The SpongeBob Square Pants Movie – The Game review

The ludicrously lengthy titled SpongeBob Square Pants has been charming children and parents alike since, what seems to be, the beginning of time. The delightful array of characters and vibrant storylines make for an adventure like no other, and alongside the release of the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie comes the video game. However, to much surprise, despite the seemingly consistent failure of TV show/movie inspired games, SBSP is a tantalising romp that breaks the boundaries of target audiences.

There, But Still Square…

With two main playable characters at your disposal – SpongeBob and Patrick – your task is to fight and figure your way out of a 16+ hour long battle all in the name of King Neptune’s Crown that’s mysteriously gone missing with Mr. Krab the only likely culprit.

With a never-seen-before (in a game aimed at children) stats system that allows the player to upgrade Sponge or Patrick’s variety of moves once they’ve collected the necessary amount of Goofy Goober Tokens, SBSPTM adds a certain diversity that is frequently lacking in such apparently infantile gaming.

From the onset you can tell that SBSPTM is a very polished, well-made game. As soon as you hit the main GUI, you’re faced with a fantastically transfixing display that almost promises good things all by itself. Once you’ve started the stupendously appealing – if in a nostalgic sense – platforming, you’ll begin to realise just why this game, like its TV counter-part, has as much for the older generation as it does for the young.

A Different Sponge…

Despite my evident liking of this game, it struck me as somewhat odd that it comprises of our favourite pacifist and half-wit running around killing an almost never-ending horde of bad guys. It’s a game set around everything the main character would oppose. Since when has SpongeBob considered violence as the answer to criminal acts.

Nonetheless, I can imagine the zany adventures that are flaunted so distinctly in this game having a negative psychological affect on the Sponge man. Speaking of which, are the only thing that hold SBSPTM together. Admittedly, platformers are the pioneers of gaming (almost). You only have to whisper Super Mario 3 at a computer game convention before getting bombarded with wistful level references, theme tune recitals and disturbing fan-art. Platformers are big, but since their death not so long after the infamous Doom was released, they don’t quite cut the butter anymore, and that little word monotony is quoted more times than you can say Bowser’s.

In saying that, it’s not all bad. SBSPTM encompasses the attributes that paved the way for our love of platformers; vivacious scenery, innovative characters and let’s not forget the timeless Double-Jump. It’s all here in its glory, it’s just taken to another level, but that unfortunately creates more problems than it should.

So Let’s Sea…

When you pick up your PlayStation 2 controller to play SBSPTM, you’ll instantly realise how smooth and elegant it all hangs together. Sponge and Patrick almost glide in a sentient manner around levels and, with a little help from some fantastic animations, have moves that deliver equally in laughs, as they do in efficiency. Even on the astoundingly enthralling bathTub and sandwich car levels, the fluidity and grace oozes out of every orifice in copious amounts. Everything you can control simply feels right.

I wish I could say the same about the game dynamic, though. In order to progress through SBSPTM, you simply have to complete all the tasks that are put before you, much like any other platformer, but with the addition of making the collection of Goofy Goober tokens a prerequisite of success, it can become annoying. I frequently found myself playing certain levels over and over again, not because they were extraordinarily fun, but because I needed that extra token of which without, would guarantee my failure.

It came as a surprise to me that completing SBSPTM is not doable with pure skill or intellect, but simple trial and error. Some levels have items or paths that, although are integral to progress, lack blatancy, and although I’m all for non-linear gaming, there’s a limit which, unfortunately for some, is certainly not lacking in the visibility department.

This fundamental simplicity is unfortunately reflected in the level design as well. Although you’ll undeniably find yourself seemingly without purpose at least two or three times during the course of the game, most of the time it’s all straight forward. The difficulty of SBSPTM lies (mainly) in its multitude of tasks available for each level, and a great deal of its length no doubt.

We all know this game is directed at today’s youth, but I’d still consider it an insult of my intelligence to think they can promote a lengthy game that’s merely bulked out with repeats of the same level with a different task, whether I was ten or not.

In reference to the aforementioned mainly, SBSPTM lacks continuity in its difficulty. For example, some of the very early stages can be quite taxing in terms of number of enemies on screen at any one time, ease of collecting items and the surrounding level itself. Whereas boss fights well into the game can be easier than selling porn at a nymphomaniac rehabilitation clinic. I’d like to say the game was innovative for such erratic complexity, but it just denotes recklessness.

Virtua-Bob

The sheer depth of the visuals in SBSPTM is something all kiddie games should have, even if it’s just to stimulate the brain. Granted, it’s rather unprofessional of me to be saying “Oooh, look at the pretty lights”, but you’d be surprised how relevant such comments are made when playing this game. The graphical side of SBSPTM as a whole is essentially a softcore Acid trip and I think it’s fantastic.

I’ve played a lot of Movie/TV Show video game conversions and I have to admit that this game is the best yet at capturing the essence of its inspiration. I’ve always said that if a cartoon show gets better funding for a movie, the only thing that changes is it looks more 3D and has better shading. This game is what the TV series would be if Bill Gates bought it out.

There are some stretched and blurry textures dotted around the place, but that’s easily forgiven considering what Heavy Iron Studies has done here.

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice About Someone…

One of the greatest and most distinguishing characteristics of cartoons is the sound effects they use so plentifully. Running noises, jumping noises, eyelid-batting noises, everyone knows and loves them, and to top off the great appearance of SBSPTM, it has all of the above. And more.

The voices are, for a starters, greatly acted, and to make the whole experience that much more authentic, it’s the same people that work on the TV show packing in bucket-loads of humour and giving the game exactly the same shine. And as for the soundtrack, once again it’s executed perfectly in fitting in with the SpongeBob theme of things.

If you take this game at face value you’re going to have a blast. I’m slightly ashamed to say I did, but it’s no wonder considering the hard work that’s been put into it. Although it lacks true depth or any gripping narrative, you’ve got to remember who this game is aimed at. However, if you’re a SpongeBob fan, you’ll definitely appreciate this game because it’s the closest you’ll ever be to being the porous fool himself.

Boiling over with humour and reminding us of your platforming roots this is a sure shot hit for most gamers, just don’t expect too much.