Deb Thrash

Anyone picking up Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl _ will know what they're getting into from the jump. The 8-bit action will have a hard time attracting newcomers to this style of game, but it does successfully capture both the spirit of classics like _Double Dragon and the vibe of Kevin Smith's modern output. Co-op play does shine brighter than solo brawling, and the game doesn't come close to modern favorites like Streets of Rage 4 , but there is a lot to like for someone who just needs a new NES-style fix in 2 From the gameplay that's been revealed thus far, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl seems to be exactly what the title would indicate. The Smash Bros -esque Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will bring together characters from SpongeBob SquarePants , Invader Zim , and even classics such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . This is likely the first time in recent years that a large studio has attempted to put together a game so similar to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros . ser While Mall Brawl originally debuted on Switch and PC last year, this year's new Arcade Edition on consoles adds in better graphics and a remastered soundtrack . As the name implies, that does boost the game past the capabilities of 8-bit consoles, but not far enough to feel inauthentically retro. There is a toggle in the settings to switch between both versions, and the differences in all cases are noticeable but minimal. Jay and his silent partner are still stubby pixel heroes beating up skater kids, cow mascots, and a string of unique bosses throughout arcades and lingerie sh What began as a normal July day suddenly got an unexpected surprise as Nickelodeon announced Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl _ out of the blue. No one was expecting Nickelodeon to so closely imitate Nintendo's ever-popular **_Super Smash Bros. ** series. And yet, from the look of the platform-like levels to the presentation of the individual fighters' move sets, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl very much appears to be Smash for Nickelodeon's brand of cartoons. Brawl was even the title of the Wii's iteration for web page Super Smash Br There's no denying Oh My Godheads is strange but there is entertainment to be found in all the bizarreness. If the image of a Penguin wearing a top hat and lugging around the disembodied head of Zeus rendered in a papier-mâché low polygon style isn't special it's certainly unique. With a very easy control scheme of attack, run, jump and dodge anyone can pick up and play Oh My Godheads too. It's approachable and easy as it is zany. The downside is the novelty wears out very quic Overall, Override: Mech City Brawl is a worthy entry in the mech brawler genre and it more than earns its price tag with deep enough content and customization, a supremely fun multiplayer mode that proves that indie games can do it just as well as any AAA title, and a campaign mode that, while simple, will keep most entertained. If a fast-paced, giant robot smack down is what a player is looking for, this is the game for t As is the case with the games that inspired it, Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl feels designed more around local co-op play than solo action. Enemies gang up on an isolated player often, getting off cheap shots that could be avoided with a second character on screen. Playing alone does allow for switching between Jay and Silent Bob at will, so it's not impossible to beat. Still, bringing a friend to the couch is very much recommen Even the fighters themselves have several Smash Bros. parallels. Each character seems like they will have a unique move set, and if Reptar's presence is any indication, weight will likely factor into their play styles. Additionally, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has wisely chosen to favor its long history instead of leaning on more recent characters. Powdered Toast Man (from Ren & Stimpy _ ) may seem as obscure as Mr. Game & Watch to many, but his presence shows an interest in Nickelodeon's larger legacy. In fact, the large number of nostalgic characters (and Nigel Thornberry, himself often the subject of millennial memes) makes one wonder if _Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 's target audience is millenni **Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl ** was announced with a bombastic new trailer. The game is a platform fighter in the vein of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and features characters from across the Nickelodeon cartoon catalog. In total, there will be 20 different characters in the game, though the developers only showed off 14 of them in this initial onslaught. Alongside the character reveals, the team also gave fans a look at some of the stages they'll be playing The news comes at an opportune time as well. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai recently announced that the final fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate __ will be announced by the end of the year. While Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl definitely isn't a replacement for Smash Bros. , but it definitely fulfills one wish that Sakurai has explicitly said is out of the question for Smash Bros .: it incorporates TV characters, even if an admittedly narrow subset of t