Scott Pilgrim’s online game legacy will get it collectively.
Scott Pilgrim as a personality and a franchise feels at one with the nostalgic idea of Nintendo. The film, approach again in 2010, was even the primary movie to formally function music from The Legend of Zelda collection. The sport that got here out in help of that film was principally a gorgeously pixel-animated fan recreation riff on River Metropolis Ransom with Scott Pilgrim characters. It was a novelty, full with a rocking soundtrack from chiptune aficionados Anamanaguchi. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Sport (obtainable on Change if you happen to’re curious) is completely nice, however even when it got here out, it was largely only a first rate brawler with plenty of model. Tribute Video games busted out some kind of warp whistle although so they might give a Scott Pilgrim online game the tender loving care it deserved. The top end result, Scott Pilgrim EX, is an unimaginable beat-’em-up that performs finest with a crowd, however the vibes, model, and selection assist make it a standout of the style.
The setup is borderline perfunctory, however it stands as its personal particular quirky entry within the Scott Pilgrim canon. Technically talking, it’s set after the anime that got here out in 2023, however so long as you’re conversant in the general idea of Scott Pilgrim, you’re nice right here. Nefarious villains disrupt band follow and kidnap all the members of Intercourse Bob-omb (besides Scott) and their devices. From there, Scott, Ramona, and a different and deep bench of 5 different playable characters journey round cartoon Toronto to search out the devices and band members whereas a bounty of online game and comedian e-book references dart throughout the display to the resplendent rhythm of a killer Anamanaguchi chiptune soundtrack.
Scott Pilgrim EX is kind of stage primarily based, however it’s extra pushed by quests that have you ever criss-crossing all around the map. The degrees are normally present in pockets of subspace in buildings that usually finish with a boss struggle and a reward of a brand new instrument or band member. An array of challenges additionally dot the panorama, rewarding you with rarer objects if you happen to full sure duties in a time restrict. Everything of the sport isn’t all that lengthy, touchdown within the 5 to 10-hour vary relying on how a lot of a completionist you’re.
For essentially the most half, I performed via it by my lonesome and had a blast, bouncing round all the seven completely different playable characters and guffawing in any respect the online game references. I even was capable of decide up on some deep reduce Scott Pilgrim gags (it’s been some time since I’ve seen the film or present and even longer since I learn the books). The characters essentially management the identical with gentle and powerful assaults, throws, and particular strikes. All of them really feel completely different to manage and have completely different distinctive particular strikes that grant them their very own depth. Scott is somewhat well-rounded whereas all the opposite characters veer off in numerous instructions. Ramona focuses on conserving distance between her and enemies, Roxie busts out all types of ninja weaponry, and Lucas Lee is extra centered on grappling. Mixing all of the completely different characters when diving into the multiplayer for as much as 4 gamers is the place the sport actually takes off. It’s straightforward to usher in sofa co-op pals and you’ll even prolong that out to GameShare and on-line crossplay.
The brawler gameplay is extremely enjoyable however what places Scott Pilgrim EX excessive is animation and music. The pixel artwork is gorgeous and it’s enjoyable to only see the sunshine bounce and motion any given display has. The world is attractive and vibrant. After which there’s the Anamanaguchi soundtrack. The unique recreation had an important soundtrack from these chiptune legends however the brand new one seems like a step ahead. It’s full of earworms and pleasure. And I’ll additionally use this area to plug Anamanaguchi’s superior album Anyway from final yr (it rips!).
Scott Pilgrim EX feels much less like a film tie-in recreation and extra like a completely thought-out and distinctive beat-’em-up. It’s a blast to play, whether or not you’re enjoying it solo, native co-op, or on-line. It may not be full of replay worth after you get via the marketing campaign, however the items that make up the moment-to-moment gameplay can result in plenty of various kinds of mayhem and problem. That is an astonishingly fashionable online game that sounds unimaginable, seems to be stunning, and performs splendidly. It’s price combating your approach via evil exes to play.
