Scott Pilgrim EX: Looks Like Our Favourite Slacker Finally Grew Up (and Learned to Fight Interdimensional Icebergs)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Looks like Scott Pilgrim EX is set to level up the beat 'em up genre, blending the Netflix show's character growth with open-ended quests and interdimensional vegan dinosaurs, making for a surprisingly fresh take on the punchy slacker's universe.
You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, accidentally ripping a portal to a dimension filled with infinitely adorable, yet mildly aggressive, hamsters? That's kinda what Netflix did with *Scott Pilgrim Takes Off* last year. It wasn't just another adaptation; it was this brilliant, sideways pirouette that actually made you think about Scott, the titular punchy slacker, and all his… *stuff*.
Suddenly, the guy who was, let's be fair, a bit of a knob in the original graphic novels, was forced to confront his own immaturity. And honestly, it felt like a collective reckoning for all of us lapsed fans who maybe, just maybe, hadn't quite processed those narrative quirks back in the day. It was a genuine moment of growth, not just for Scott, but for the whole *Pilgrimverse*.
Well, buckle up, mate, because that growing-up vibe is apparently bleeding into *Scott Pilgrim EX*, the upcoming sidescrolling action brawler from the wizards at Tribute Games. Now, I've been poring over the details from a recent Gamescom preview – big shout out to Rock Paper Shotgun for their insights – and bloody hell, this isn't just a rehash of the 2010 game. This looks like an evolution.
For those who didn't know, Tribute Games is packed with some of the clever clogs who worked on Ubisoft's *Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: The Game*. So, they know their way around a pixelated beat 'em up. But *EX* isn't a direct sequel to the anime, thankfully. Instead, it slots in 'not long afterwards', continuing this journey with a more likable Scott (imagine that!) who's teaming up with a mix of old friends and, get this, *former foes* to pummel demons and gym bros across the streets of Toronto.
My brain's been doing backflips since reading about the Gamescom demo. The original article's author got to play about thirty minutes as Roxie Richter – Ramona's half-ninja ex, who, let's be honest, always deserved more screen time. Apparently, her sword slashes flow into combos with a 'pleasant crispness', which sounds like pure magic in action. Enemies are more numerous, more aggressive, leading to a faster tempo and more chances for those ridiculously flashy combos that make you feel like a digital god.
But here's the kicker, the bit that really piqued my curiosity: *Scott Pilgrim EX* has apparently gained an appreciation for RPG-lite questing and a more open structure. Gone are the days of just endlessly scuttling from left to right, punching every dude in a different shade of blue. Now, your party can move *back and forth* between districts without getting shunted back to some clunky overworld map. That, my friends, is a quality-of-life spell I can get behind.
The demo itself sounds like something I'd conjure up after one too many late-night energy drinks. Our intrepid crew (Roxie, Scott, and Ramona) were tasked with blowing apart an interdimensional iceberg that was 'harshing everyone’s mellow' at the beach. Naturally, this led to a fetch quest involving fighting from the shoreline, through the streets, and into a burger restaurant that, for some reason, had a 'Giant Adam West Bomb dispenser' available for use. Fair dinkum, you can't make this stuff up! And after returning said bomb to the iceberg, a portal opened to an ancient tundra where they fought – and lost to, because, of course – a fop-haired vegan dinosaur.
Now, I know what you're thinking: 'Jeff, you said it was maturing, and now you're talking about vegan dinosaurs?' And you'd be right to be gently skeptical. It sounds like pure, unadulterated chaos. But the original article provides the context: this isn't just 'lol-random' for the sake of it. The dino is an alt-universe version of Todd Ingram, another familiar character, tying into the 'time shift shenanigans' that were such a core part of *Takes Off*.
More importantly, this roaming structure isn't just an excuse for bizarre encounters. It allows for *a lot* more scenery and enemy variety within individual missions. Plus, it makes room for clever little twists like wave sections or object-pushing puzzles that nestle *within* the action, rather than feeling like separate, tacked-on minigames that pull you out of the flow. That's smart design, that is.
While the game might not lean into the anime's introspective tone quite as much, it undeniably benefits from existing in this drastically less problematic era of the *Pilgrimverse*. No more creepy age-gap romances or the dreaded 'pixie dream girl' framing. And seeing Ramona, the true protagonist of *Takes Off*, take on a level-headed leader role in *EX*? Chef's kiss, mate. Her emotional heavy lifting in the show has, even on a purely mechanical level, justified bringing former enemies like Roxie into the playable roster. That means a far more interesting, specialized cast of fighters than the original game's array of 'mostly normal Canadians.' And, let's face it, having Scott be far less of a knob can't hurt either.
So, my digital crystal ball is showing bright things for *Scott Pilgrim EX*. It looks like Tribute Games is taking all the right lessons from the Netflix show's reinvention, adding depth, variety, and a good dose of charming chaos to the beat 'em up formula. I reckon this could be a real treat for anyone who loves a good brawler with a side of genuinely clever design. Here's hoping it sticks the landing!
Tags: Beat 'em up, Indie Games, Gaming Previews, Anime Adaptation, Scott Pilgrim
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun