As the Edgar Wright-directed film gained its own cult following, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Beat-Em-Up was able to build its own fanbase largely due to its strong aesthetic and its great soundtrack. Still, few expected there to be a follow-up all these years later. But thanks to Tribute Games, Scott Pilgrim EX It exists, and I'm so glad it does.
As a huge fan of the Ubisoft-developed first game, what Tribute Games has been able to do to continue and develop the legacy of its predecessor is impressive. It all starts with visuals, and Scott Pilgrim EX Nails that 16-bit style again, colorful sprites, a world alive with references and details, and incredibly engaging movement. The title oozes style in all the best ways.
Scotty earned the power of an open map
for the Scott Pilgrim EXThe approach has been tweaked to make the experience more interactive. Instead of different levels, players can explore the world by moving from screen to screen, finding new paths on their journey. With up to 4 friends, you're tasked with punching, kicking, headbutting, and beating everything in your path as you try to reunite Scott with his kidnapped bandmates. It's a pretty standard setup that mixes in a lot of pop culture references and familiar video game tropes. Just as Scott Pilgrim Comics was a send-up of everything from Final Fantasy to anime, Scott Pilgrim EX tries to pack in as many clever nods as possible.
As with the history of games TMNT: Shredder's Revenge and Marvel Cosmic AttackTribute Games knows both how to beat the killer and how to make each one different. Scott Pilgrim EX It doesn't stray too far from its predecessor's formula with a mix of basic, heavy, and weapon attacks, but it does splash out on the energy meter for some new charge attacks and special fuel. The game takes a more RPG approach by offering equip items in your loadout for stat bonuses, special buffs, food to buy/eat for health, and more. You can equip a “body character” to use as an ultimate, like young Neal calling in a screen-filling stampede of fans or the Katayanagi Twins sending out a healing aura.
Even in the game's playable character roster, there's plenty of variety in moveset and utility, but those extra options deepen the experience. I found a loadout that worked best, but the pull to switch my loadout was always present, and for the second playthrough I spent a lot of time mixing and matching, which was a lot of fun.
Padding is the cardinal sin of Scott Pilgrim EX
Although I enjoyed punching my way through the game's numerous baddies (from vegans to vampires) and boss characters, I found the game's construction to be odd. With this interconnected world, there's a lot of backtracking, and certain bits feel like padding. You'll go into an area to find a progress blocker, an NPC will tell you that you need an item, and you'll go back the way you came to get whatever you need to progress. This happens throughout the entire game and is easily my biggest gripe Scott Pilgrim EX.
I think the lack of different levels could work better, but each area is so uniquely styled and inventive that I wish there was more to them to see. And then you have to go back and forth through areas you've already explored to hit a button prompt and then go back, making the game longer but not more fun.
but Scott Pilgrim EX So airy that what might have been a major gripe seems trivial by comparison. It's short and sweet, and there's enough variety in the experience that you feel like Tribute is pushing itself to the limit when it comes to design. There are tons of new enemies to fight, unique locales to explore, and movesets so different between all the playable characters that you understand why they wanted to get as much mileage out of the development work as possible.
Scott Pilgrim deserves a soundtrack for the ages
Anyone who played the first game knows that the Anamanaguchi soundtrack is the stuff of legend. It's not just a perfect chiptune soundtrack; It is one of the best video game soundtracks of all time. The band's work is so strong that you can listen all day long without playing the game and appreciate every single song. I am happy to report on Anamanaguchi's work Scott Pilgrim EX It's like an epic. It's another home run filled with banger after banger, to the point where you're actually sad after you've completed an area and can't spend much time listening to the tune.
Switching to “open world” does bring some hiccups, however Scott Pilgrim EX Still has a great beat in the tradition of its predecessor. It's an assault on the senses in all the right ways, and Scott Pilgrim creator Brian Lee O'Malley is on board as writer (along with Scott Pilgrim takes off (co-creator BenDavid Grabinski) ensures this universe is handled with all the care and love fans have come to expect. At $30, some might call it short, but when you see how much variety is packed into the design, you understand that Tribute Games pushed themselves as hard as they could.
Once again, I'm thinking it's for Scott Pilgrim, but time and time again the brand finds a new way to revive and reinvent itself with respect for the source material and an explosion of creativity. Scott Pilgrim EX No difference.
- issued
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March 3, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy violence, language, mildly suggestive themes, fake gambling, use of alcohol
- developer(s)
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Tribute Games Inc.
- Publisher(s)
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Tribute Games Inc.
- Multiplayer
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Local co-op, online co-op
- Incredible soundtrack
- Infinite creative visual style
- Fight them solid beat
