While the jury is out on Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, it has a leg up on some of the competition. I’ll stop being coy: the fact that it currently technically exists gives it a leg up on MultiVersus, which may or may not even come back. Given that the developers have claimed that every character has been “completely rebuilt from the ground up,” there’s hope that the second Nick brawler will actually catch on. Here’s a quick look at all of the character spotlights released from the studio.
Spongebob (August 10, 2023)
Everyone’s favorite (and enduring, man this IP will survive anything!) sponge is back in the sequel, and “Spongebob has ample canceling opportunities” is not a sentiment I ever expected to hear in my life; but here we are.
Spongebob is a “beginner-friendly” character and excels with combo potential, as well as clean basic attacks that can launch foes into the air for easy juggling. His sequel kit truly looks like he’s the “Mario” of this universe, and a great way to learn the basics.
Squidward (August 11, 2023)
Squidward was the surprise reveal when the game was announced, and he’s a tad more technical than his above underwater frenemy.
He can double-jump cancel first off, but he also has access to an extremely useful neutral air, which can hit multiple enemies and then some. His gimmick includes a rage mechanic: he can essentially power up his speed and power by making himself punishable for a second. With access to projectiles, he’s fairly versatile!
Jimmy Neutron (August 14, 2023)
Jimmy is a more technical character, bolstered by his access to myriad tools and tricks. His big gimmick involves a summon: Goddard the robot dog. While not as versatile as a lot of other summons (he remains still/available to punish while Goddard is out), it’s still a good way to differentiate Jimmy from the rest of the cast.
His tricks come at a cost, as his recovery isn’t as versatile as some other cast members.
Patrick (August 16, 2023)
Patrick has “some of the most powerful throws and attacks in the game,” which makes sense given his raw strength. He has access to armor (anti-flinch), but like Jimmy, is a tradeoff: given that his recovery is poor.
Despite being described as a “slow” character, he has access to a lot of quick dashes and raw grit that will make him a really enticing fighter to pick up.
Raphael (August 28, 2023)
Ready, Fox and Sheik players?
The studio calls Raphael “the fastest character in the game,” which is fitting for an agile ninja turtle. He trades this speed for a lack of weight though, and can be tossed around the battlefield far more than other characters.
Fascinatingly he has a dash grab (which can be canceled into a kick), as well as classic fighting game moves like horizontal air dash attacks He also has access to several cancel options for a few of his attacks, making him an unpredictable and speedy character in the right hands.
Plankton (August 29, 2023)
Plankton will be riding his mech this time around, and is the “biggest character in the game,” with a slow movement speed. To make up for it, he’ll be able to toss sauce at people via projectile attacks, and has a midrange projectile grab.
Out of all of the characters revealed before him, Plankton easily looks like the most interesting of the bunch.
El Tigre (August 29, 2023)
We got a brief look at El Tigre thanks to a new trailer (from the show El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera), and he looks like another super-fast character to give Raphael a run for his money.
We’ll get more info on El Tigre soon once the spotlight hits!
Ember (September 8, 2023)
Ember adds more representation from Danny Phantom, and will make her debut in the second game. Filled to the brim with visual flair, Ember is a melee character that can also summon projectiles from her guitar.
Aang (September 11, 2023)
Fan-favorite Ang will utilize all four core elements from the series, and also has a high amount of combo potential.
As a reminder, Aang returns from the first All-Star Brawl, but he also sports a new moveset this time around.
Ren & Stimpy (September 12, 2023)
The “Duck Hunt-like” double-combo of Ren & Stimpy return, and with a new look/feel to boot.
The spotlight video (above) notes that their kit was been completely reworked, with a focus on aerial attacks and zoning.
