An In-Depth Review of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series has inspired numerous imitators over the years, but only a few have made an impact. One surprising exception is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, released in 2021. While the game received mixed reviews, its concept of having Nickelodeon characters engage in a Smash Bros.-style platform fighting game generated significant excitement. Many agreed that the game laid a strong foundation for a potential sequel, and that's exactly what Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 aims to do.

Much like its predecessor, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a platform fighting game that features characters from Nickelodeon's most beloved franchises. This game serves as a nostalgic tribute to Nickelodeon's iconic shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Danny Phantom, Hey Arnold, and more. It even pays homage to lesser-known Nickelodeon series like El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, providing extra enjoyment for dedicated fans of the network's programming.

It is evident from playing the game that Fair Play Labs, the developers, have a deep affection for Nickelodeon, its shows, and the cherished characters on the channel. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 brings back many of the original voice actors who portrayed these characters on TV, such as Tom Kenny reprising his role as the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants and Debi Derryberry returning as Jimmy Neutron. The interactions between these beloved characters are a delight, featuring witty banter that can entertain both current Nickelodeon viewers and adults who grew up with the channel. Nods to classic episodes can be found everywhere, including in the voice lines, alternate costumes, and the move sets of each character.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 boasts a strong lineup of 25 characters at launch, consisting of both returning favorites and fresh faces. These fighters engage in battles across a variety of stages, many of which pay homage to iconic moments from their respective TV shows. Some fans may voice their concern regarding the excessive presence of SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar: The Last Airbender characters, and this criticism is valid. SpongeBob alone accounts for four of the launch fighters, with Mr. Krabs joining as downloadable content (DLC). Similarly, three characters hail from the Avatar universe, with Zuko and Iroh set to arrive as DLC. Some argue that these slots could have been better utilized for characters missing from the first game, such as CatDog, or from the notably absent The Fairly Oddparents, although licensing issues explain their exclusion.

While it is disappointing to see certain characters left behind from the original game, the roster presented in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 should still satisfy most Nickelodeon enthusiasts, despite the game's focus on SpongeBob and The Last Airbender. In terms of actual gameplay, the combat and movement flow seamlessly, offering simple controls that will instantly resonate with Smash fans. Undoubtedly, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 delivers a significant improvement in its combat compared to its predecessor.

One exciting innovation introduced in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is its meter system, which adds a strategic element to the combat. Players can choose to strategically utilize the meter, similar to traditional fighting games, or save it to unleash a powerful Final Smash-style super attack. Although the animations for these special attacks may appear somewhat glitchy and less impressive compared to the otherwise smooth character animations, the inclusion of the meter introduces an intriguing concept to the world of platform fighting games.

The core gameplay of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is solid, but unfortunately, many of the modes built around it are lacking, particularly the campaign mode. Surprisingly, the campaign introduces roguelike elements where players embark on runs as unlocked Nickelodeon characters and complete levels organized into themed sections. It plays out like an arcade ladder, but with branching paths and more varied encounters than simple 1v1 matches.

In the campaign, players may encounter other Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 characters, defeating them to unlock them as playable characters. There are also barebones platforming challenges, mini-games, power-up purchases, moments to rest and restore health, and battles against groups of weaker enemies. All of these encounters lead up to boss fights with non-playable characters, such as SpongeBob's The Flying Dutchman, with the ultimate goal of facing off against Danny Phantom villain Vlad Plasmius.

The players do not automatically regenerate their health as they progress to the next level, and they initially start the game with only one life. If they die, they have to restart the entire game from the beginning, incorporating the roguelike elements. However, players have the ability to collect currency during each playthrough, which can be used to acquire permanent perks in the central hub world. These perks, in turn, make future runs easier.

The campaign mode in this platform fighting game has a unique concept and appears promising, but it falls short in execution. The encounters feel repetitive, making the campaign tedious to replay. Unlike other roguelikes, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 fails to capture the sense of overcoming challenges, as dying often feels like losing an endurance test. Players may breeze through most levels only to suffer significant damage during boss fights, carrying that damage into the next stage and ultimately repeating the process.

As a result, the initial runs in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 become arduous, worsened by the level structure. Each stop on the branching path is treated as a separate level, requiring players to endure loading screens for each area they visit. This slow-paced setup, coupled with shops and healing rooms functioning in the same manner, further hampers the campaign's flow. Additionally, the combat stages are typically short, exacerbating the issue. Although the loading screens are relatively quick, there are instances where players spend as much time loading as they do playing an actual level.

Fortunately, players can accrue enough currency in approximately an hour of play to purchase powerful perks, removing the need to repeat stages for an extended period. However, this renders the roguelike framework of the game almost meaningless.

Decorating the hub world with Nickelodeon-themed items is a more enjoyable way to spend one's cash in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2. While it is necessary to spend money on perks to complete the campaign, expanding the hub world and adding new items to it proves to be more rewarding. Moreover, this allows players to interact with characters who are not part of the playable roster, such as Gary from SpongeBob and Master Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2's campaign serves as the primary single-player experience, accompanied by other modes for players to explore. These include a traditional Arcade mode, Boss Rush, a mini-game section, and a dojo to enhance gameplay skills. However, some of these modes may feel lackluster, as they feature recycled content from the campaign. Consequently, the single-player experience offered by Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 falls short of expectations.

Nevertheless, the absence of engaging single-player modes is compensated by the game's multiplayer experience. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 truly shines in this domain, especially when played with a group of friends. The game's meticulously designed stages provide ample opportunity for players to engage in thrilling battles. The novelty of witnessing characters like Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Grandma Gertie from Hey Arnold, and Reptar from Rugrats go head-to-head never loses its charm.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 undoubtedly provides an enjoyable multiplayer experience, which makes it disappointing that its single-player features are lacking in comparison. Although we were unable to evaluate its online functionality, if the online multiplayer proves to be as reliable and enjoyable as its local offerings, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will undoubtedly be a compelling choice for avid Smash fans seeking something refreshing. While it may not astound everyone, the game mostly accomplishes its intended goals and delivers a platform fighting game experience that surpasses its predecessor.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

The sequel to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 takes inspiration from its 2021 predecessor. This 2D platform fighter showcases beloved characters from popular shows such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Danny Phantom, and Jimmy Neutron. In addition to multiplayer capabilities, it introduces a single-player campaign. The game boasts an enticing lineup of characters and stages.

Made with clear love for Nickelodeon's classic shows

Multiplayer battles can be a lot of fun

Cons Roguelike elements in campaign make it tedious

Single-player modes in general leave a lot to be desired

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 launches November 7 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Our website was provided with a PS5 code for this review.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the release of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2. I grew up watching Nickelodeon shows, and I have fond memories of playing the original Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl game with my friends. The sequel looks like it will build on the strengths of the first game and add some new features that will make it even more fun.

I am particularly excited about the new meter system. This will add a new layer of strategy to the combat and make it more rewarding to play well. I also appreciate that the developers have included so many characters from different Nickelodeon shows. This will give players a lot of variety to choose from, and it will make the game more accessible to fans of all ages.