Imagine an arena brawl between SpongeBob the Ninja Turtles, and the characters from Avatar. Just like in Smash Bros, each attack causes the percentage of the player getting hit to rise. The higher the percentage, the further the next blow will send them flying. Get knocked out of the battle area and it's game over. For the melee pros out there.
Nickelodeon, the kids' TV channel from America, is known for its quirky series that have grown into cult references for a large section of society. From The Wild Thornberrys to Avatar: The Last Airbender, and including weird old Ren and Stimpy and pop culture icon Sponge Bob, Nickelodeon's stars cast a long shadow. With such a diverse case, what better than to bring them all together in a video game for some exuberant battles? After trying its hand at karting with Nickelodeon Kart Racer (also available here on Blacknut), the TV station is now venturing into the world of beat 'em ups.
But be warned: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is aimed at a different audience to Super Smash Bros. The development team wanted to make the controls as accessible as possible to new gamers and the youngest players out there. This is a real family game.
We liked the way the difficulty steadily increases. At first, the game might seem a bit slow, but that's because the difficulty is initially set to the lowest level to make it easier to get to grips with. However, once you're up to speed the difficulty ratchets up and the game reveals itself to be a solid offering that gradually turns into a real challenge.
The heart of the game resides in its traditional brawler gameplay. Each character – such as Sponge Bob, Avatar, or even Ren and Stimpy – has a varied range of attacks unique to them. Discovering each character's unique playstyle becomes an adventure in its own right, all the more so given how funny some of the attacks are.
Our favourite part? The varied game modes to suit any kind of player aged 8/9+. From the traditional Stock mode, where you have to survive with a limited number of lives, to Time Trial and even Sport, which brings a game of football into the battle arena, there's no shortage of ways to play.
The game's characters are faithfully modelled on their cartoon counterparts, and fans will instantly recognise who they are and which programme they're from. The environments are also beautifully designed.
In short, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl delivers some fantastic brawler fun with its gameplay accessible to the youngest gamers, its varied game modes, and its cast of iconic characters. If you're a fan of the channel, or of you've got kids who want to have a blast with their cartoon faves, this game is definitely one for your list.
If you like a stiffer challenge, we also have Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 in the our library, which is a more difficult game.
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