Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Q&A with Ludocity CEO Joel Nyström

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is shaping up to be an intriguing game for fans old and new of the drool-filled television network. This multiplayer platform fighting game that brings together all kinds of characters from the Nickelodeon universe. Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Invader Zim, Cat Dog, Lucy Loud, Nigel Thornberry, and the eclectic list goes on and on. Earlier today, we featured a first look at Patrick Star’s heavy move set, and this week we had a chance to pick the brains of Joel Nyström, CEO of developer Ludosity.

How did the team decide which characters would fit well on the list with decades of Nickelodeon shows to choose from?

It was a joint effort between Ludosity and GameMill, where we all pushed for our own favorites and wishes until we reached a lineup that we could all lean on. For our part, we wanted fun characters from shows we liked, so we have some more unlikely selections like Nigel Thornberry.

Since it’s called “Nickelodeon” and not “Nicktoons,” can we expect any live-action Nickelodeon characters to appear? Will players see any Everything that characters or something of You are afraid of the dark?

There are no live-action characters in our base lineup, and we’re currently not looking for future characters either. You never know, but for now, we are focusing on cartoon characters. It fits better with the rest of the roster, and we feel like we can go a little wilder on the move set with them.

What does the decision to revive characters like Powdered Toast Man entail?

It’s fun. Video games are fun. It’s a great game. And it seems like he’s really signed up with fans based on their reaction!

We have seen gameplay footage of a scenario from the Avatar series. Who could we expect from the original series or The Legend of Korra to make the list?

Hopefully your favorite! All in due time.

What was made in the decision to opt for the rollback network code for online gaming? Is online important to the team?

Competitive online gaming is extremely important to us. We have backtracking, and we also have a great lobby system, for both casual and ranked games.

What features or modes can players expect for online or multiplayer modes?

You can play in rooms or Quick Match online. All the modes are there, including Sports Ball, our own fun mode that we bring from Slap City. It’s sport, with balls!

Fighting game fans seem to have picked up on Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. Does the team see it as a competitive game?

We absolutely do.

Was competitive play something that influenced your plans for the game?

Yes, in fact Nickelodeon even suggested long before we had an editor for the game. It has been there since day one.

How many characters are you planning for the initial release of All-Star Brawl, and what are your plans for DLC characters and stages going forward? When could they appear after launch?

At launch, there will be 20 characters, with 2 more to follow shortly after. After that, additional DLC characters will be revealed. Stay tuned!

Many of the characters announced so far have iconic voices attached. Are the included characters voiced by the original actors? If so, who is on board?

Our goal was to create the best possible gaming experience for fighting fans and Nickelodeon fans around the world. It’s not as straightforward to do as one might think, and as we continue to build the Nick All-Star Brawl franchise, we’ll go over all the options, which may include adding VO in the future.

There is an obvious comparison to games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. How is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl different from other platformers?

It differs in many small ways. Check out our extensive gameplay tutorial (Editor’s note: see video below) that we released a while ago. Our goal is to make the controls a bit easier for new players to use; for example, spinning is much easier in our game, while still having the full depth of play that the competitive scene desires.

Will there be any fun references that Nick fans can’t wait for? Can you give us any clues as to how deep the catalog for this game went?

Every move is referenced to the shows, literally everything in the game dates back to something from the Nickelodeon universe. We want players to discover them for themselves! It’s been amazing to see fans find the connections to what they’ve seen thus far, and we’re excited for them to get their hands on the game and discover more.

Ren and Stimpy have just been officially revealed. But are they separate characters or do they work together in tandem?

Ren and Stimpy are in the game, and they form a single character duo! We wanted a duo character because of the fun interaction between them; plus, as a bonus, it leaves room for one more character in the base lineup =)

Did your team have a problem with Nickelodeon allowing certain characters for the game?

Not at all. There were a small number of characters that had global licensing issues, but other than those, Nickelodeon has lived up to all of our suggestions. They have been very supportive and enthusiastic in our collaboration with them.

Does the team have an internal goal for character selection?

No, we all have different playstyles, so we each gravitate towards different characters. Although I personally get my butt kicked no matter who or who I play with!

We can’t wait to see where the goal goes and we’ll be monitoring the balance closely.

Will music from these beloved TV shows be used in the game?

The music is brand new but, like everything else, it makes great references to the original material.

Have a confirmed release date that you can share?

October 5, honey!

And there you have it! All the answers to my burning questions for the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl team. As confirmed by Joel Nyström in that last query, the platformer will be released on October 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

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Which Nick character are you excited to play with? Are there any that you hope to see enter the fray when the game launches? Let us know in the comments!