Scott Pilgrim EX, the long-awaited sequel to Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: The Game, is probably the best new beat 'em up this year. It features gorgeous pixel art, catchy chiptunes, a diverse but manageable open world, and 4-player local and online co-op with cross-play. That's a lot to like! Well, now there's even more to like. Today, the game got a free update alongside the arrival of a DLC character pack.
Free Update
The new Arcade mode is free to all players. It features:
- A Tour Through Toronto’s Greatest Hits: Battle through the main locations, bosses and encounters from across Scott Pilgrim EX while fighting toward the ultimate showdown to save Toronto and the band.
- Chase High Scores: Rack up points, earn extra lives, beat the clock and climb the local rankings in a mode built around replayability, mastery and score chasing.
- Co-op Chaos: Take on Arcade Mode solo or with up to four players through local co-op, online multiplayer and full cross-platform support. Friends, family and exes can jump in or out at any time without interrupting the action.
Back in the Band DLC
Meanwhile, the paid "Back in the Band" DLC pack costs $3.99 and adds three new playable characters and three assist characters.
Three New Playable Characters
- Stephen Stills (pictured in suit above): An aggressive rushdown frontman who keeps the pressure on with six string-fueled attacks. Whether he is smashing enemies with his guitar or blasting them away with ear-popping feedback, Stephen stays in opponents’ faces and orchestrates devastating beatdowns.
- Kim Pine: A hard-hitting mix-up fighter who combines brutal drumstick strikes, stomping breakdowns and goth-cutie attitude. Kim lays down devastating rhythms with explosive drum solos and trades BPM for PPM: Punches Per Minute.
- Knives Chau: A lightning-fast hit-and-run rogue specialist who overwhelms enemies with acrobatic attacks, shadow clone techniques and her emblematic battle scarf. Agile and elusive, Knives weaves through the battlefield while delivering precise punishment.
New Assist Characters
- Joseph: The legendary producer behind the band cranks the volume to 11, dropping a towering wall of sound that sends sonic projectiles crashing through the battlefield.
- Hollie: No-Account Video’s finest employee is done collecting late fees. Armed with her trusty remote, Hollie traps enemies in a relentless barrage of hits, giving players plenty of time to rewind the pain.
- Mr. Chau: Knives’ fiercely protective father joins the fight. Channel his unwavering determination to summon shadow clone support, turning every attack into a devastating multi-hit assault.
In our co-op review, I called Scott Pilgrim EX's combat "surprisingly deep" and identified co-op as one of the game's "finest qualities." That said, we recently played some online co-op and experienced a few drops, an issue that has persisted since launch. I can't say whether or not today's update improves online stability, but it sure would be nice. At any rate, I'm super excited to play as Knives Chau and hop into that Arcade Mode!
Scott Pilgrim EX costs $28.99 on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Switch 2, and Steam. To celebrate the new update and DLC, the game is on sale for $23.19 (20 percent off) through September 9. Don't waste a minute; pick it up on sale and get brawling!