SpongeBob SquarePants The Cosmic Shake has many references from the show. However, it falters due to boring combat.
After the success of SpongeBob SquarePants, Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated had been broadcasted live by THQ Nordic. The stream featured THQ Nordic announcing that it has teamed up with Purple Lamp Studios once more to produce a cute platformer, SpongeBob SquarePants. Although the game’s simplicity is not ideal, it fixes some of those issues that prevented SPONGSBOB SquarePants from Battle for Bikinibottom-Rehydrated from being successful.
SpongeBob SquarePants has been a huge hit with SpongeBob loyalists. The SpongeBob SquarePants: Cosmic Shake is filled with nostalgic references to the series along with fun gameplay. This game, while not the most challenging platformer, could be considered a great way of introducing new gamers to platforming.
Bikini Bottom, where SpongeBob SquarePants & Patrick Star get sold mermaid tears which supposedly grant any wish that Kassandra – a fortune-teller – has for them. SpongeBob’s and Patrick’s failure to read the fine print cause the bubbles to burst and take their friends to different Wishworlds. SpongeBob will rescue his friends, and Bikini Bottom will be back to normal.
There are seven Wishworlds available to explore. Many of them take inspiration from TV shows like Halloween Rock Bottom and Prehistoric Kelp Forest. As the player travels through new portals, they are required to complete missions that will help them progress the world or return SpongeBob’s friends. It’s a consistent pattern throughout the game which makes it feel uninspired.
The game’s mechanics and controls are very simple, making them ideal for beginners. SpongeBob has pizza boxes that can be used as a glider. SpongeBob also uses a seahorse, which is often used to navigate fast-paced segments. The platforming is clean and smooth with semi-complex combinations which challenge players. If you are looking for something more advanced, this may be a disadvantage.
Each Wishworld’s final boss battles are unique in that they change the gameplay from previous titles. Gigantic Gary (Halloween Rock Bottom) is a sneak adventure that takes players on an exciting journey, while Prawn (Pirate Goo Lagoon) is a more traditional dodge/attack boss. While boss battles like these are not uncommon in gaming, it is encouraging to see THQ Nordic (or Purple Lamp Studios) incorporate new ideas into the franchise.
Like many platformer games, there are many secrets to be discovered. The doubloons are used to level SpongeBob up and allow him to wear more costumes. However, players must return to the Wishworlds they have already visited in order to acquire new skills. They don’t give any specialized ability, but they add fun mini-goals to each level.
The graphics and style make it feel like the players are actually watching a TV program. Although Wishworlds is not as exciting as other platformers they do satisfy the itch enough to keep the players engaged long enough that they can reach the boss. Although some Wishworlds might not be as detailed, others have a lot of decorations and NPCs.
Combat is SpiderBob SquarePants: the Cosmic Shake. SpongeBob’s Karate Kick can be used by players to quickly take down most of their Jelly enemies. Sometimes combat can be slow. Waiting for an enemy’s attack to stop you from hitting them was a deterrent to the joy of fighting. A great break from fighting repetitive Jelly foes is to have slides and vertical levels.
The game’s cutscenes break up the monotony and keep SpongeBob fans entertained. They are colorful, well-acted, fun, and always entertaining. It is exciting to watch a videogame that’s been adapted to a show’s long-run work and be able to work with the original cast. It can also become tedious to repeat the voice-over lines. The game wouldn’t be repetitive if it didn’t have the cutscenes.
Although the main storyline is captivating, side quests will appear throughout the game. These quests allow players to not only return to old levels but also encourage them to make every effort to reach the highest possible level. Like the costumes, side quests do not serve any purpose. They are simply ways to keep players occupied longer.
Overall SpongeBobsquarePants – The Cosmic Shake, is a solid platformer for young gamers and true fans. While the graphics and design are improved on SpongeBob SquarePants’ Battle for Bikini Bottom, Rehydrated, there will be some who will be turned off by the lack of diversity and Wishworld designs. It is worth watching for the many references to the series.
SpongeBob SquarePants is available on January 30th via the PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Game Rant was provided with an Xbox5 code to review the game.