Not all heroes need to have iron resolve, rock-hard abs, and buns of steel. Sometimes you need someone who’s just a little more … squishy. Take SpongeBob, for example. The star of the THQ platform adventure SpongeBob SquarePants™: Battle for Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob is, as his name suggests, a sea sponge. With square pants. He’s also the star of one of the hottest cartoon shows around, beloved by millions of kids and adults alike. And now, he’s coming to the Xbox.
Livin’ la vida mojado.
On the show and in the game, SpongeBob lives on the ocean floor in a house made out of a pineapple. His corner of the underwater world is called Bikini Bottom and is populated by a host of whacky critters. His best friends are a dimwitted starfish and a SCUBA-equipped adrenaline junkie squirrel. His neighbor is a cranky squid, and his pet is a sea snail named Gary. Though he gets himself and his pals into insane situations and explosive trouble every episode, SpongeBob maintains his cheerful outlook and is always ready with joke or a peppy song.
This time around, the local single-celled troublemaker Plankton has unleashed a complicated scheme to rule the world with his giant robots. Things quickly spiral out of Plankton’s control, and it’s up to SpongeBob and his friends to stop the ’bots and save Bikini Bottom. There are 16 levels to explore, with extra hidden levels and secret items just waiting to be discovered. Each level is packed with enemies, power-ups, and puzzles to challenge your brain as well as your reflexes. Along with collecting “shiny things,” SpongeBob also needs to gather up as many Golden Spatulas as he can. As his collection of shiny things and spatulas grows, more levels become available for exploration. The Golden Spatulas are also essential for catching a ride with the local undersea cab company, which will whisk you from whichever level you’re on to whichever level has the Spatula. Each new level is distinct and vibrant, literally bubbling with color and activity.
Beyond Sponger-dome.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom gives you the chance to control SpongeBob, Patrick the starfish, or Sandy Cheeks the squirrel as you explore the colorful underwater landscapes from the show. Each character has slightly different abilities, but all can jump, double jump, and attack enemies in their own unique styles. Friendly non-playable characters (NPCs) like Gary will offer advice, and cranky NPCs like Squidward will yell at SpongeBob and demand assistance. In addition to collecting shiny things and spatulas, SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy push buttons, smash Tiki boxes, and kick around the ol’ beach ball as they uncover all Bikini Bottom’s hidden treasure en route to thwarting Plankton’s evil scheme.
The game is closely connected to the TV show, featuring many of the show’s voice actors and a lot of the show’s goofy, almost-rude sense of humor. The interaction between the characters is spot-on, with good-natured SpongeBob completely missing Squidward’s biting sarcasm or Plankton’s ill-concealed guilt. Playing the game is a lot like experiencing a lost episode of the show, only you get to choose the star and control the action. You can support SpongeBob’s legendary obsession with underpants by collecting randomly scattered briefs (each pair gives you an in-game continue) and the all-powerful Golden Underwear.
Action starfish!
SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a welcome addition to the growing number of Xbox platformers. The character is something of a marketing juggernaut, but it’s refreshing to see that the designers and developers at THQ have worked so hard to recreate the show’s appeal instead of just leaning on it. From SpongeBob’s pineapple house to the Krusty Krab restaurant where he works, this is the most complete SpongeBob experience you can get … without actually getting wet.
