When Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game returned in 2021, it felt like a nostalgic victory lap. Scott Pilgrim EX is something entirely different.
Developed by Tribute Games — the studio behind TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge — this is not a remake, not a remaster, and not a safe sequel. It’s a bold new entry that expands the side-scrolling brawler formula into a semi-open, quest-driven adventure set in a fractured, glitching Toronto.
With series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley directly involved and Anamanaguchi returning for a fresh soundtrack, Scott Pilgrim EX feels less like a revival and more like a reinvention.
And surprisingly, it mostly sticks the landing.
A Toronto Torn Apart
The premise wastes no time in leaning into the series’ surreal logic. Toronto, 20XX, has splintered into overlapping realities controlled by three rival factions: VEGANS, ROBOTS, and DEMONS. Scott’s bandmates have vanished. Time and space are fractured. And coins still explode from defeated enemies, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Unlike the original’s linear stage progression, EX presents an interconnected city. Districts loop into each other. Side quests branch off the main path. Optional challenges reward curious players with badges and stat boosts.
The city itself becomes a character — warped alleyways, neon-lit rooftops, glitching arcades — all rendered in lush 2D pixel art that elevates the comic-book aesthetic to new heights.
Combat: Controlled Chaos, Tribute-Style
Tribute Games knows how to make a brawler feel good. Combat in Scott Pilgrim EX is fast, punchy, and layered.
Each of the seven playable characters offers a distinct rhythm:
- Scott’s balanced combos feel classic and reliable
- Ramona’s teleport-heavy style favours mobility
- Matthew Patel brings flashy, fire-infused flair
- Robot-01 leans into heavy-hitting mechanical brutality
Combos feel fluid and expressive. Environmental weapons — trash cans, guitars, street signs — return, now integrated more dynamically into encounters.
Enemy waves are dense without becoming overwhelming. The screen often fills with chaos, yet attacks remain readable and responsive.
It’s what you’d expect from the team that revitalised the beat ’em up genre in recent years: polished, kinetic, satisfying.
The “Power Up!” System: Custom Builds in a Brawler
One of the most significant evolutions from the original game is the RPG-lite progression system.
Coins aren’t just for unlocking moves — they fuel customisation. Players can buy badges and items that modify stats, enhance specials, or tweak playstyles.
This introduces meaningful build diversity:
- Focus on raw strength for boss melting
- Invest in defence for survival-heavy co-op runs
- Boost special attack generation for high-risk aggression
While not as deep as a full RPG, the system adds replay value and strategic nuance without compromising the arcade pacing.
It’s a smart middle ground.
Boss Fights: Bigger, Weirder, Better
Scott Pilgrim has always centred on boss battles, and EX embraces that structure fully.
Each major encounter is multi-phase, visually theatrical, and mechanically distinct. Bosses teleport, summon minions, alter arenas, and introduce gimmicks that demand adaptation.
The emphasis on spectacle is clear. Tribute Games understands that these fights are the centrepiece, and they rarely disappoint.
There’s a slight spike in the learning curve in later encounters, especially solo, but the challenge feels deliberate rather than punishing.
Co-Op Chaos Done Right
Up to four players can join locally or online, with seamless drop-in/drop-out.
Multiplayer transforms the experience. Combos chain between players. Crowd control becomes coordinated chaos. Friendly overlap adds to the frantic energy without devolving into confusion.
Importantly, the game scales enemy density and durability intelligently, ensuring co-op feels balanced rather than trivialised.
It’s an ideal couch game — the kind that generates loud reactions and spontaneous laughter.
Paul Robertson’s Pixel Art: A Showcase
Visually, Scott Pilgrim EX is stunning.
Paul Robertson’s art direction returns with even more detail and polished animation. Characters burst with personality through exaggerated expressions and fluid movement. Backgrounds are layered and alive — subtle animations, lighting effects, and glitch distortions reinforce the fractured-world theme.
The pixel art doesn’t merely mimic retro aesthetics — it elevates them.
Every frame feels intentional.
Anamanaguchi: A Soundtrack with Punch
The soundtrack blends 8-bit textures with explosive rock energy — a signature Anamanaguchi sound that perfectly complements the gameplay.
Tracks evolve dynamically during combat spikes and boss phases, adding momentum to encounters. It’s energetic without becoming repetitive.
Combined with punchy sound effects and sharp voice snippets, the audio design reinforces the game’s chaotic rhythm.
Where It Stumbles
For all its strengths, Scott Pilgrim EX isn’t flawless.
The semi-open structure can disrupt the pacing. Backtracking for quests can feel slightly padded compared with traditional linear beat ’em-ups.
While build customisation is welcome, progression can feel grind-heavy in the early hours if you’re chasing specific upgrades.
Enemy variety, while solid, occasionally relies on palette swaps in later districts.
And though the story is charming and witty, it doesn’t always reach the emotional highs longtime fans might expect.
Still, these issues are minor compared with the overall polish.
A Confident Evolution
What makes Scott Pilgrim EX impressive isn’t nostalgia — it’s confidence.
Tribute Games didn’t merely recreate the 2010 formula. They expanded it. They modernised it without stripping away its identity. They allowed the franchise’s surreal humour and magical realism to breathe in a larger space.
The result feels like a natural evolution rather than a tribute act.
It stands on its own.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fluid, satisfying combat system
- Diverse playable roster
- Gorgeous pixel art presentation
- Strong co-op integration
- Engaging RPG-lite progression
- Fantastic soundtrack
Cons
- Occasional pacing hiccups
- Some backtracking fatigue
- Mild grind early on
- Enemy variety plateaus late-game
Final Verdict
Scott Pilgrim EX isn’t just a nostalgic callback — it’s a smart, stylish evolution of the side-scrolling brawler. Tribute Games understands both the mechanics and the spirit of the franchise, delivering a chaotic, vibrant adventure that feels modern without losing its retro soul.
It’s funny, frantic, and visually stunning. Most importantly, it’s fun — whether solo or with friends.
For longtime fans, it’s a worthy successor. For newcomers, it’s an accessible entry into one of gaming’s most charmingly surreal universes.
