It’s 20XX, and unrepentant slacker Scott Pilgrim and his friends are reveling in the throes of young adulthood. For many, the were a major cultural touchpoint—a story about emotional immaturity, personal growth, and ultimately defeating youthful arrogance.
Having cemented itself as a cult classic through an , a 2010 tie-in game, and a highly acclaimed , the franchise is back in the form of a raucous action-adventure : Scott Pilgrim EX. While it is a massive treat for nostalgia fans and completists, it begs the question: is this rehashing of a classic starting to feel a bit stuck in the past?
A Nostalgic Homecoming
This game is a homecoming of sorts for Montreal-based developer , formed by ex-Ubisoft employees who actually worked on the original 2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game. Having firmly established themselves as retro-brawler revivalists with hits like and Marvel Cosmic Invasion, the team has stepped up for another crack at this essential coming-of-age tale.
Vibe-wise, Tribute Games has certainly succeeded. Scott Pilgrim EX is fiercely nostalgic about nostalgia, serving up endless pastiches of pop culture. Does it feel cool to recognize background nods to or the Raccoon Police Department? Absolutely—but the core beat ’em up gameplay ensures it is still incredibly fun even if those references fly over your head.
The Roster and Gameplay: Bashing Vegans and Robots
The game is a romp through , kicking off when Scott’s Sex Bob-Omb bandmates are abducted before their next gig. Scott, Ramona, and several of her no-longer-evil exes are tasked with recovering the band in time for the show. Meanwhile, the city has been overrun by reality-bending portals, meaning you’ll be fighting demons, robots, and vegans across gothic castles, beaches, and a medieval burger shop.
The game features seven playable characters, offering a comfortable range of fighting styles:
- Scott Pilgrim: Throws heavy punches and knows his way around the bad end of a bass guitar.
- Ramona Flowers: Uses her signature subspace hammer to cartoonishly bash villains on the head.
- Lucas Lee (New): The former evil ex joins the roster, pushing the limits of pixel art animation with his skateboarding martial arts.
Everyone feels fun and frenetic. Tribute Games knows what brawler fans want: to hit street thugs with metal pipes, eat roast chicken off the ground to regain health, and get accosted by enemies hiding in trash cans.
A Killer Soundtrack by Anamanaguchi
The most exciting thing to come from Scott Pilgrim EX might just be the new soundtrack. Sonically critical to the universe, the New York City rock band returns with a very hands-on approach to the game’s music.
Aside from the legendary hits the band is known for, players are treated to unexpected new sounds. The Casa Vania level, for example, features a heavy industrial beat that sounds delightfully like 1990s . The band has clearly matured as artists over the past 16 years, and the game’s stellar sound design heavily benefits from it.
The Verdict: Playing It Too Safe?
While the music and gameplay have evolved, the narrative of Scott Pilgrim EX plays it way too safe. Though written by series creator , the game lacks the emotional “edge” that secured the franchise its original cult following.
Our cast has, for the most part, already worked out their differences. There’s no David v. Goliath arc here, and no primary antagonist that forces Scott and his pals to grow amid the messiness of bad relationships. The story is a silly, shallow adventure that feels more like an add-on or a side quest than a fully fledged emotional journey.
To the millennials who grew up with the comics, the movie, and the original game, Scott Pilgrim EX is a comfortable, highly entertaining tread through a beloved property. But with the Scott Pilgrim universe now almost as old as Scott himself, you can’t help but wonder if it might finally be time to grow up.
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