Alright, let's talk about a game that, let's be real, had its heart in the right place but maybe its wallet was on a diet. I'm looking at you, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. Back in 2026, we can look back and say it never quite became the Super Smash Bros. slayer some folks dreamed of. No voice acting? Oof, that stung, making it feel like a silent movie party until the modding community showed up with the soundtrack. But you know what? The developers poured their souls into this thing, budget be darned. It became this weird, wonderful time capsule of Nick's 30-plus-year animation history. Sure, it had the big guns—SpongeBob, Aang, the Loud House—but the real charm was how it dug into the vault, especially the glorious, weird '90s and early 2000s. Now, with free updates bringing in legends like Garfield and Shredder, the DLC train is warming up. And I'm here to say one thing: the first ticket on that train needs to go to a certain wallaby from Rocko's Modern Life.
Now, Rocko's Modern Life isn't just old; it's O.G. status. We're talking about one of the founding Nicktoons, rubbing shoulders with legends like Rugrats, Doug, and the… ahem, spirited duo of Ren & Stimpy. Nick All-Stars has shown some serious love to these classics. Three out of that original four have made the cut. Who's the odd one out? Poor Doug. But the fact that the game keeps reaching back to these roots? That's not an accident. It's a love letter.
Let's break down the old-school Nicktoon scene, shall be honest?:
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Rugrats: The undisputed champ until a certain sponge soaked up all the attention.
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Aaahh!!! Real Monsters: The underrated gem that often got lost in the Rugrats shadow.
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Ren & Stimpy: The brilliant, controversial uncle no one quite knows how to handle at family gatherings.
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Rocko's Modern Life: The cool, slightly edgy cousin everyone secretly likes the most.
Rocko sits in this perfect, weird spot. It wasn't buried like Real Monsters, and it didn't have the… baggage of Ren & Stimpy. But man, did it carve out a legacy. It developed a cult following that's a two-for-one deal: the nostalgic kids who grew up with it, and the adults who watched it thinking, "Wait, are they allowed to say that?" This show was a masterclass in sneaking adult themes into a kids' cartoon. It was family-friendly in the truest sense—parents and kids could both find something to laugh at, which was kinda revolutionary for TV animation back then. Some episodes got the censorship scissors, or were straight-up banned! That's not just a cartoon; that's a statement.
Here's the kicker: Rocko isn't some forgotten relic. It doesn't have the visibility problem of, say, Doug (sorry again, Doug!). It got a shiny revival special in the late 2010s alongside other heavy-hitters like Hey Arnold! and Invader Zim—both of whom are already repping hard in All-Star Brawl. So, we're not talking about a niche, nostalgia-only pick. We're talking about one of Nickelodeon's most enduring and uniquely strong cartoons. It might not have SpongeBob's merchandising empire or Avatar's critical trophy case, but what it has is pure, uncut cartoon energy. It was proudly, bizarrely cartoony and genuinely edgy for its time, all wrapped up in that sweet, sweet nostalgic glow.
Now, I know what you're thinking. What about The Fairly OddParents or Jimmy Neutron? Yeah, they're MIA, but word on the street is that's a copyright tango. For Rocko, as far as we know, the coast is clear. No legal hurdles, just a green light for nostalgic chaos.
So, starting the official paid DLC with a character from Rocko's Modern Life—whether it's the anxious wallaby himself, his loyal dog Spunky, or the chaotic force of nature that is Heffer Wolfe—would be a power move. It would solidify Nick All-Stars' commitment to the classics and finally give one of the '90s strongest, weirdest cartoons its rightful place in the brawl. The roster needs that specific brand of "modern life" chaos. C'mon, Nickelodeon, make it happen. My controller is ready.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is available on pretty much everything—PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. And hey, future updates promise voice acting, so maybe Rocko won't have to fight in silence after all. 😉
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