In the year 2021, we were all locked indoors looking for a new game to play to occupy all this free time we had. One game that made a bit of noise in the community is Nickelodeon’s All Star Brawl. It was a party brawler that drew inspiration from Super Smash Bros. The difference is that this game starred beloved characters from Nickelodeon’s rich history of shows that ranged from the early days to modern times. Sadly, that game received a poor review. Many gamers claimed this gameplay had a decent foundation, but it lacked content and general quality of life things such as voice acting. This turned Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl into the joke of the week for the internet. The developer team behind this game had two options. They could tuck their heads between their tails and just run and give up, or they could take the feedback from the community and make the proper adjustments. They chose the ladder. Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 is an example of what happens when you use your failures to fuel your growth.
Here’s what you need to know before you install Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2
Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 is available on PC, PS5, PS4, all the Xboxes, and Nintendo Switch with cross-play. It features 25 characters at launch; 14 are old and 11 are new. The cast spans across several generations, with names such as SpongeBob, Azula, and Garfield Headline in the game. If you are wondering what’s the difference between Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 and the Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl game, that’s a fair question considering it’s been two years since we saw Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 1. The first major change is the new influx of content. Unlike the first game, Nick All Stars Brawl 2 features a single-player campaign with a full-blown story and voice acting.
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The campaign is roguelike and rewards players with unlocking new characters. To unlock some of the characters, you have to play the game instead of just pulling out your wallet and buying them. A concept that is sadly rare in this day and age, seeing as it is roguelike.
Note: If you lose, your progress doesn’t carry over, and you have to restart the campaign.
It exists more to ease you into the game’s new mechanics. The campaign also features mini games, a new arcade mode, boss rush, and more. If you do not like playing online, you’ll also enjoy this game as a single player. As for the gameplay, this is without a doubt a Smash clone. It’s not floaty like the Multi Versus game, but it’s not exactly Smash Bros. Either way, with a slight difference in the flow of combat, especially with the dodge rolls and the edge guarding, You can get destroyed on a level’s edge if you don’t play smart due to the hitboxes being more generous than Smash.
I played most of the roster, and what I love about this game is that most of the characters feel unique. In fact, this game does a great job of paying homage to each of his characters’. A lot of characters’ moves and quips are something you would have seen or heard in one of their shows. April O’Neil from Ninja Turtle has the ability to summon a camera that she can kick forward, and if an enemy stands close to the camera, it drains their health. She has some really cool setups for combos combining agility and projectiles. There are some characters that draw inspiration from others, such as Reptar, Bowser, and Azula. That plays a little bit like Captain Falcon, but regardless, these characters feel like they draw inspiration, but I wouldn’t call them flat-out clones because they have their own flair.
One mechanic that’s new to the game is the slime mechanic. This is dope because not only does it pay homage to Nickelodeon’s slime era, but it also alters the gameplay. During the matches, you have a slime meter. This slime can be used to affect combat in several different ways. With Slime, you can use your special moves, cancel attacks for combo setups, and cancel momentum if you get launched. Once your meter is maxed out, it allows you to make the ultimate move. The tutorial and the practice mode are a must. This game has the deepest practice mode. It’s no Street Fighter or Tekken, but it is something akin to it, and you have to respect it.
Online Excellence and Minor Gripes: A Nick All Stars Brawl 2
As for online games, we all know that’s a big component of fighting games. The online experience usually depends on how we play the game or if we are failing or succeeding. If you’re wondering, how does Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 run online? Then the answer is that it runs great. Not only does this game support crossplay out of the box, but it also supports rollback netcode. I have played this game online for longer. I have not run into any laggy matches. This game runs very smoothly. That doesn’t mean that this game has no drawbacks. I do have some issues with this game. My first issue is that the custom controls are too limited. I’m playing on a PC with an Xbox controller.
By default, you jump with the Y button. I tried to switch it up and use the analog stick to jump, but the game doesn’t allow it. It’s a weird design choice considering you can jump using the D pad and your smash attacks are tied to the right analog stick. I would have preferred the option to just jump with the analog stick. Eventually, I was able to adapt to the buttons, but it would be nice to see a patch that includes more options for the controls. My second minor critique is that the roster is a bit strange. This game is called Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2, but for some reason, the roster features Grandma and Gerald but not Hey Arnold. They put Reptar in the game, but not Tommy Pickles. What is that about? Are the developers not aware? That’s all the negative I really have to say about the game.
Conclusion
Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 is a solid package with the new story mode, new characters, training features, and the slime mechanics. The developers’ commitment to improvement is evident, making this a noteworthy title for fans of the genre and Nickelodeon enthusiasts alike.
FAQs for Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2
Q1: What platforms is Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 available on?
A1: Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 is available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox (all versions), and Nintendo Switch. It also supports cross-play functionality.
Q2: How many characters are in the game, and are there any new additions to the roster?
A2: The game features 25 characters at launch, with 14 returning characters from the first game and 11 new additions. The roster spans multiple generations, including characters like SpongeBob, Azula, and Garfield.
Q3: What major changes distinguish Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 from its predecessor?
A3: One major change is the introduction of a single-player campaign with a full story and voice acting. The campaign is a roguelike mode that unlocks new characters as players progress. Unlike the first game, some characters can only be unlocked by playing the game rather than making in-game purchases.
Q4: What is the significance of the slime mechanic in the game?
A4: The slime mechanic pays homage to Nickelodeon’s slime era and alters gameplay by introducing a slime meter. Players can use slime for special moves, cancel attacks for combos, cancel momentum when launched, and perform ultimate moves once the meter is maxed out.
Q5: How is the online experience in Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2?
A5: The game supports crossplay and rollback netcode, providing a smooth online experience. Players have reported minimal lag in matches, contributing to a positive online environment.
Q6: Are there any criticisms or drawbacks?
A6: Firstly, there are limitations in custom controls, and certain button configurations are not allowed. Secondly, the roster is a bit strange, with the absence of certain iconic characters despite the inclusion of others.
