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3DS

North America

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion

by Aaron Kaluszka - March 4, 2011, 12:07 am EST
Total comments: 13

Super Smash Bros. on 3DS? Close enough!

I had a pleasant surprise playing Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion. The game, simply put, is Super Smash Bros. with characters from popular Cartoon Network shows. And that is a wonderful thing.

The game mimics Super Smash Bros. very closely, from the percentage damage, to flying off screen and returning with a triple set of jumps. There are even Final Smash-esque moves. There have been a few clones, but this is the first game where I really felt like they got it right.

With a wide variety of fighters and locations spanning a number of shows, Cartoon Network shows are perfectly suited for such a game. Each character has their own assortment of moves, and there are lots of items as well. I don't even know most of the characters, but I had a lot of fun playing with them due to the gameplay similarity to the Nintendo titles. Fans of the shows should have an even better reason to pick up the game.

The game isn't quite as detailed as the previous two Smash Bros. games, but the stages look good in 3D, with activity going on in the background, and many levels transform throughout the fight. Some stages change altogether in the middle of the fight, such as a Ben-10 level where players are teleported from Earth to an alien planet.

The multiplayer mode features up to four players over local wireless. Unfortunately, internet play didn't make it; perhaps next time.

Punch Time Explosion also contains a full single player adventure mode. This mode looks to be better than the similar Sub-Space Emissary in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as it features more platforming elements and 3D gimmicks such as cannonballs that fly at your face. I'm told there's even an Angry Birds spoof level that uses the touch screen.

With no Smash Bros. for 3DS yet in sight, Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion is a welcome entry in the 3DS library. Featuring a large number of unique characters and stages, the game comes pretty close to the Smash Bros. experience. The game releases in May in North America.

Check out video below.

Talkback

l0n3w0lfMarch 04, 2011

this looks great, smash bro on 3ds with cartoon network characters

Dmt4030March 04, 2011

it look's really really fun i really cait wait for this tittle after watching the gameplay i cant wait to get my hands on it. at first i thought it was going to be a regular basic goofy kid virson of smash bros but i really didĀ  turn out to be unique and fun, i think i really would enjoy this game it really brings out my past child hood growing up of course.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 05, 2011

I didn't even know this game was in development until I saw Aaron's impressions and extended video of it. I am surprised that its turning out to be really good, especially for the game's intended audience.

I am enjoying the roster of characters so far, so many great characters in there (like Samurai Jack). Though, I wish they did some omissions. Like, instead of having each Powerpuff Girl being a different character, they should have been one instead ala Nana and Popo in Smash Bros. That way there would have been two character slots for characters like Edd, Ed and Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog and Jake and Flynn from Adventure Time.

Also, I will die of laughter if the single player mode in this game turns out to be better than Brawl's own single player adventure mode, especially since Sakurai had to hire the script writer from FFVII to handle its "complex" story.

There are a few combo characters, such as Billy and Mandy. I'm not sure what the character decision process was, but seeing the YouTube comments, it sounds like people are as passionate about the Cartoon Network line-up as the Nintendo line-up!

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 06, 2011

Not surprised. Cartoon Network has created some awesome series and characters to go alongside them. I get that they are using more popular and familiar characters. But here are some of the characters that could have made it in:
- Johnny Bravo
- Cow and Chicken, along with the Red Guy
- I.M. Weasel and I.R. Baboon
- The Time Squad Crew
- Anyone from Evil Con Carne (Billy and Mandy Spin Off Show)
- Juniper Lee
- Lazlo and Friends
- Megas XLR

They did say that many more characters would make appearances in the game so maybe they will make it after all.

Yeah, there are assist characters as well.

Sadly the lack of online turns this from a day one purchase to a maybe if I see it in a bargain bin. Online should be a given in these types of games.

Mop it upMarch 06, 2011

You can't make a massive Cartoon Network-based game and not have Johnny Bravo in it.

Dmt4030March 07, 2011

i wounder why they didnt add the Teen Titans and starwars clown wars characters thoseĀ  was popular

TJ SpykeMarch 07, 2011

They don't own the rights to Star Wars, they only air it. All of the characters confirmed for the game are owned by Cartoon Network (or parent company Time Warner). Star Wars and the characters are owned by Lucasfilm. Teen Titans I guess is possible, so I don't know the reason they weren't.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 07, 2011

I take it there are DC first and foremost, and thus they own the license.

TJ SpykeMarch 08, 2011

But Cartoon Network and DC Comics are owned by the same company. It's like how Disney can do almost anything they want with a character like Captain America because they own it. I take it they wanted to stick to characters created for Cartoon Network though.

It sounds like they are still considering characters, if you check their Facebook page.

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Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion Box Art

Genre
Developer Papaya Studio

Worldwide Releases

na: Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion
Release Jun 07, 2011
PublisherCrave
RatingEveryone 10+
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