Highlights
The sequel to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is already surpassing its predecessor in numerous aspects. Notably, it boasts enhanced features such as professionally performed voice acting, an expanded roster of characters, a plethora of new unlockables, and an engaging campaign mode.
MultiVersus, a game similar to Smash Bros., became popular but encountered problems with its monetization system and limited game modes, resulting in a drop in its number of players.
The introduction of a solo storyline in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 establishes a lofty standard for MultiVersus, potentially compelling it to incorporate its own campaign mode and strive to achieve the same level of success as its competitor.
While a few Super Smash Bros. clones have emerged in the past few decades, they have recently gained momentum. These side-scrolling fighting games gather a diverse range of characters from different franchises. Although they have the potential to be enjoyable and intense party games, they have often fallen short of expectations. However, in 2021, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl defied this trend and proved itself to be a worthy Smash Bros. clone. The following year, MultiVersus further supported this claim. With Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 on the horizon, it's time to definitively establish its position.
The just-announced Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 demonstrates that it has taken valuable lessons from its 2021 predecessor. Right from the start, it boasts voice acting and an expanded roster, as well as more unlockables and stages. However, the most thrilling addition to the sequel is its comprehensive campaign mode. This new feature has the potential to place it far ahead of MultiVersus, even before its official release.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2's Campaign Already Puts It Ahead of MultiVersus
When MultiVersus was initially launched in July 2022, it quickly gained popularity as an exciting gaming sensation. With its impressive fighting mechanics resembling those of Smash Bros., MultiVersus had a strong foundation to build upon. The game's extensive roster of Warner Bros. characters and its free-to-play model contributed to its overnight success, generating widespread buzz and excitement in the online gaming community. In comparison, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl aimed to replicate the success of Super Smash Bros. but fell short in several significant aspects.
However, MultiVersus faced its fair share of challenges. As a free-to-play game in 2022, developed by Warner Bros., it followed the trend of implementing a Battle Pass system and various in-game currencies. Unlocking all characters immediately required significant monetary investment, which sparked controversy among players. Consequently, this controversial monetization system contributed to a significant decline in MultiVersus' player base. The game has since concluded its beta phase and is scheduled to be relaunched in 2024. However, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 might potentially overshadow MultiVersus with its own significant release before then.
MultiVersus received criticism for its excessive monetization and lack of game modes, notably the absence of single-player content. In contrast, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 aims to preemptively address these concerns. The announcement trailer confirms the inclusion of a single-player story mode, where various Nickelodeon characters unite against Danny Phantom's Vlad Plasmius. Given the emphasis placed on this feature, it appears that the story mode will be a significant addition, potentially raising expectations for MultiVersus.
With a scheduled release in October, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will likely have a substantial advantage over MultiVersus. As a result, its multiverse-focused story mode could establish a standard that fans anticipate Warner Bros.' fighting game to meet. This places pressure on MultiVersus to deliver its own campaign mode, and if All-Star Brawl 2's story mode proves successful, the stakes will be even higher for MultiVersus to not only match but surpass its competing counterpart.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is currently in development for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.