Scott Pilgrim EX has landed, delivering a surprise spiritual successor that hits the mark and expands on the foundation laid out by Ubisoft’s take on the beloved Canadian hit from 2010.
Despite its immense popularity, if you had told me we would be getting another beat-em-up set in the world of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s breakout hit, I would not have believed you. Yet, more than a decade later, and after a successful animated run on Netflix, Scott Pilgrim EX heralds the return of the humble beat-em-up. Featuring a brand-new story, a slew of new playable characters and an open-ended, bite-sized depiction of Toronto, there is a lot to dive into when it comes to Scott Pilgrim EX.
The titular EX in Scott Pilgrim’s latest video game outing is not only a nod to the over-the-top suffix often used in sequels, but also one that signals a shake-up in alliances. For the first time, Scott Pilgrim’s exes are playable. Scott Pilgrim EX features seven playable characters, including several of his once-evil exes, adding a fun, quirky twist to the formula.
“Scott Pilgrim EX is a love letter to video games and pop culture.”
In fact, one of the most refreshing aspects of Scott Pilgrim EX is having a brand-new story to follow. As much as I love Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, after a movie and an animated series that largely retread the same material from the graphic novels, I was left hungry for something new. Scott Pilgrim EX sees Toronto under siege by time-travelling vegans and other miscreants causing chaos across Canada, leaving Sex Bob-Omb in ruin after the band’s instruments are stolen by the Sonic the Hedgehog-inspired Metal Scott.
Some of the new playable characters include Roxie Richter, Lucas Lee, Matthew Patel and even Robot-01. Each playable character in Scott Pilgrim EX features a standard and heavy attack, a unique assist move and a power-up super attack, triggered by pressing two face buttons on your platform of choice. Holding the D-pad or stick while pressing the heavy or light attack unlocks signature moves that add a bit of fighting-game-inspired depth to the experience. Assist moves in Scott Pilgrim EX are also much better realized. With more than 10 to unlock, players can look forward to deep cuts and team-ups that feel true to the source material.
With time travel as the central crux of the story, enemy variety in Scott Pilgrim EX is much more fleshed out, going far beyond the typical Toronto hoodlum or Evil Ex lackey. The pixel-perfect TTC, Toronto Transit Commission, inspired map is a very nice touch for the overworld, one that not only feels mostly true to life but equally appropriate for a series that relishes video game references and Easter eggs.
“The six-to-eight-hour experience with Scott Pilgrim EX left me feeling satisfied without overstaying its welcome.”
Scott Pilgrim EX is a love letter to video games and pop culture, featuring gorgeous, chunky pixel art that pays homage to both the graphic novels and gaming as a whole. On the topic of visuals, I do dearly miss the aesthetic of the 2010 game, as I am a big fan of Paul Robertson’s sprite work. Still, Tribute Games should be commended for adapting the look of the 2010 release while bringing something new to the table that captures the essence of the graphic novels.
Another big change-up in Scott Pilgrim EX is its shift from a linear experience to an open-ended map. Tasked with retrieving the band’s missing instruments, Scott Pilgrim EX’s world is broken into distinct parts of the city, often featuring portals to other dimensions in time, which add a bit of Metroidvania spice to the otherwise bog-standard side-scrolling action.
In terms of feel, Scott Pilgrim EX does a good job of building on the 2010 title while expanding the formula with more moves and better assists. If I had to nitpick, I found some of the jumping mechanics overly stiff, likely because the game tries a bit too hard to mimic its predecessor. Thankfully, it rarely demands precise platforming.
One slightly disappointing but understandable change is that many of the iconic Toronto landmarks have had their names altered, although they are still easily recognizable to locals. I do miss the true-to-life naming conventions found in the previous game. Nevertheless, it was fun to explore certain in-game locations, such as the Distillery District and the downtown core, as I live within walking distance of both. That made for a fun and somewhat surreal experience while streaming the game to my phone.
With a slew of equippable gear, levels to grind and characters to unlock, the six-to-eight-hour experience with Scott Pilgrim EX left me feeling satisfied without overstaying its welcome through unnecessary grinding or padding. In closing, if you are a fan of the franchise or even just the 2010 game, Scott Pilgrim EX is a must-play.
