Cartoon Network Punchtime Explosion XL (360, Wii) Review
Posted by John De Large on 11.22.2011
Crave Entertainment brings you your favorite cartoons as kid versus your favorite cartoons as an adult. Enjoy.
Super Smash Bros. was a hit that changed the gaming world, taking Mario Mario (you did know that's his full name, right?) and his merry band of fellow Nintendo mascots and making them the stars of one of history's greatest fighting games. If you knew who any of Nintendo's mascots were, you were intrigued and once you played Smash, you were hooked. But what could be more fun or more nostalgic than a Nintendo fighting game? A Cartoon Network fighting game perhaps. Cartoon Network Punchtime Explosion was released back in June for the 3DS. In November, Crave Entertainment announced an updated console version of Punchtime Explosion, Cartoon Network Punchtime Explosion XL for the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.
So, how does the game play? And what can gamers expect from a Cartoon Network fighting game? Here comes the breakdown:
THE GOOD
Story mode - A bulk of the playable characters need to be unlocked by playing the game's Story Mode, which itself is a very benevolent and forgiving platformer featuring several mini-games in familiar Cartoon Network show-based locales. Players can fight their way through hordes of pirates at Stormalong Harbor, crossing through pirates ships and firing off cannons and slingshots at ships. Marzipan City is available and can be explored relatively early in the game too. Maps are huge and beg to be explored.
Arcade mode and Versus mode - The actual meat and potatoes of the game is Arcade Mode and Versus Mode, which play similar to Smash Bros, but makes a few changes. First, instead of vying for a Smash Ball to see who can perform their finishing move, characters build their Punchtime Explosion gauge by collecting cubes that fall out of damaged opponents, or themselves. Upon filling that gauge, players can activate their Punchtime Explosion maneuver. Characters are also more durable than the ones in Smash Bros. Just like Smash, the amount of damage that a character takes is represented by a percentage. Normally in Smash Bros. anything above 100% means that the player is about to be knocked out, but PTE XL lets players fight all the way up to about 180% - 200% before they need to start worrying. Characters can also grab items that call assist characters in to help the player, but some player characters can team up with the assist characters to perform combination attacks known as Synergy attacks, which are worthy of being finishing moves in their own right. PTE XL borrowed heavily from Smash to make this game, but damn if they didn't find a few ways to improve on some of their gameplay mechanics.
Voice overs - Only a few of the characters are voiced by their original actors, although some characters got voice "upgrades" as they're voiced by more prolific actors. Tara Strong voices Chowder, Dexter and 2/3 of the Powerpuff Girls while Flapjack is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal instead of Thurop Van Orman. Strangely, Captain K'nuckles is voiced by none other than Deadpool himself, Nolan North! Go figure.
Extras - Punchtime Explosion XL comes packed with lots of extra content. There's extra characters to unlock besides the ones in story mode, alternate costumes for all characters, new stages, those sound like pretty awesome, albeit standard unlockables, no? Well, in addition to those rewards, players can also unlock 5 clips each from the main characters original shows, perfect if you want to show another gamer exactly what Dexter's Lab or Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends was like ('cause you won't have any luck finding either show on DVD).
THE BAD
Controls, buttons - The control scheme is a little more complicated than the Smash Bros. setup, instead of every function being covered by a few buttons, each button does something unique. Instead of pressing up to jump or pressing the attack button in front of an item, jumping is controlled by its own button as is scooping up weapons and activating interactive items. Those who're used to Smash Bros. and come into the game expecting it to be a carbon copy will be in for a bit of a surprise.
No online play - Versus mode is great, but if you're hoping to play against friends, they'd better be in the same room as you. One of the things PTE XL lacks is an online multiplayer mode. It's odd that such a fun multiplayer game would be lacking online play. Ah, who knows, maybe there'll be an Ultimate Cartoon Network Punchtime Explosion XL that'll let players battle it out online.
THE 411
If you know someone who likes Smash Bros in a casual sort of way or is a really big Cartoon Network fan, this is the game to get them. More hardcore fighting games fans may not be able to appreciate this game, but anyone who can appreciate the nostalgia factor of a game like this will absolutely love it.
Graphics
7.0
Backgrounds and characters look nice, though some movements are choppy.
Gameplay
9.0
Easy to pick up play for both seasoned gamers and casual gamers.
Sound
9.0
Some character sound even better here than they did on their original shows!
Lasting Appeal
9.0
Tons of extra modes and clips will keep you playing and showing the game to friends, respectively.
Fun Factor
9.0
How could you NOT enjoy cartoons beating each other up?
