Like the previous game, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a 2D platform fighter featuring characters from various Nickelodeon franchises. Gameplay has been updated from the previous entry, with all characters' movesets having been revised and given new horizontal attacks, and new mechanics being added such as aerial dodging and dodge rolling.[2] During gameplay, a new "Slime Meter" can be built up by attacking opponents and used in different ways, such as powering up attacks, extending aerial recovery, performing attack cancels, pushing opponents away, and activating powerful character-specific super attacks.[2][3]
A new single-player roguelike campaign has been added, in which players must stop Danny Phantom villain Vlad Plasmius from conquering the multiverse. Players start in the hub area, the "Timeless Stardial", where they can choose their character and interact with non-player characters to prepare for a run. When a run begins, players progress through nodes that each feature different challenges and special rules, including waves of enemies, platforming challenges, and boss battles. Players will receive free power-ups from non-player characters or purchase them using an orange blimp currency they earn during battle. These powerups will remain active for the remainder of the run; upon completion or defeat, the player's power-ups and blimps are discarded as they return to the Timeless Stardial. Players will also earn new playable characters by defeating them in battle, as well as green Slimy and purple Splat currencies, all of which are retained when a run concludes. Slimies can be spent on equippable perks that will grant the player additional benefits during a run, while Splat can be used to purchase additional slots for equipping perks, decorations for the Timeless Stardial, and upgrades for shops that expand their selection of purchasable items.[2][4]
The game also features expanded arcade and training modes, new mini-games, and a boss rush mode.[5] The game includes 26 stages, some of which feature selectable alternate layouts.[6] In addition, support for cross-platform play has been added to the game's online multiplayer.[5]
Playable characters
The game features 25 playable characters drawn from 17 Nickelodeon franchises, including 14 characters returning from the previous game. Four additional characters were released as post-launch downloadable content throughout 2024.[7] New characters are marked in bold.
SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star are blowing bubbles when a strange portal appears and pulls Patrick in. Another portal opens and a strange voice tells SpongeBob to enter it to save Patrick, prompting him to jump in. After passing through several different worlds, SpongeBob finds Patrick, who becomes enraged and attacks him. SpongeBob subdues Patrick, returning him to normal, and they are taken to a pocket dimension called the Timeless Stardial, where they meet the one who summoned SpongeBob, Clockwork. Clockwork explains that Vlad Plasmius has gained the power to mind control other beings, and now seeks to gain control of everyone from every universe. Clockwork grants the heroes a time medallion, which will allow him to rewind time should they fall in battle, and sends them to free more potential allies from Vlad's control.
Development and release
In June 2023, prior to its announcement, several images from Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, including development screenshots and partial box art, were anonymously leaked online.[18] The game was officially announced on July 27, 2023. The game's graphics have been refined over its predecessor, and all characters feature full voice-acting, a feature which was not added to its predecessor until several months after release.[19] One week after the game's announcement, the full character roster was accidentally leaked via an Amazon retail listing.[20]
In addition to the standard release, the game is also available in a digital-only Deluxe edition that includes a downloadable contentseason pass containing four additional characters, set to be released throughout 2024, and an additional "Quickster" costume for SpongeBob. A separate digital Ultimate edition includes the content from the Deluxe edition, as well as an additional costume for each character.[19] An additional "Elastic Waistband" costume for Patrick was available as a pre-order incentive.[19]
Initially announced for release on November 3, 2023, the game was later pushed back to November 7, with physical copies released on December 1.[21] Patrick's Elastic Waistband costume was also made available for free to all those who purchased the game digitally during the first week of release.[22]
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 marked the debut of Jacqueline Grace Lopez as Korra, following Janet Varney's departure from the role. Per her behalf, Varney insisted a woman of color should take over the role, as her final time voicing the character was in Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway the previous year.[23][24]
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 received "generally favorable" reviews for PlayStation 5 according to review aggregatorMetacritic;[25] the Windows version received "mixed or average" reviews.[26] On the aggregator OpenCritic, the game has a "Fair" approval rating.[27] Reviewers praised the game as an overall improvement over its predecessor, although the game's performance was criticized, particularly for the Nintendo Switch version.
