An upcoming Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl invitational tournament on Nickelodeon’s Twitch channel will inaugurate the game's October 5 launch day. This past July, a Super-Smash-Bros.-like platform fighter featuring Spongebob Squarepants, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nigel from The Wild Thornberrys, and more was announced in a trailer for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl - with a release window of Fall 2021. As the game has gotten closer to launch, trailers breaking down different characters from Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl’s roster have been uploaded online, providing a better idea of the impending final product.
While frequently compared to Nintendo's platform fighter Super Smash Bros., Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl appears slightly different in a number of ways. For example, instead of just having a regular attack set and a special attack set, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has dedicated buttons that separate light and heavy attacks aside from their specials. In Super Smash Bros., moves have four variations based on the tilt of the analog stick: neutral, side, up, and down; however, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl doesn’t have side tilts. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl also lets players grab opponents in the air, which is another deviation from its Nintendo counterpart.
According to a recent press release, a Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl invitational tournament will be hosted on Nickelodeon’s official Twitch channel starting on the game’s launch day, October 5. The tournament will last the full week, running until October 9. The eight esports competitors invited (including Mew2King, PPMD, and Fumblynn) were given access to a beta version of the game for practice, and will compete against each other for an undisclosed grand prize. Each of the competitors will also be given a copy of the game the first day of the tournament.
Developers from Ludosity and Fair Play Labels will also provide in-depth commentary on the competition throughout the week. Gabrielle Neveah Green, star of Nickelodeon show That Girl Lay Lay will also accompany Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl’s developers as a commentator. Publisher GameMill Entertainment promote the tournament, as well as provide the prizes.
The developers of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl have voiced their esport aspirations and desire to build a competitive scene around the game. While only trailers indicate whether its developers' wishes will be fulfilled, an invitational tournament is a first step to marketing Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl as a viable esport choice. Time will tell if the game will have legs after its release, even though there is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl DLC planned to keep players tuned-in for the foreseeable future.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl releases on October 5 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X⏐S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.