Random Video Game Series Review - SpongeBob SquarePants

 
It comes as no surprise that when you have such a beloved NickToon like SpongeBob SquarePants, of course Nickelodeon want to milk it for all it's worth. Since first appearing on the small screen back in 1999, it has become one of Nickelodeon's longest running NickToons and in a way, SpongeBob himself is kind of the NickToon's mascot and flagship franchise. The whole milking thing not just extends to the small and big screen, but also in video games too, and boy there are loads. Many of which have been published by THQ and Activision, who are both widely known for their licensed and tie in video games. But since 2015, THQ Nordic have got the licence, which has led to a few games being released in the year of lockdown with more to come. So I'm not going to review every single game or every single version of a single game in the franchise because well I haven't played all of them. But I will review the few I have played whether it be on consoles, PC or via emulation. So let's go to that pineapple under the sea and see what awaits us in Bikini Bottom:

Battle for Bikini Bottom

Perhaps the most well known game of everyone's favourite sponge, this one is well known due to its cult status and has gained a remake in recent years (which we will discuss a bit later on in this post). In an original story, the player is tasked with defending Bikini Bottom from a robot invasion caused by Plankton (reprised by Mr. Lawrence). In all versions, you play as SpongeBob (reprised by Tom Kenny) with the addition of Patrick (reprised by Bill Fagerbakke) and Sandy (reprised by Carolyn Lawrence) in home console versions of the game. As I have only played the GBA version, that's the one I will be reviewing here. Three versions of the game exist; a big in-depth one for home consoles, a mini-game bazaar for Windows and a level based 2D side scroller for GBA. Gamers can fight the robots by blowing bubbles to turn them off, which means that they can't be destroyed, but can be used for certain puzzles and challenges. Although I'm gutted that I never got to play the main home console version, the GBA version is fine. Just a typical portable platforming game that does what we expect and then some. 7/10

Revenge of the Flying Dutchman

Once again, we are looking at the GBA version. SpongeBob one day takes his pet snail Gary for a walk through Jellyfish Fields. Gary then smells Kelp Nip and runs off, but SpongeBob manages to find him again, but not before accidentally awakening the Dutchman, who has a few plans in mind for him. Like the previous game, this is another side-scrolling platformer with five worlds, in which SpongeBob is tasked with finding ten treasures and various other things. A pretty simple and straight forward platforming game, with its story being a condensed version of the home console story. But that's ok because it's fun to do stuff with SpongeBob. 8/10

SuperSponge (Game Boy Advance)

Continuing with the GBA games, we have this one which, back when GBA was a thing, you could get bundled with Dutchman. In the game, it is Patrick's birthday and SpongeBob, like any best friend would, wants to get him the best birthday present ever. The present being a signed photo of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy (voiced by Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conroy in the cartoon, among other voice actors). But this task proves difficult when all the pair want to do is be rid of SpongeBob and set out to give him various tasks to keep him away from them. The story for both versions is the same and the gameplay is also close to being the same as it's once again, a platformer with levels separated into five worlds and the game uses Sonic the Hedgehog logic to replenish health by acquiring various items with lives being obtained by collecting 100 items or finding underpants. The game's simple premise and level design is alright. Continues the trend that the GBA games are following, but its all good. 7/10

The Movie (PC)

Now for a game that is on PC. So at the time, many films had video game tie-ins and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is no exception. Three different versions exist, but having only played the PC version, that's the one I will talk about here. It's basically a point-and-click game that loosely follows the plot of the film and puts SpongeBob and Patrick in various scenarios across 8 chapters. The PC version is good as it translates the humour and fun of the film and TV show, very well with colourful graphics that doesn't take away the looks of the characters in the cartoon. A well-made game that may have been better if it was like the home console versions, but it's cool. 9/10

Creature from the Krusty Krab

Ignore the PC logo in the image above, as we are talking about the GBA version once again. The game explores the dreams that SpongeBob, Patrick and Plankton all experience, with each character tasked with trying to survive the bizarre worlds their dreams have created. Four different gameplay styles are used including flight, rampage, racing and funnily enough, platforming. With obstacles and all sorts coming at each character. I think it's fair to say that out of all versions of this game, the Wii looks like the most developed. But the GBA game stands firmly as the best version due to its simplicity and so on. Interesting how much of this game is not set in Bikini Bottom and is darker compared to the other games. But it's still pretty fun though. 8/10

Lights, Camera, Pants!

