Prepare for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl With Our Preview
Fighting games have cemented themselves as one of gaming’s most storied genres. Franchises like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat have grossed millions in lifetime sales, inspired Hollywood movie adaptations, and influenced nearly all aspects of pop culture.
Fighting games also happen to be one of gaming’s most diverse genres—not just in terms of roster, but also in terms of style. Whether you’re playing a traditional 2D fighter, a 3D arena fighter, or something else entirely, odds are this genre has something you’ll enjoy.
Perhaps the most accessible fighting sub-genre is the platform fighter, popularized by Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. franchise. And yet, surprisingly, non-Smash platform fighters are few and far between.
That looks to change with the upcoming release of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. As the title suggests, you’ll duke it out with a cast of legendary Nickelodeon stars. If you’ve ever imagined beating up SpongeBob SquarePants as Nigel Thornberry, this game is for you.
Read on to learn:
- What is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
- Who is developing the game
- Release date, price, and platforms
- Confirmed character roster
- Confirmed stages
- Gameplay mechanics
- Move sets
- And leaks (juicy!)
Here’s everything you need to know about Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl:
What Is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl?
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is the latest entry in Nickelodeon’s Super Brawl franchise. In the past, these fighting games lived on Nick.com as browser games (the kind you’d play in your middle school computer lab as a kid). The first game, Jingle Brawl, was developed in 2009. A decade and four sequels later, Nickelodeon shifted its eyes to mobile devices with the release of a sixth title, Super Brawl Universe.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl marks the seventh entry in the series—and the first on modern game consoles. The game is a platform fighter with similar elements to series like Super Smash Bros. and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. As you’d expect from a Nickelodeon game, it features some of the network’s most popular characters, including SpongeBob, Danny Phantom, Aang, and April O’Neil.
Since the fighters are all cartoon characters, there’s a decided comical element to All-Star Brawl. Imagine CatDog fighting Lucy Loud; the prospect alone is just fantastic. Clearly, don’t expect any super serious stakes—just plenty of mayhem and fun.
Who Is Developing Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl?
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is being developed by Ludosity, with support from Fair Play Labs. While Ludosity isn’t a terribly high-profile studio, its portfolio speaks for itself.
Ludosity has worked on a variety of quirky titles over the years, most notably the Zelda-like Ittle Dew and card-builder Card City Nights. Its most recent game is 2020’s Slap City, a platform fighter that features characters from across the Ludosity catalog. The game was heavily inspired by Super Smash Bros., specifically 2001’s Melee, to the point of featuring tech move staples like “wave dashing.”
With Slap City, Ludosity succeeded at emulating the look and feel of Melee. It was a modest hit in fighting game circles, and the closest thing you’ll find to a Smash Bros. competitor. So it’s no surprise that Nickelodeon approached these developers to create a bigger and better game.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Release Date, Price, and Platforms
According to a Nintendo eShop listing, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will be released on October 5, 2021.
The game launches on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. This means practically anyone with a modern console will be able to play it when it drops.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has an MSRP of $49.99. Pre-orders for the game are available now.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Confirmed Character Roster
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will launch with a roster of 20 characters (19 of which have been revealed), with two additional characters soon to follow as DLC. While a far cry from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s 81-character-strong roster, the sheer variety of fighters on display should satisfy most Nickelodeon lovers.
Fans have already started to speculate about the game’s DLC fighters and suggest characters they want to see in the game. We hope the list of characters will continue to grow in the future, but for now, here are the 19 announced launch characters (and their respective franchises):
- Oblina (Aaahh!!! Real Monsters)
- Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- CatDog (CatDog)
- Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom)
- Helga Pataki (Hey Arnold!)
- Zim (Invader Zim)
- Korra (The Legend of Korra)
- Lincoln Loud (The Loud House)
- Lucy Loud (The Loud House)
- Ren & Stimpy (The Ren & Stimpy Show)
- Powdered Toast Man (The Ren & Stimpy Show)
- Reptar (Rugrats)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- Sandy Cheeks (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- April O’Neil (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Nigel Thornberry (The Wild Thornberrys)
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Confirmed Stage List
One of the best parts of a fighting game is its environmental playgrounds. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will presumably feature 20 stages at launch (one for each character).
