Fans young and old jumped for joy when Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl was revealed, following in the footsteps of Super Smash Bros. and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale in bringing an iconic cast of characters to the fighting game genre. The game offers high-octane action and combines it with beloved and iconic characters from Nickelodeon's long history.
After a few browser and mobile games, this will be Nickelodeon's first console fighting game. With decades worth of original cartoons and characters, there's no shortage of options for the developers to pull from, and with free and paid DLC characters joining post-launch, All-Star Brawl's roster is sure to expand.
Danny Phantom
Running for three seasons between 2004 and 2007, Danny Phantom followed the adventures of Danny Fenton, a teenage boy turned into a human-ghost hybrid who defends his town, Amity Park, from the mystical forces that threaten it. Having years of ghost battling experience, Danny Phantom is an obvious choice to join the fight, possessing a range of superpowers ideal to base a fighting game moves list on. From the powerful Ghost Ray to deal damage to all the evasive maneuvers that come with being a specter, Danny Phantom could prove to be a player favorite.
Helga Pataki
A leading character in the iconic Nickelodeon cartoon, Hey Arnold!, Helga Pataki is the abrasive bully and love interest of the show's title character, Arnold Shortman. Helga is often portrayed as the main antagonist and the resident bully of the series, despite her crush on Arnold. Helga is a perfect candidate for All-Star Brawl, possessing a level of aggression that is sure to be dangerous for her foes.
Invader Zim
Despite a fairly short two-season run that started in 2001, Invader Zim is a cult classic of the Nickelodeon catalog. Invader Zim follows Zim, an alien from the Planet Irk on a mission to rule the Earth and enslave all of humankind with the help of his not-totally-reliable robot GIR. His methods are just a little too overzealous and end up backfiring on him, but that never stops his quest. As a member of the All-Star Brawl roster, Zim has a whole arsenal of alien tech at his disposal, ready to bring the fight and conquer every stage he steps foot on.
Leonardo
Appearing in the game sporting their original 1987 cartoon looks, Leonardo leads the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into battle. The turtles have a long history, having been created as a gritty comic book back in 1984 before later turned into a kid-friendly cartoon and then a live-action film series in the '90s. The reptile martial artists were acquired by Nickelodeon in 2009 and brought back to TV screens, paving the way for their arrival in All-Star Brawl. With a pair of katana swords and trained by Master Splinter, Leonardo is an obvious choice for the game.
Lincoln Loud
One of the newer offerings from Nickelodeon's animated lineup, The Loud House follows Lincoln Loud, the middle child in a family with eleven children. Chronicling Lincoln's hectic life in the town of Royal Woods, The Loud House has found incredible success, making Lincoln a modern Nickelodeon mascot worthy of joining the star-studded cast of All-Star Brawl. In terms of fighting technique, the nerdy Lincoln doesn't at first appear well-suited to the fighting game genre, but with ingenuity and quick-thinking on his side, Lincoln could prove an interesting character to play as.
Lucy Loud
One of Lincoln's several younger siblings in The Loud House, Lucy Loud also joins the ranks of All-Star Brawl. Once again, it might be a little strange to have another young child joining the chaos of an all-out brawl, but Lucy can certainly handle herself just fine. With a love of the macabre, Lucy possesses a certain terrifying presence that will help to take on the characters of Nickelodeon. Furthermore, with an uncanny ability to predict the future, perhaps Lucy might not need to charge into the battle head-on.
Michelangelo
Speaking of siblings, Michelangelo also joins the ranks of All-Star Brawl, bringing his nunchucks and carefree attitude to the fight. The Ninja Turtles are a proven fighting game commodity, having already appeared in Injustice 2 as additional characters, as well as several fighting games of their own over the years, so they are well prepared to take on Nickelodeon's finest. As far as differentiating himself from his brothers, perhaps Michelangelo's speed with be the crucial factor, allowing him to get in close and deliver some turtle power to his animated opponents.
Nigel Thornberry
A beloved fan-favorite character, Nigel Thornberry is an absolutely smashing addition to All-Star Brawl. Before becoming one of the Internet's longest-lasting memes, Nigel was the patriarch of the adventuring family from The Wild Thornberrys. Making his television debut in 1998, Nigel took his family around the world studying wildlife in the name of science. On the battlefield, Nigel is sure to be a fun character to play as with his chaotic good energy, bringing the excitement wherever he goes.
Oblina
1994's Aaahh!!! Real Monsters followed three plucky young monsters as they journeyed through their monster school under a New York City dump, learning how to become frightening to the average human being. Oblina, the tall, black-and-white monster joins the roster of All-Star Brawl, applying everything she's learned to take on anyone the game can throw at her. With the ability to shape-shift and induce nightmares, Oblina could prove a tricky foe indeed.
Patrick Star
Next up in the All-Star Brawl roster is Bikini Bottom's own Patrick Star. Now the lead in his very own spinoff, Patrick is best known as the lovable, dim-witted best friend from SpongeBob SquarePants in its over 200 episodes (and counting) run. Throughout his time frolicking under the sea with his best pal SpongeBob, Patrick has certainly displayed the qualities a good fighting game character could need, with size, power and aggression underneath his friendly appearance. Just don't call him tubby...
Powdered Toast Man
Danny Phantom isn't the only superhero amidst the cast of All-Star Brawl. From the world of The Ren & Stimpy Show comes Powdered Toast Man, enemy of evil-doers and advocate for the breakfast food that tastes just like sawdust. Powdered Toast Man possesses all the powers of your stereotypical superhero, as well as a few bread-based abilities. With the power of croutons behind him, Powdered Toast Man is definitely worthy of inclusion in the Nickelodeon brawler.
