You probably already know if this is a game for you. If you enjoyed Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game back in the day, you’ll absolutely love Scott Pilgrim EX, as it’s simply a new and improved version of that same idea.
When most of Scott’s band, Sex Bob-omb, goes missing — along with all their instruments — it’s down to him, Ramona, and an unlikely group of allies to save them. Things get very alternate dimension-y as you do battle against demons, robots, and vegans in this side-scrolling beat-‘em-up.
You can freely explore the game’s map, with certain areas locked off behind story progress. It means the adventure is sort-of non-linear, and you have a degree of freedom in how you build your chosen characters, with numerous shops selling passive upgrades and permanent buffs.
Because the game knows you’ll become quite strong quite quickly, the opening hour or two can feel strangely tough. Later encounters and boss battles can feel much easier once you’re levelled up and dealing out bigger damage.
Even with the slightly skewed difficulty, combat is a lot of fun. There’s a surprising amount of moves at your disposal, so much so we frequently forgot many of the more advanced techniques. Even so, the basic action is satisfying and dynamic.
There are lots of weapons and throwable items, assists you can call in, and special moves to employ when you’re in a pinch. Each character has their own move set as well, so there’s plenty to experiment with.
There’s not much of a story going on; this is a mostly self-referential piece created by and for fans of the Scott Pilgrim universe. If you’re into the wider fiction, this is more of the same vibe, though perhaps without the same narrative thrust.
It’s just good fun. You can argue against some of the back-tracking and some slightly fiddly platforming, but by and large this is a solid beat-‘em-up with a lot of personality.
