LEGO Brawls, an upcoming platform fighting game from Red Games Co. and Bandai Namco, could bring some fresh, new ideas to its genre. At present, platform fighting games as a genre have been generally defined by the Super Smash Bros. series, even inspiring other similar games to be labeled as "Smash clones." Though details about LEGO Brawls are sparse, the announcement trailer posted to Bandai Namco Europe's YouTube page reveals some key changes to gameplay that could set LEGO Brawls in a league of its own.
The Super Smash Bros. series of games gave birth to a fun and competitive genre of fighting games, and has created a recipe for success with every new release. Despite Super Smash Bros. being the cornerstone of the genre, games like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl have made subtle changes to UI and character rosters that make Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl better than Smash Ultimate. Smaller, subtle changes to the brawler formula are breathing life into the newest platform fighting games, and LEGO Brawls could be perfectly positioned to bring its own formula to the table.
One of the biggest changes to the platform brawler meta that LEGO Brawls will feature is its character creation. LEGO Brawls will allow players to create their own, fully customizable fighter to bring into matches with their friends. Players will be able to earn new cosmetic and brawl upgrades through gameplay, leading to an almost infinite number of fighter possibilities. One of the bigger issues plaguing any upcoming Super Smash Bros. game is a desperate need for more roster variety than Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, an issue that LEGO Brawls seems to be simultaneously solving and improving on.
LEGO Brawls Character Customization Could Blow Up The Brawler Meta
Mastering character customization and unlocking new, dynamic fighting styles could bring an entirely new and fresh gameplay meta to platform brawlers. Instead of players choosing from an overcrowded roster and practicing specific characters, players could create their own and shape their fighting styles as they unlock new gear. Details about exactly how gear and character customization affects gameplay, specifically, is unclear at present, but at face value, custom fighters could potentially change platform fighting games for the better.
LEGO Brawls might not be the only upcoming platform fighter to challenge the Super Smash Bros. throne. After Microsoft's impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company will acquire a big enough IP library to make the best Super Smash Bros. clone to date. Even if Microsoft does take a stab at its own brawl game, LEGO Brawls will still potentially have the advantage of bringing an entirely new gameplay element to platform fighting games when it is released in the summer of 2022.