When the unique Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl got here out in 2021, it was a comparatively bare-bones expertise, however these bones have been stable. Regardless of missing many single-player modes, gadgets, and even character voices, the core gameplay was adequate to maintain the sport afloat till it obtained refinements by way of on-line updates over the subsequent two years. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, nevertheless, comes packaged with all these enhancements and extra. Developer Honest Play Labs has discovered its classes, and whereas the sport is not with out its faults, it is a more-than-worthy follow-up.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 begins you off with 25 characters, which is identical quantity at the moment obtainable in its predecessor should you embrace DLC. A surprisingly massive variety of characters don’t return for the second entry, nevertheless; solely 14 fighters return, which means 11 have been changed. If considered one of your favorites was minimize, you’ve each proper to be dissatisfied, however it’s a blessing as effectively. For one, notable exceptions from the primary sport, like Squidward and Jimmy Neutron, are included right here. A brand new roster additionally means the crew at Honest Play has extra alternatives to be inventive with character mechanics, and the sport feels extra novel, although the essential gameplay is analogous.
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Fortunately for All-Star Brawl 2, its strongest parts are its core fight mechanics. All of the aspect content material on the earth means nothing if the sport does not really feel good to play in its most simple modes, so it is a good factor the franchise nonetheless feels nice. Motion is fast and exact, highly effective assaults are satisfying to land and devastating to soak up, and a brand new slime meter raises the talent ceiling increased than earlier than. Honest Play has struck a profitable steadiness between depth and approachability.
This steadiness is exemplified within the slime meter system. As you play a match, your meter slowly will increase, and by holding one of many triggers, you may spend that meter on a wide range of actions. You may make assaults stronger, cancel assaults, make your protect last more, or use a slimeburst to halt your momentum and save your self from flying offscreen. For informal gamers, nevertheless, the slime meter will in all probability solely ever be used when it hits most degree, at which level you may unleash an final transfer. These character-specific, cinematic assaults are solely deadly when your opponent is at a excessive injury degree, making for thrilling finishes to matches.
Whereas the slime meter permits for extra complicated high-level play, I’d have preferred some extra complete tutorials to assist newcomers attain that degree. There is a “the best way to play” part tucked away within the single-player tab within the menu that offers an excellent overview of the essential mechanics, however extra difficult maneuvers (like some slime abilities) are diminished to fast textual content bins you click on by means of. Character-specific tutorials for some mechanics would have been appreciated as effectively, however you may at all times pause the sport and see transfer descriptions within the “movesets” part.
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The most important new characteristic All-Star Brawl 2 introduces is a marketing campaign mode. Due to a dastardly plot helmed by Danny Phantom villain Vlad Plasmius, the universe is doomed to blow up. Fortunately, Clockwork (additionally from Danny Phantom) sucks Spongebob right into a hub exterior time and area, permitting him to journey by means of a collection of ranges to defeat Plasmius, with Clockwork rewinding time should you fail. The narrative itself is nonsensical and irritating, ceaselessly undermining achievements the participant makes by pulling the rug out from below them and instantly inventing a brand new drawback. It finally did not damage the marketing campaign, although, as a result of it takes up a comparatively small quantity of the expertise, and the gameplay itself is shockingly enjoyable.
Structurally, it is a roguelite. Runs are divided into three areas which you navigate by way of a collection of paths in a menu display. Actions range by degree, with some having you face off in opposition to henchmen from numerous Nickelodeon reveals, and others having you pop balloons or full platforming challenges. You may as well struggle mind-controlled variations of characters from the sport’s roster, gaining the flexibility to play as them in future runs should you succeed. Lastly, every space is capped with a boss, like Sartana of the Useless or Shredder. These battles are hit and miss; late-game bosses are oddly a lot simpler because of their easier levels and common lack of motion – The Flying Dutchman, a boss from the primary space, persistently gave me probably the most bother.
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You may as well unlock numerous upgrades from Professor Wakeman within the hub world, granting you additional lives, alternatives to heal, and higher upgrades from shopkeepers mid-run. By the point I reached the top, I had a completely busted Azula construct the place most assaults poisoned foes and healed me. It is an extremely satisfying energy crawl. And although the narrative falls utterly flat total, I loved interacting with numerous shopkeepers alongside my runs, together with Mrs. Puff, Hugh Neutron, and the Cabbage Service provider from Avatar: The Final Airbender. Every playable character has distinctive dialogue with every shopkeeper and boss, and it is enjoyable to play as totally different characters to see how they work together.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a profitable second try on the groundwork laid by its predecessor. Honest Play delivers a stable platform fighter that concurrently improves the franchise’s core mechanics and introduces aspect content material to flesh out the general package deal. It is nothing mind-blowing, and it is definitely not the subsequent Tremendous Smash Bros., however it’s partaking, thrilling, and value your time.