It’s been more than 25 years since one of the first Rugrats games released in the form of Rugrats: Search for Reptar. Unfortunately, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland feels like a massive step backwards from that game.
We’ve seen our fair share of Kart clones, pulling on some of the barmiest of franchises (Hello Kitty? Garfield?), but Nickelodeon Kart Racers was one of the more acceptable ones, and it actually had enough recognisable characters to warrant the roster. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix drifts onto Xbox One, Switch and PS4 today. A PC launch is due later this year.
What an embarrassment of riches Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway has turned out to be. Previously something of an also-ran in the race to be the best karting experience, it can proudly take its place at the top of the podium on the Xbox - second only to Mario Kart on all platforms.
Who would win if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles went up against the Rugrats, who in turn took it to The Wild Thornberrys, The Loud House and Danny Phantom. Well, obviously it would be Michelangelo and his nunchucks which would reign supreme, but if you want to test out our theory for yourself than Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is going to be for you.
Main narrative-wise, Button City is first rate. It’s a charming throwback to cartoons of the ‘90s that kids and big kids will enjoy in equal measure. Both Gobabots and rEvolution Racer are also decent minigames in their own right as well, but there is an over-reliance on fetch quests in order to progress the story. It’s after the linear first hour of Button City where the game opens up, with a lot to explore and fully engross yourself in.
Are you a massive Nickelodeon fan? Can you think of nothing better than battling it out with your best mates? Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will be for you, and it'll be coming to Xbox, PlayStation and Switch this Fall.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix on Xbox One is not just an incremental improvement on the original: this is a gold-mushroom boost into the distance. While it doesn’t quite get on the karting podium - the identikit weapons and flat courses scupper that - it’s a solid kart game which rewards you for persisting with it. If the jump in quality is as large with Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3, we’re going to have a hell of a race for the best kart game.
Get ready, get set, slime! Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix has today been announced for Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch, with a launch set for later this year.
