Scott Pilgrim EX is a side-scrolling beat 'em up action-adventure game set in a fractured version of Toronto. Players battle through rival gangs of vegans, robots, and demons while rescuing bandmates and navigating portals across time and space. The core experience blends tight melee combat with light exploration across interconnected city screens, where players collect items, complete side objectives, and upgrade characters using badges that boost stats and grant special effects.
Gameplay
Combat centers on light and heavy attacks, grabs, blocks, and special moves that consume a resource called Gut Points. Each of the original seven playable characters brings distinct strengths, from Scott Pilgrim's straightforward punches and bass guitar swings to Ramona Flowers' hammer strikes and the more specialized kits of characters like Lucas Lee or Gideon Graves. Weapons scattered throughout levels add variety, allowing players to throw objects or wield temporary tools for crowd control and boss encounters.
The recent Back in the Band expansion adds three new fighters who expand the roster with fresh playstyles. Stephen Stills delivers aggressive rushdown pressure through guitar smashes and sonic feedback blasts. Kim Pine mixes drumstick strikes with stomping combos and high-speed punch barrages. Knives Chau emphasizes speed and evasion with acrobatic maneuvers, shadow clones, and scarf-based attacks. These additions pair with new assist characters such as Joseph, who deploys sonic projectiles, Hollie, who locks enemies in remote-controlled barrages, and Mr. Chau, who summons shadow clone support for multi-hit combos.
Exploration takes place on a semi-open map of Toronto neighborhoods connected by portals. Players move between combat zones, shops, and hidden areas while managing resources like cash earned from defeated enemies. Badge systems let fighters customize builds for different approaches, rewarding experimentation across multiple playthroughs including New Game+.
Game Modes
The main campaign follows an original story written by series creator Bryan Lee O'Malley. It mixes linear story progression with freedom to roam the city, tackle optional encounters, and discover secrets before facing bosses tied to the central conflict. Up to four players can join locally or online with drop-in and drop-out support, and cross-platform play keeps groups together regardless of platform.
The Coin-Op Chaos free update introduced Arcade Mode, a streamlined take on the full experience. This mode emphasizes score chasing with lives, credits, time limits, and local rankings. Players battle through key locations and bosses in sequence, either solo or cooperatively, focusing on mastery and high-score runs rather than open exploration.
Story and Setting
The narrative picks up after the events of the Scott Pilgrim Takes Off anime. Scott's bandmates from Sex Bob-omb are abducted during practice, forcing him and allies including Ramona Flowers to reclaim them amid a citywide gang war. Portals send fighters through alternate timelines and locations, introducing multiversal variants and new threats. The setting stays rooted in Toronto landmarks and the series' signature mix of humor, references, and escalating absurdity.
Is It Worth Playing?
Scott Pilgrim EX delivers satisfying, responsive combat and strong pixel art presentation that appeals to fans of classic arcade brawlers and the broader Scott Pilgrim series. The campaign runs roughly five hours on a first playthrough, with replay value coming from character variety, badge builds, and the new Arcade Mode for score-focused sessions. Co-op shines brightest, turning crowd control and boss fights into more manageable, chaotic fun for groups of up to four.
Reception has been positive overall, with players praising the music, animations, and faithful tone while noting the shorter length and occasional solo difficulty spikes. The Back in the Band content expands the roster meaningfully without altering the base loop. Those who enjoy retro-style beat 'em ups with modern co-op flexibility and light RPG elements will find it a solid choice on PC, especially when playing with others or chasing high scores in the updated mode. Solo players comfortable with adjustable difficulty settings can still enjoy the core brawling and exploration.
