Although it is not the unique Ubisoft builders that created Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Sport behind the upcoming quasi-sequel, Scott Pilgrim EX, Common picked arguably the right staff to make this recreation in Tribute Video games. Behind nice beat ’em ups like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and onerous at work on Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Tribute Video games looks like an ideal match for Scott Pilgrim’s subsequent beat ’em up journey if my 30-minute hands-on demo throughout Gamescom 2025 is any indication.
For those who’ve performed Shredder’s Revenge, Scott Pilgrim EX will really feel acquainted. Past it being the identical developer, Scott Pilgrim EX is being developed in the identical engine as Tribute Video games’ earlier TMNT recreation. Truthfully, “acquainted” is a phrase I assumed lots about whereas taking part in this demo (complimentary). It performs familiarly due to the engine; it sounds acquainted as a result of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Sport composer Anamanaguchi is again within the composer chair for Scott Pilgrim EX. Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley is working with Tribute Video games on the sport’s narrative; and naturally, a number of the characters you understand and love (and hate) are again.
With 15 years in between Scott Pilgrim vs The World and Scott Pilgrim EX, it was good leaping into the latter and realizing nearly instantly that Tribute Video games did a wonderful job at emulating the arcade enjoyable of the previous. However for all of the familiarity of Scott Pilgrim EX, what I am most impressed with is the methods Tribute Video games is trying to evolve the beat ’em up system it has been working in for thus lengthy, with good inspiration from the River Metropolis Ransom collection.
Earlier than hopping right into a stage, myself and the opposite members of the press I used to be taking part in with on this 4-player sofa co-op session chosen our characters. I selected Ramona Flowers, the magic-user, and my colleagues chosen Scott, the all-rounder character, Roxie Richter, the “tiny terror” and ninja with smoke bombs and extra, and at last, League of Evil exes brawler Lucas Lee. We then chosen our stage from the sprawling map of Toronto, Canada, and jumped proper into the motion. The fight feels nice, with combos galore baked into every character, and unlockables, equipment, and extra to gather as you progress.
We’re guided towards our important goal, with phrase from Tribute that aspect targets or aspect quests exist to select up, too – we later full one which tasked us with defeating a set variety of enemies in a selected time period. This takes us proper throughout the display screen to a different space of city, however going from left to proper isn’t the title of this beat ’em up recreation. As a substitute, we traversed all throughout the map, beating up enemies alongside the way in which and stopping at outlets to heal up and buy new gadgets to equip, left and proper, up and down. Scott Pilgrim EX isn’t a linear journey, and seeing a recreation on this style going huge is an thrilling change.
Thirty minutes wasn’t sufficient to see simply how huge Scott Pilgrim EX goes, however what I’ve already seen has me excited on the prospects. I really like the beat ’em up style, however they really feel centered round arcade enjoyable solely, usually shallow in depth consequently. Scott Pilgrim EX appears eager to alter that, offering the arcade enjoyable you understand and love of Scott Pilgrim and including distinctive touches of depth that I believe may preserve me taking part in lengthy after I end the golden path with open map traversal, RPG elements, and extra.
These 4 characters have been nice enjoyable, if the keenness my colleagues and I shared means something, and with seven deliberate for the ultimate recreation, I look ahead to who else Tribute Video games has added to this journey. However for now, I wait.
Scott Pilgrim EX launches on PC and consoles in early 2026.
