Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl launched straight off the heels of the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC character announcement. This launch really exemplifies what fans and critics alike have been saying about the surprise competitive platform fighting, with many labeling it as Smash Ultimate‘s successor. In truth, there are a lot of platform-fighting games on the horizon, with many of them hoping to fill the void that Ultimate‘s end left.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has launched on all platforms and there has been plenty of early reviews rolling out. Regardless of what those reviews say, it certainly looks as though All-Star Brawl is on track to be a hit, with many reviews praising it overall and fans already sinking some serious time into it. So far as whether or not the game is actually good, critics are a little more divided.
The Roster is Almost the Perfect Amount of Nostalgia
For casual fans, one of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl‘s biggest appeals is the roster that’s full of Nickelodeon’s most recognizable characters. Graham Smith with Rock Paper Shotgun says that “There aren’t many things I feel genuine nostalgia for, but the late-’90s/early-’00s era of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network is up there.” That era of Nicktoons is almost perfectly represented in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl‘s roster, with characters from Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Hey Arnold being a part of the game’s base roster.
Critics new and old all have a show or character that they’re excited to see present. The roster is almost universally praised by critics and fans alike, with many of them making a fantastic transition into the fighting game format. Part of what makes a game like Smash Ultimate so enjoyable is the dedication that goes into every single character. Stuart Gripp writes for Push Square that “It’s enormous fun clocking all the gags: Patrick Star, for example, has his iconic `Is this the Krusty Krab?` `No, this is Patrick!` telephone slam as his side-heavy attack.”
Each character on All-Star Brawl‘s roster, regardless if they’re a ’90s icon or from modern shows, has been given a ton of love and dedication. Critics are quick to note whenever some of their favorite moments from various shows show up as attacks in-game. The only real complaint some reviews have had is when it comes to the polish of these characters, specifically when it comes down to some notably lacking elements.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl’s Sound Design Lacks Punch
While sound design in a fighting game may not feel like a priority, All-Star Brawl has been noted by several critics as feeling far too hallow in certain auditorial areas. Washington Post’s Jhaan Elker states that “Hopefully, characters can be voiced soon, because currently, without voices or soundtracks containing memorable tunes from shows, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl feels lifeless, with the characters and stages appearing as copies that don’t quite nail the memories we cherish from the cartoons.”
Characters in All-Star Brawl don’t have voice acting in the launch version of the game, which is something that the developers have been fairly honest about. However, the lack of voice acting really ends up hurting the nostalgic nature of All-Star Braw. Plenty of critics have also pointed to the stale-sounded sound effects in combat only serving to exemplify what’s probably All-Star Brawl‘s weakest aspect.
Despite a Limited Budget, All-Star Brawl is a Great Fighting Game
The inclusion of rollback netcode and the clear Smash influence that the game’s taken on has been firmly noted by critics. Jesse Vitelli with Prima Games recognizes the game’s strengths, summarizing them by saying “At its core the fighting mechanics are solid and I enjoy the one-on-one matches I’ve played.” Other critics recognize that fans of Smash will get a ton of enjoyment out of just how much attention has gone into the technical aspects of the gameplay.
Press Square’s Stuart Gripp opens their review by saying “This is the best Super Smash Bros. clone we have ever played. Let’s lead with that, because it’s absolutely true.” Almost every review around at the time of writing complements just how well the game actually plays. It’s clear to critics that the developers have really focused what budget they had on making the core gameplay as good as they could.
Most notably, the game’s actually gotten a lot of praise when it comes to both its casual and competitive gameplay. Rock Paper Shotgun’s Graham Smith notes that “I couldn’t tell you if it has real competitive legs, but I would like to crowd around a screen and play it with an N64 controller and three friends, please.” The critics have absolutely seen the casual appeal for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, with many competitive Smash players backing up the game’s hardcore appeal.
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