The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, released on October 27, 2004, is a video game adaptation of the film of the same name developed by THQ and Heavy Iron Studios. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie video game is a flawed but enjoyable experience.
To say that “SpongeBob SquarePants” is iconic is not enough to explain the impact the show has had on pop culture.
Between its premiere on July 17, 1999, and the two seasons that followed, the show produced the best work of yellow-based cartoon comedy since the first third of “The Simpsons.” The first three seasons are still considered some of animation's all-time greats, producing endlessly quotable lines and unforgettable moments. This is still true today. Recently, Nickelodeon began broadcasting Super Bowl LVIII with his song “Sweet Victory”, the triumphant ending of the season 2 episode “Band Geeks”.
This “classic” era ended with the release of “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.” To market the film, Nickelodeon licensed his THQ the rights to create a video game adaptation to coincide with its release, creating the “SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” video game.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, released on October 27, 2004, is a video game adaptation of the film of the same name developed by THQ and Heavy Iron Studios. The game follows the story of the movie, with players taking on the role of SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke) on a quest to retrieve the stolen Neptune (Jeffrey Tambor). Travel to a place known as “Shell City.'' He gained the throne in order to save Mr. Crab (Clancy Brown) from execution and thwart Plankton's (Mr. Lawrence) plans to conquer the ocean.
THQ had Heavy Iron Studios create versions for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. The developer had worked with THQ the previous year to create another SpongeBob video game, the cult classic SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom. Within just a year, the studio used the mechanics and engine from SpongeBob SquarePants: The Battle for Bikini Bottom as a basis.
The game is divided into four level types: platforming, driving, sliding, and boss fights. All level types except boss fights include additional challenges. In platforming levels, players jump, use unique movement abilities, and fight enemies to complete the level. In Driving, players pilot the Paddy Wagon, a car shaped like a Krabby Patty. In Sliding, players use makeshift sleds to slide down levels.
The platform section is the highlight of the game. SpongeBob and Patrick move with the weight you expect from their characters, and the controls are responsive. The level design and enemies make each ability satisfying to use. My favorite level is 3000 Miles to Shell City. Here you will unlock SpongeBob's bash abilities. Bash is an attack in which SpongeBob jumps into the air with his boxing gloves and attacks anything above him. In levels, you use Flinger to defeat Flinger, an enemy that floats and spits out harmful slime, moving the board over holes and destroying radio towers. This serves as a great tutorial for the ability, while also making it rewarding to accomplish.
The soundtrack is great and fits most levels perfectly. In the level “I'm Ready…Depression'', to stop SpongeBob from causing trouble after wasting ice cream, he and Patrick, who wasted ice cream, have to build a giant candy sculpture. Pass through restaurants and bars. The theme's instrumentals emulate instruments found at carnivals, such as organs. It's supposed to be a cheerful song, but it's off-key and gives off a sad, drunken vibe. This matches the setting and the character's state at that moment in the story. This can be applied to most level themes and is designed to avoid sacrificing listenability.
This is a game made for the PlayStation 2 era console, so the graphics don't hold up well. However, that doesn't make them bad. I think it helps give it a rougher aesthetic, in keeping with the slightly more serious tone of the games and movies compared to the show. The visuals mixed with the soundtrack give the game a unique and raunchy atmosphere, especially in that the characters in the background appear to be dead inside.
The driving and sliding levels are mostly fun. There are multiple shortcuts and running around the environment is fun. Levels include scripted events that change the scenery and keep you occupied. What holds some of these levels back are ring challenges. Getting through them is painful. The timing to pass the ring is very critical, and if you miss the ring, you will return to the beginning. They are definitely the worst part of the game.
The cutscenes aren't strong either. Perhaps because the film was unfinished when development began and deadlines were tight, the story is told through a narrated slideshow of frames from the film, with occasional character audio. The slideshow explaining the plot doesn't really sell the developments that SpongeBob and Patrick go through, and it makes you feel like you're second-guessing the progression of the plot. This may not bother you if you've seen the movie, but that alone doesn't help the game's story.
Another thing I don't like is how songs are reused throughout the game. I binge-listened to the soundtrack, and the same songs are used for the drive and sliding levels. It's lazy and clashes with the tone of the level. This upbeat bluegrass song plays in every driving level, but the levels that include it include a biker in the dingy parking lot of his bar and a dystopian world where everyone's mind is his controlled slave. Includes major cities. Sliding Level's theme is a hard rock song, so it fits the setting better, but I don't condemn the reuse.
Despite my complaints, the video game “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” is still a fun experience. Despite the frustrating difficulty, story presentation, and soundtrack repetition in some parts, the atmosphere remains true to the movie, with a great soundtrack and fun and engaging gameplay. Recommended if you're a fan of The Sponge or 3D platformers.
