Scott Pilgrim EX Review: Pixel-Punching Perfection with a Side of Fetch Quest Fatigue

Released on March 3, 2026, across PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S/One, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2—with day-one Steam and digital launches—Scott Pilgrim EX from Tribute Games Inc. is the beat ’em up sequel fans of the cult 2010 Ubisoft title have craved for over 15 years. After clocking roughly 20 hours across solo runs, full co-op sessions with friends, and NG+ grinds on Switch 2 handheld and PS5 docked, this is Tribute’s triumphant return to form. Building on their expertise from TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, it delivers crunchy combat, pixel-art Toronto nostalgia, and Anamanaguchi’s chiptune-rock bangers in a package that’s short but sweeter than a vegan milkshake. OpenCritic’s 80 average (Strong, 76% recommend from 45 critics) and Metacritic’s 79 (PC) underscore its appeal, though some ding its brevity. For $29.99, it’s a pixel-perfect punch-up that revives the genre without retro fatigue.

The story, penned by series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, drops you into Toronto, 20XX—a fractured metropolis overrun by three rival gangs: the hulking VEGANS, glitchy ROBOTS, and hellish DEMONS. Scott Pilgrim’s band, Sex Bob-omb, gets “bandnapped” mid-rehearsal by shadowy forces led by the metallic “Metal Scott.” Cue a chaotic quest to rescue bandmates, reclaim instruments, and unravel time-warping conspiracies via portals to Ice Age tundras, neon demon realms, and vegan high schools. Former Evil Exes like Matthew Patel (summoning demon hippo chicks), Gideon Graves (sword-wielding controller), Roxie Richter (ninja flips), and newcomer Robot-01 join as playable allies, flipping foes into friends with self-aware humor. Side quests—like helping Young Neil fix his Game Goose or Kim Pine track her kidnapped drum kit—drip with comic Easter eggs, from subspace highways to League references. It’s no deep narrative epic, but the witty dialogue (“Vegans? In MY Toronto?”) and themes of time’s passage (aging heroes vs. youthful chaos) hit nostalgic notes, evolving the series from fresh indie to retro revival.

Gameplay is a refined evolution of the side-scrolling brawler formula, blending River City Ransom-style open-world freedom with Streets of Rage-esque combo frenzy. You control one of seven characters (unlocked progressively), each with unique movesets: Scott’s balanced punches and sword summons, Ramona’s hammer throws and subspace dashes, Matthew’s puppet minions. Core loop: light/heavy attacks chain into 20+ hit combos, grab/throw foes, pickup environmental weapons (lampposts, turnips, robot arms), and unleash meter-building supers like Patel’s demon chick swarm or Gideon’s laser barrage. Quick-step dodges, parries, and “super avoids” add defensive depth, while assists (e.g., Young Neil’s zombie stampede or Sex Bob-omb heals) equip for synergy.

The hub is an interconnected Toronto overworld—no linear levels, just free roam from parks to arcades, fighting random encounters and tackling quests. Portals whisk you to themed arenas (vegan farms, robot factories) for boss rushes against gang lieutenants. RPG progression shines: coins from enemies fuel shops for stat-boosting badges (e.g., +speed, GP gain), gear like sushi buffs, and build experimentation. Grind minor foes for levels, but smart play (crowd control, weakpoint exploits) speeds it. Puzzles? Light—push boxes, flip switches—but combat-focused, like dodging vegan spore clouds or hacking robot weakpoints. Bosses are highlights: multi-phase Vegan behemoths require swaps, demon trains chug with pattern interrupts. Main story clocks 4-6 hours; 100% (secrets, endings) hits 7-10, with NG+ carrying upgrades for replay.

Exploration rewards curiosity: hidden shops, NPC chats unlock lore, collectibles like sheet music upgrade the jukebox. Backtracking exists (revisit for post-story quests), but fast travel via band van and checkpoints mitigate frustration. Difficulty scales smoothly—casual mode for story, hard for purists—with accessibility like auto-combos and remappable controls.

Presentation is flawless. Pixel art pops with fluid animations: hair flips, impact frames, destructible environments. Toronto feels alive—neon signs flicker, crowds cheer fights, time portals warp parallax backgrounds. Anamanaguchi’s soundtrack fuses 8-bit chiptunes with rock riffs; “We Are Sex Bob-Omb” remixes pump battles, ambient tracks evoke comic vibes. SFX crunch satisfyingly—thwacks, zaps, demon roars—minimal VO (grunts, quips) keeps it authentic.

Performance? Stellar. Switch 2 handheld locks 1080p/60fps (docked 4K/60), zero dips even in 4-player chaos. PS5 hits 4K/120 with haptics for punches; PC (GTX 1060 min) scales buttery. Launch patches fixed early co-op desyncs, but crossplay absent (platform-locked). Steam Deck Verified.

Co-op steals the show: 4-player local/online drop-in/out, shared coins (drop on death), voice chat optional. Friends pile in mid-fight; imbalance fun (overleveled carry noobs). Solo scales well via AI swaps.

Comparisons abound. Vs. 2010 original: faster, deeper (RPG vs. arcade), open-world vs. levels, more characters (7 vs. 12 but varied). Like Shredder’s Revenge (Tribute’s prior), but open-ended; Streets of Rage 4 has tighter levels, but less charm. TMNT: Shredder’s spiritual kin, yet Scott’s humor/IP edges it. Brief? Yes, but $30 justifies multiple runs.

Pros:

• Addictive, varied combat with character swaps and builds.
• Stunning pixel art, animations, and lived-in Toronto.
• Anamanaguchi OST that’s replay-worthy.
• Seamless 4p co-op mayhem.
• Replay via NG+, secrets, endings.

Cons:

• Short campaign; backtracking pads lightly.
• Lacks genre innovation (safe formula).
• Launch co-op glitches (patched).
• Story charming but shallow.

Final Score: 9/10 Scott Pilgrim EX isn’t reinventing brawlers—it’s perfecting them with heart, hooks, and hilarity. Beat ’em up fans, grab controllers. Newcomers, dive in—Toronto awaits.