Hidden in a corner of the Tokyo Game Show 2025, but captivating a good number of players, was the game Scott Pilgrim EX. Using an Xbox controller, as a tribute to the good old days, the game from Tribute Games Inc. was presented to the Japanese in all its pixel glory.
Scott Pilgrim had a highly successful video game that no one forgets: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. But, although its final version was released, the truth is that the saga hasn’t lasted. And the truth is, it could have been even more. That’s why the Tribute Games team is back with a title that brings back part of the original development team.
Starting the game
The opening of Scott Pilgrim EX features a brief scene in a laboratory where we fight relentlessly against robots. This introduction serves to familiarize ourselves with the controls and also includes a tutorial, which, due to time constraints at the Tokyo Game Show, we opted to skip. However, the game is very intuitive and doesn’t really present much difficulty for starting out with all kinds of techniques.
Both influenced by the previous game in the series and based on the rules of the most common beat ’em ups, we can attack in different ways, jump and attack, or attack while running. In that sense, there are no surprises. After this initial moment to break the ice and learn about the story, in which there is a robot version of Scott that will give us more than one headache, we move on to the “real” game.
River City Ransom Influences
The name River City Ransom may sound familiar to you. Or maybe you know it as Street Gangs or Kunio-kun. In reality, it’s the same game, but with a different name depending on the market. River City Ransom entertained us for hours on the NES with a game that defined a generation. The reason for this is that it not only had the punches and kicks of an arcade beat ’em up, but also provided gameplay depth and a sense of freedom that was unusual for its time.
For this reason, it’s no surprise that Scott Pilgrim EX is inspired by River City Ransom. And this is something we see in many moments, such as collecting items or accessing the multitude of shops and businesses scattered throughout the environments.
And it’s true that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game already had shops and shopping, but the way it’s presented this time is completely similar to River City Ransom. Furthermore, the path system of the Technōs classic is also replicated throughout the game, giving us the freedom to go to different places without being forced into a single route. Although the game tells us where to go and gives us clues, the feeling of freedom is heightened and satisfying.
Maximum interaction with the environment
Something we also liked is the high level of interaction with the game’s environment. We can grab items and throw or kick them, depending on what we feel like at any given moment. In one of the game’s scenes, we go to the beach, and, as expected, it’s filled with beach balls and volleyballs. To unleash your fury, you can hit the balls, and there’s even an animation for serving volleyballs.
We also find other elements, such as a multitude of shells that evoke the days of Super Mario Bros. In reality, the designs are very inspiring and classic, with a multitude of details that convey a special charm with a retro flavor.
There will be seven playable characters
Scott Pilgrim EX will be released at an undetermined time in 2026 and will have seven characters. In our case, we played as both Ramona and Roxie Richter, since her sword always helps make the experience more spectacular. In addition to these two and Scott, there will be other characters joining the battle.
Before closing, it’s worth mentioning that the game serves as an unofficial sequel to the animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, which is a good thing to keep in mind. Since the game is still in development, we’ll be waiting to see how it develops. So far, it looks pretty good.