Here are the 19 confirmed stages (and their respective cartoon):
- Academy Entrance (Aaahh!! Real Monsters)
- The Western Air Temple (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Omashu (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- CatDog’s House (CatDog)
- The Ghost Zone (Danny Phantom)
- Hillwood Neighborhood (Hey Arnold)
- The Massive (Invader Zim)
- Harmonic Convergence (The Legend of Korra)
- The Loud Residence (The Loud House)
- Royal Woods Cemetery (The Loud House)
- Kitchen (The Ren & Stimpy Show)
- Space Madness (The Ren & Stimpy Show)
- Jellyfish Fields (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- Glove Universe (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- The Flying Dutchman’s Ship (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- New York Rooftops (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Turtles’ Hideout (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- The Technodrome (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Jungle (The Wild Thornberrys)
We’re sure more additions will be available in the future.
Gameplay Mechanics
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will play similarly to Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. games. Together with up to three friends, you’ll fight to knock opposing players out of the arena. Be the last person standing, or have the highest score at the end of a timed bout, and you’ll claim victory.
According to the developers, the game will have LAN support and online multiplayer for up to four players. Perhaps most importantly, the game will use rollback net code, all but ensuring a smoother online experience than any Smash game to date. And while we don’t have information on possible game modes, expect the normal staples, such as timed and stock matches.
The fighting mechanics are also similar to Super Smash Bros. Each character has access to normal attacks and special attacks. By combining these moves with different joystick directions, you’ll pull off various moves. The game even adopts tech moves used in competitive Smash play, such as wave dashing and L-canceling.
The gameplay looks fluid, and is complemented by pleasant graphics that support the cartoon aesthetic. Smash players should have no problem adjusting to Nick’s style of fighting.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl also differs from Smash in key ways. Normal moves are broken down into light and strong attacks, effectively eliminating the concept of “tilt” and “smash” attacks. There’s a rock-paper-scissors system that dictates how high, mid, and low attacks interact with opponents. And projectiles thrown by players can be reflected back and forth, each time growing in strength and speed.
These small differences aim to help All-Star Brawl stand out from the competition. The trailer of the game also hinted at unique items for each character, which is another cool addition. However, it remains unclear what role these objects will play in the game, if they are indeed usable.
Iconic Character Moves & Scenes
Perhaps the most amazing thing about All-Star Brawl is that each character’s move set is inspired by actual scenes from their respective cartoon. It’s clear the developers are trying to add personality to these characters, while also playing to our nostalgia for our favorite childhood shows. So, don’t be surprised if you see some iconic cartoon moments play out within the game.
Many fans have stated that the game feels more personable with these minor touches. That said, one notable issue fans have highlighted is the lack of character voice acting.
Players can unlock new moves for their favorite characters, so the game also appears to have some sort of progression system. We’re not sure about cosmetics, but it does look like we may see them in the future. There is also a character gallery you can gain access to simply by playing.
Leaks
Of course, like practically every game in the market, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has had several leaks in the months leading up to its release. A Reddit leak currently circulating shows a supposed screenshot of the final 20-character roster. According to this leak, the final character available at launch will be Toph from Avatar. Likewise, the final stage will be a desert arena, presumably for Reptar from Rugrats.
Final Thoughts
It’s been far too long since Super Smash Bros. had a real competitor. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale flirted with the genre back in 2012, but nearly a decade has passed with little to show for it.
With Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, this may finally change. So, be sure to gather your friends or hit them up on Discord to chat when the game comes out. If you need some help with your Discord Nitro subscriptions, head over to OffGamers right here to get taken care of.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is aiming to be one of 2021’s most exciting fighting games, and with good reason. If the gameplay can match the heft of its cartoon roster, it may well go down as one of the greats.
