Rob reviews Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2…
When it comes to replicating the success that Nintendo has with Super Smash Bro’s, not many - if any - can say that they’re on the same level. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen Warner Bros attempt the same formula with MultiVersus. While the game was competent enough, its open beta was short lived and the game soon jumped back into the shadows of “further development”. Another title that also attempted to de-throne the “Bros” was GameMill and their title Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. Where the premise of combining the roster of Nicktoons within the Smash Bros format seemed a recipe for success, the game was hampered by janky controls, balance issues, and a less than enthusiastic audience.
However, out of the ashes GameMill are back with Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, which in comparison feels like the game that its predecessor should have been. It’s refined, enjoyable, and more importantly isn’t living in a larger Mario-sized shadow.
So come with me as I relive my Nickelodeon upbringing and save the world at the same time!
To get where we are today, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl had to sink. Where the game attempted to be original it was through a few small design errors, and budget constraints that meant the player base didn’t get the game they wanted. With the odd choice of assigning jump to a button, and not including the original ‘Toons’ voice actors (although this did come later), the games player base soon dwindled. With All-Star Brawl 2 this has completely changed. Not only does the game feature original content from casts many voice actors, it’s also a lot more polished too - and to top it off - its story mode actually features a story!
While the story isn’t groundbreaking it’s interesting nonetheless. The antagonist happens to be Vlad - of Danny Phantom fame - who’s roaming the Nicktoons multiverse, capturing various heroes, and turning them to his cause. Originally playing as SpongeBob, you’ll head into the multiverse to save a kidnapped Patrick, to then uncover the much wider conspiracy. What makes the story compelling is that it plays out in the same vein as a typical roguelike. You’ll take on various runs, fight bosses, collect power-ups, and fight bosses along the way. In between runs you’ll be back at the hub world which lets you switch characters, or unlock perks that’ll hopefully give you an advantage during the next run. There’s a heck of a lot to see and do here and I was pleasantly surprised by just how much. The choice to take on a roguelike role is a nice change from the genre’s norm, and as a roguelike fan I was in my element. The “try again” mechanic also fits the story well and is a major plot point too.
If you want the more traditional experience, arcade mode is the one for you. Here each fighter is available for selection and you’ll simply go through a selection of bouts to then tackle the boss at the end. These bosses are also fellow Nicktoons such as the Dutchman from SpongeBob, and TMNT’s Shredder. While you won’t be able to unlock additional fighters (there aren’t any), arcade does offer you plenty of concept art. So if you’re interested in seeing the behind the scenes then GameMill have got you covered.
For actual gameplay, All-Star Brawl 2 remains more-or-less the same. Naturally there are a few additions that refine the first game’s shortcomings, but overall it’s pretty much the same - including a dedicated jump button! There’s plenty of Nicktoons themed stages which all feature multiple tiers, and various out of the way platforms for you to battle on. For the keen eye, GameMill have packed in plenty of additional characters into these stages as easter eggs. The one biggest addition is that each character has their own ultimate move. Rather than having to collect an item you just need to fill a bar which will then allow you to activate the move. In true Nickelodeon fashion these are pretty outrageous and tie in well with the character. For example, playing as Donny or Raf will see the Turtles jump in the Party Wagon, while SpongeBob takes Mrs. Puff on an interesting driving experience. Its slap-stick at its finest and perfectly compliments the overall atmosphere to the title. For those wanting a more competitive experience, there’s plenty of move lists to master, blocks, dodges, and counters to perform. Rounding the content off is a more stable online experience, and a traditional suite of couch multiplayer modes.
Even with its limited character pool, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is an all-round improvement on its predecessor title. GameMill have listened to their past criticisms and improved their title in every way. With a vast amount of gameplay modes, hundreds of Easter eggs to discover, and a surprisingly decent story mode, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a great choice for any party fighter fan!
Rating: 8/10
A code was kindly provided for this review.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is available now and can be purchased on the PlayStation Store.
Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on X/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews, and BlueSky @geekculturereviews.bsky.social
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