Reptar
With a recent reboot bringing everyone's favorite infant adventurers back for another run, Rugrats has continued to be a popular series in the Nickelodeon fandom for years. But, without any of the youngsters having a certain fighting spirit, it's up to Reptar to represent the beloved series. Reptar is a Godzilla pastiche in the world of Rugrats, a dinosaur icon that is beloved by children, especially Tommy Pickles. With his imposing size and flame breath, Reptar could certainly wreak havoc on the cast of All-Star Brawl.
Sandy Cheeks
Also hailing from the incredibly popular SpongeBob SquarePants, Sandy Cheeks is a squirrel from Texas. Sandy is perhaps the most well-suited of the underwater bunch to pick a fight with in All-Star Brawl. A double-tough master of karate, on top of being a genius inventor, Sandy Cheeks can deal some serious damage with her paws and her tools.
SpongeBob SquarePants
A Nickelodeon game would not be complete if it didn't include the boy wonder himself, SpongeBob SquarePants. A staple of Nickelodeon programming since 1999, SpongeBob is a world-famous figure in children's entertainment and is sure to be the main of many All-Star Brawl players. Like Sandy, SpongeBob is a proficient practitioner of karate, and exceptionally skilled with a spatula -- a handy tool for batting away cartoon rivals.
CatDog
Gamescom 2021 featured the announcements of two more fighters. Part feline, part canine, 100 percent classic Nickelodeon absurdity, CatDog first hit screens in 1998. The show followed the hijinks of the titular CatDog as they maneuvered their double-sided life. From the reveal, it appears CatDog might be an intricate character to play as in All-Star Brawl, with both Cat and Dog able to deal damage from both sides.
April O'Neil
The other Gamescom reveal is April O'Neil, the long time friend of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also sporting her classic 1980s appearance. Though she may not have Master Splinter's training in the martial arts, April can certainly handle herself in a fight. Plus, she has plenty of Channel 6 News equipment to use against her animated opponents.
Ren & Stimpy
The forefathers of many beloved cartoons, Ren & Stimpy also enter the battle. With their first series hitting screens way back in 1991, the duo are some of Nickelodeon's oldest characters, and All-Star Brawl will allow players to pit these classic icons against newer faces. Interestingly, Ren & Stimpy will play as a pair, similar to Smash Bros.' Ice Climbers. Hopefully, this classic pair can stay out of each other's way long enough to survive the brawl.
Avatar Aang
After first hitting screens when Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted in 2005, Aang enters All-Star Brawl as one of the most skilled fighters on the roster. To take on all of the animated adversaries the game has to offer, Aang has his trademark airbending abilities and his trusty staff to deal all sorts of damage in swift fashion.
Avatar Korra
Aang's successor Korra boasts just as much power and combat skills as the previous Avatar, securing her place as a formidable foe in All-Star Brawl. The star of the massively popular The Legend of Korra, which ran for four seasons between 2012 and 2014, Korra's moveset incorporates all four elements -- air, earth, wind and fire -- as well as her deep knowledge of martial arts.
Toph Beifong
Joining Aang and Korra from the Avatar world is Toph Beifong. First appearing in Book Two of the original series, Toph is a master of earthbending, a skill she puts to use in All-Star Brawl. Earthly constructs make up the majority of Toph's moveset, creating powerful attacks from the very ground of the game's stages.
Garfield
Added free of charge to the game's roster, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl now has a case of the Mondays thanks to the arrival of the quintessential lazy cat, Garfield. First appearing in comic strips back in the 1970s, All-Star Brawl marks Garfield's first appearance under the Nickelodeon banner since the company acquired the character in 2019. While a new cartoon is in production, fans can channel the wrath usually reserved for Odie towards the rest of the roster using a variety of comedic props, food, and feline attacks.
Shredder
Another character added in a free update, Shredder adds a heavy dose of villainy to the otherwise good-natured brawler. Appearing in his classic attire from the original animated series, Shredder brings his entire lethal arsenal to take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and every cartoon character that opposes him on the battlefield. Matching martial arts mastery with his bladed gauntlets and a range of other weapons, Shredder might just be the deadliest fighter in the whole game.
Jenny Wakeman
A pull from the vast catalog of Nickelodeon characters, Jenny Wakeman joins the battle for All-Star Brawl as a paid DLC character. The main character of My Life as a Teenage Robot, which aired between 2003 and 2009, the show told the tales of Jenny's struggle to balance the life of a regular teenage girl and an Earth-protecting robot. Jenny puts those fighting skills to use here in All-Star Brawl, and she's ready to deal damage to Nickelodeon's finest using all the enhancements her mother designed her with.
Hugh Neutron
Joining the roster this summer, Hugh Neutron comes to All-Star Brawl as the second paid DLC character. Making the cut before his son, Hugh Neutron debuted back in 2001's Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius before becoming a staple of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron series. In terms of combat, Neutron could be borrowing some inventions from his brainy son, but he is sure to bring his two favorite things in the world: pies and decorative ducks.
Rocko
Reaching back into the classic era of Nickelodeon, All-Star Brawl brings one of the brand's most classic characters: Rocko from Rocko's Modern Life. Advertised for release in the fall, Rocko first hit screens in 1993 as a formative part of the Nicktoons line-up. Now, Rocko takes on his descendants. Though not usually one for violence, the kindly wallaby might have to toughen up before he charges into the crossover clash.