system that allows you to combine skill with the strategy of building stat-boosting characters. Even with some repetitive sections and a light story, the game will easily charm fans of the franchise.

Tribute Games has lived up to its name, creating a true tribute to the Scott Pilgrim universe. Scott Pilgrim EX isn't lazily inspired by the past, but rather builds upon the comics, film, animated series, and the old videogame to create something new and distinctly unique. A beautiful, arcade-inspired beat-'em-up that will delight genre purists and it also boasts a modern approach that, especially on the first run, adds a touch of spice to the adventure, set in a Toronto full of secrets to uncover and gems to discover. Scott Pilgrim EX is a gift that keeps on giving for Scott Pilgrim fans, a must-have, and a game not to be underestimated by anyone else.

Scott Pilgrim EX is a remarkable sequel because it respects its predecessor and the franchise as a whole while seamlessly adding numerous elements that makes it a clear step forward. Although it removes some elements from the original that worked well, can become quite repetitive, and we feel it could have done more to encourage replayability, it delivers a well-rounded experience for both solo players and those who enjoy multiplayer.

Scott Pilgrim EX brings a change in structure compared to more conventional sidescrolling beat'em ups which sets it apart in ways that are welcome but can also feel unusual at first. Nonetheless the Scott Pilgrim DNA remains unchanged, with frantic and creative combat, a gorgeous pixel art visual style and the series' own irreverent humour. Fun when played solo, and an absolute frenzy on multiplayer, Scott Pilgrim EX embodies the comics' spirit down to the last detail.

Scott Pilgrim EX follows the beat ’em up genre without pushing its boundaries, and honestly, it doesn’t need to. Instead, it focuses on delivering exactly what fans want: fast-paced brawling, memorable characters, stylish pixel art, and a soundtrack that keeps the energy high from start to finish. There are a few rough edges, though, since some stages feel slightly longer than they need to be (especially with the quest directions being a bit ambiguous sometimes), and multiplayer combat can occasionally become visually overwhelming. But those issues rarely get in the way of the game’s core strengths. At its best, Scott Pilgrim EX captures the feeling of sitting on a couch with friends, controllers in hand, laughing at the ridiculous chaos unfolding on screen. And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of game you need.

Scott Pilgrim EX offers plenty of lighthearted fun, fast-paced fighting, character variety, and replay value. Any negatives are very minimal, and usually revolve around varying personal preferences. This is a worthy addition to your adventure/brawler library.

Clocking in at around six hours or so for the critical path, Scott Pilgrim EX is an absolute blast from start to finish. Grab three friends, prepare some snacks, and bask in the joy of knowing that every Vegan, Robot, and Demon you annihilate is in service of the band.

Tribute has become skilled at creating visually nostalgic beat ‘em ups, and its return to the Scott Pilgrim franchise is no exception. It is, however, light on surprises or mechanical innovation.

Unfortunately, Scott Pilgrim EX is too simplistic. While Tribute Games clearly aimed to create an experience worthy of the Super Nintendo, their approach to the world falls short, and a more traditional structure with linear levels would have worked better. It's not the studio's worst work, but with so many outstanding games, one had to be at the bottom of the list, and it's rather sad that this is the case for Scott and Ramona's latest adventure.

The whole Scott Pilgrim EX package feels hard-anchored to the first game—pure arcade DNA and the series’ trademark shine—but it’s been too many years for a loop that’s barely evolved to wow anyone. The combat system is functional and solid, but for such a storied IP, the overall experience feels a bit undercooked. Honestly, the best way to really get into the groove is to crank the difficulty to max; only then does the run start to feel genuinely engaging.