So in all versions of this game, the story is largely all around the in-universe TV show The New Adventures of Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy which depending on which version you are playing, is celebrating its anniversary with SpongeBob wanting to play a starring role, or just assist in some way or another. As we are concentrating on the GBA version, it's the latter as he is tasked with finding the two starring actors who have gone missing. You have four worlds to visit, each containing four levels consisting of platforming, driving and mini-games. By completing levels, some extra mini-games can be unlocked and in one level per world, one of the characters being played, will get a role in the special episode. In keeping with how the other GBA games have played out, this game is very similar to Super Mario Bros. 2 in that it's all about playing characters with different abilities in a wide array of levels. It's a fun one, though, so that's something. 8/10

Atlantis SquarePantis (Game Boy Advance)

Another GBA game and possibly the last of the GBA games in this review. The gang escape a place called Atlantis and begin to reminisce on how it all happened, just as Plankton causes a rampage in the area. In the GBA game, you get to play as a pair of characters which you can change at a changing station. Each character has different abilities, but together you can perform various special moves. This game manages to achieve the impossible; it made SpongeBob SquarePants boring and short. Yes, it went there and to be honest, it's not all that surprising that it would finally come that way. Still, though, at least this game confirms that not everything with the beloved sponge is always guaranteed to work. 6/10

Legend of the Lost Spatula

Now for a blast of the past as we take a look at the very first SpongeBob video game ever made. The game has SpongeBob go on a quest to find the Golden Spatula which means paying a visit to the Flying Dutchman which we have already talked about, so that may have been the sequel to this game. Nevertheless, it's another platforming game that follows Ghosts N Goblins logic in that SpongeBob needs to keep his underpants on, or he will lose a life (the other clothes matter as well of course, but the underpants especially). I could basically call this the child-friendly and fun version of Ghosts N Goblins, in that it is basically that very game, but with SpongeBob characters and settings. Pretty fun though and worth a play. 8/10

Surf & Skate Roadtrip (Nintendo DS)

So interestingly, this was a game that used the Kinect on the Xbox 360. No they didn't team up with Nintendo, this is a separate game. But the plot is the same in that it's all based on the miniseries Runaway Roadtrip. Arcade style gameplay and a new never before seen world in Bikini Bottom makes this game a bit bland. Not really much to say about it, but just wish they made a better game than this. Because from the cover, it looks like a blast. But honestly, its not. 6/10

Truth or Square (Nintendo DS)

To mark the 10th anniversary of the cartoon, we have this game. In it, SpongeBob is tasked with keeping the Krusty Krab formula safe, but ends up forgetting where he left it. Which means seeking him from Plankton who can't remember anything when he is sad. The game lets SpongeBob transform into different things and because it's part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, the game contains a few fan favourite clips from the show. But despite that, it's not a game I would want to play again because it's a bit boring and tedious. Not really sure if there is a bad SpongeBob game, but some of these do come close to that. 6/10

Battle for Bikini Bottom: Rehydrated

So we have come full circle, and we are now at the remake of the first SpongeBob game I reviewed in this series review. As a remake of the home console versions of the original game, I managed to claim it as part of a Humble Bundle and got it on Steam. The story of defeating robots to save Bikini Bottom remains the same, as does the core gameplay. Apart from the graphics, the story and the gameplay, there is a new addition to the game which is a multiplayer horde mode in which two players face a wide array of waves of robots. Also contains a few cut features from the original game too such as a robotic Squidward fight and more. While certainly not the best of the remakes we have had in this generation, it holds up well as being a revival of SpongeBob SquarePants and even Nickelodeon video games which we haven't had much of until this came around. Nostalgia is everywhere as it should be and remains to be as fun as it was before (even though I only reviewed the GBA game of its original, but still). 8/10

So yeah a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to SpongeBob games. But all good fun with some great ones, some meh ones and ones that maybe needed a bit more work on. But good to know that among many franchises, this is one that has had more a mixed bag of quality games than most other well known and beloved franchises that wasn't a video game to begin with. 7/10