Nintendo gamers have enjoyed cartoon fighting mayhem, knocking each other out of the Super Smash Bros. ring with industry icons like Mario, Donkey Kong, as well as Pikachu, for nearly thirteen years and it was hardly a surprise when rumors began to circulate that Sony would try their hand at a similar type of game - in this case featuring a roster that would include Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal), Nathan Drake (Uncharted), and Kratos (God of War), among others.

It's been awhile since we heard anything about Sony's Super Smash Bros. clone - which, as mentioned, would feature fan-favorite (and likely, more violent) staples from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP libraries. However, new reports suggest that, not only will the yet-to-be announced project get an official unveiling at E3 2012, the game will be titled PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.

In a consumer survey, unearthed by PlayStation Lifestyle, Sony appears to be testing-out the PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale moniker with potential buyers - asking respondents to rate (on a scale of 1-10) how they "feel" about the name overall as well as whether or not the title "fits" the game. While not all of the questions are available (i.e. whether or not the questionnaire includes other names, such as the long-rumored Title Fight branding), the image below is enough to confirm that Sony is, at the very least, considering PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale as a potential title for the final game.

In our feature post detailing the Five Things We Expect from a Sony Smash Bros. Game, we laid-out a number of non-negotiables that the publisher would need to address in order to position the title for success among Smash Bros. fans and non-fans alike - including a name change (we suggested Sony Smash-Up or PlayStation Party). That said, as we get closer to the rumored E3 reveal, most of the pre-announcement buzz will no doubt be centered around the game's roster - which is reportedly set to include fan-favorites like the aforementioned Nathan Drake, Kratos, and Sweet Tooth characters as well as less-obvious choices such as Parappa the Rapper, Sly Cooper, and Fat Princess.

Sweet Tooth is all but confirmed, thanks to a leaked in-production screenshot, but it'll be especially interesting to see which first party players Sony opts to include. Of course, if the publisher is truly expecting to emulate the Smash Bros. format, we should also see a few third-party exclusive players join the fight as well (such as Sonic and Solid Snake in Super Smash Bros. Brawl). Assassin's Creed leading-man, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, probably won't make the cut - after his appearance in SoulCalibur V - but maybe we'll get new assassin, Connor Kenway, instead? Mass Effect's Commander Shepard would be another solid high-profile choice - as would Ghost from the Modern Warfare series.

That said, while it's likely we'll see a few third-party characters, even if the game is branded PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, this will without question be a showcase for Sony properties.

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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for further updates.

We will continue to keep you posted on PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (whatever the final title) as more develops.

Source: PlayStation Lifestyle