Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion

Overview

Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion is a 2.5D platforming fighting game developed by Papaya and published by Crave for the Nintendo 3DS on June 2, 2011 (in North America) and November 18, 2011 (in Europe).

The fifth crossover game featuring characters and settings from numerous 1990's and 2000's animated series that aired on the Cartoon Network TV channel (including newer shows like Ben 10 and older shows like The Powerpuff Girls), Punch Time Explosion is a multiplayer fighting game in the style of the Super Smash Bros. series (where players try to knock each other's characters out of multi-tiered 2D stages).

The game's main story involves every Cartoon Network show (as separate dimensions) being invaded by villains of other shows, watched on TV (with constant fourth-wall breaking narration) by the Cartoon Network announcer (voiced by George Lowe, better known for his voice of Space Ghost) on his day off.

It was later ported to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii on November 18, 2011 (in North America) and May 18, 2012 as Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL, adding new unlockable characters, stages, and gameplay modes while redoing some character voices (with some characters using their original voice actors, rather than stand-ins) and updating the game's Story Mode.

Characters

The original version of the game includes eight playable characters from the start and ten unlockable characters (for a total of 18 playable characters). The updated XL version adds eight bonus unlockable characters (for a grand total of 26 playable characters).

The roster is made up of characters from different animated series that aired on Cartoon Network, including Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Codename: Kids Next Door, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.

The method of unlocking characters differs between the 3DS and XL versions, with the 3DS version requiring playing Battle Mode and the XL version requiring either buying from the in-game store or reaching certain points in Story Mode.

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien

Playable

• Ben 10
• Vilgax (unlockable)
• Kevin Levin (unlockable, XL version only)

Assists

• Gwen Tennyson
• The Vreedle Brothers
• Kevin Levin (3DS version only)

Chowder

Playable

• Chowder and Kimchi

Assists

• Gazpacho
• Shnitzel
• Mung Daal (XL version only)
• Panini (XL version only)

Codename: Kids Next Door

Playable

• Numbuh One
• Father (unlockable)
• Toiletnator (unlockable, XL version only)

Assists

• Numbuh Two
• Stickybeard
• Numbuh Four (XL version only)

Dexter's Laboratory

Playable

• Dexter
• Monkey (unlockable)

Assists

• Dee Dee
• Mandark
• Major Glory (XL version only)
• Valhallen (XL version only)

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

Playable

• Mac and Bloo

Assists

• Cheese
• Coco
• Eduardo
• Madame Foster (XL version only)

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

Playable

• Billy and Mandy
• Grim (unlockable)
• Hoss Delgado (unlockable, XL version only)

Assists

• Dracula
• Fred Fredburger
• General Skarr (XL version only)

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

Playable

• Flapjack
• Captain K'nuckles (unlockable)

Assists

• Peppermint Larry & Candy Wife

The Powerpuff Girls

Playable

• Buttercup
• Blossom (unlockable)
• Bubbles (unlockable)
• Mojo Jojo (unlockable)
• Him (unlockable, XL version only)

Assists

• Fuzzy Lumpkins
• Him (3DS version only)

Samurai Jack

Playable

• Samurai Jack (unlockable)
• Aku (unlockable, XL version only)
• The Scotsman (unlockable, XL version only)

Assists

• Aku (3DS version only)

Other

Playable

• Captain Planet (from Captain Planet and the Planeteers, unlockable)
• Johnny Bravo (from Johnny Bravo, unlockable, XL version only)
• Young Ben (from Ben 10, unlockable, XL version only)

Assists

• Johnny Bravo (3DS version only)