After the success ofSpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom- Rehydrated, THQ Nordicannounced during its 10th anniversary live streamthat it had teamed up once again with Purple Lamp Studios to produce a simple but cute platformer:SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake. While the game may be a bit simplistic, it does improve issues that held downSpongsBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom-Rehydrated.
Die-hard SpongeBob fans will be quickly enamored withSpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakewhich is packed full of nostalgic references to the series with lighthearted gameplay. While the game may not be the most intricate platformer, it could be seen as a great way to introduce new gamers to platforming.
Players start out in Bikini Bottom when SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star are sold mermaid tears that supposedly can grant any wish from Kassandra, a fortune-teller. After SpongeBob and Patrick fail to read the fine print, the bubbles open a vortex taking all their friends to different Wishworlds. It’s SpongeBob’s job to go and rescue his friends and bring Bikini Bottom back to its normal self.
There are seven unique Wishworlds to explore that take inspiration from the TV series, some of the more entertaining ones being Halloween Rock Bottom and Prehistoric Kelp Forest. Each time a player traverses through a new portal they are tasked with completing missions in order to progress the world andbring back SpongeBob’s missing friends. It’s a pattern that repeats throughout the whole game, which makes the overall goal feel lackluster.
The mechanics of the game are simple and not too complex making it perfect for players wanting to get introduced to the platform genre. SpongeBob can usepizza boxes as a gliderand will often use a seahorse to traverse the fast-paced segments. The platforming is smooth and clean, while still adding semi-complex combinations to challenge the players. However, this can be a downside for people who are looking for a more sophisticated game.
The final boss battle in each Wishworld change up the gameplay compared to previous titles and are genuine standouts. Gigantic Gary in Halloween Rock Bottom, for example, puts players on a sneak adventure whereas Prawn in Pirate Goo Lagoon is a more traditional dodge and attack boss. While these types of boss battles may not be unique to gaming, it is invigorating to see THQ Nordic and Purple Lamp Studios incorporate contemporary ideas into the franchise.
Like most platformer games there are tons of secret items to collect, like hidden doubloons throughout each Wishworld. The doubloons can be used to level up SpongeBob and unlock30 alternative costumes for him to wearbut players will have to travel back to completed Wishworlds in order to use new skills to find them all. The costumes are purely cosmetic as they don’t add any specialized ability but they are a fun mini-goal within each level.
The art styleand graphics are vivid and crisp, making the players feel as though they are actually in a 3D version of the TV show. The Wishworlds aren’t as intracite as other platformers but they still satisfy the itch just enough to stay engaged long enough to get to the boss. While some Wishworlds aren’t as detailed, others are plastered with decorations and NPCs.
Combat is the greatest weakness when it comes toSpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake. Players can spam SpongeBob’s Karate Kick and the Bubble Wand moves to easily take down the majority of Jelly enemies. Often more than not the combat is slow and having to wait for an enemy to attack before being able to hit them hindered the excitement of fighting. Having vertical levels and slides thrown in for diversity is a great break from fighting repetitive Jelly enemies.
The cutscenes in the game help break up the monotony and will have SpongeBob fans engaged. They are colorful, well-acted, and always entertaining. It’s also exciting to see a video game that’s adapted from a long-running show have the ability to work with the original cast, which only elevates the experience. However, while playing the voice lines often become repetitive. Without the cutscenes, the game would be a repetitive collect and return game.
While the main storyline is charming, there are side quests that will pop up throughout the game. These encourage players to not only go back to older levels but also put a heavy emphasis to leave no stone unturned. But like the costumes, the side quests don’t serve a purpose to the main storyline and are only ways to keep players engaged longer.
OverallSpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakeis a solid game for true fans of the TV series and a way to introduce young gamers to the platforming genre. While its graphics and design improve onSpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom-Rehydrated,the lack of diversity in the Jelly enemies and Wishworld designs will be a turn off to some. All the same it’s worth checking out for the endless references to the show.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakereleases January 30th on PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. Game Rant was provided with a PS5 code for the purpose of this review.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake
WHERE TO PLAY
Wish-granting Mermaid’s Tears in the hands of SpongeBob and Patrick… What could possibly go wrong? Sure, the very fabric holding the very universe very together could come very undone, opening up portals into Wishworlds full of knights, cowboys, pirates, and prehistoric snails. But that’s nothing everyone’s favorite sponge can’t handle - with the right cosmic costume! Everybody do the Cosmic Shake!- Unlock classic and new platforming skills like the Fishhook Swing and Karate Kick- Don more than 30 F.U.N.tastic costumes like SnailBob and SpongeGar- Travel to 7 distinct Wishworlds like Wild West Jellyfish Fields and Halloween Rock Bottom- Experience all the buddy movie banter with SpongeBob’s permanent companion Balloon-Patrick- Meet all your favorite Bikini Bottomites from the series, voiced by their original actors- Brand-new soundtrack from the composers of Battle for Bikini Bottom + dozens of songs from the series!
