Rating: E
Players: 1
Price Range: ~$17 USD
A game based on the cartoon, SpongeBob SquarePants.
Alright, while there will definitely be more SpongeBob games on this list, I definitely think that this one is probably the weakest one out of them all.
Not...offensively bad, but it is easy to pick on.
I should say...the game is 70% action-platforming in a 3D space, and the other are these on-rail flying levels. The latter constitute the majority of the second half where you move your craft either as Patrick in a space shuttle, or SpongeBob in a plane, with you needing to grab fuel canisters in the path while your own degrades over time and if you hit something.
Fine...I guess.
The game takes place in the dreams of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Plankton, with SpongeBob being a wicked driver (those sections are just...exist), Patrick as a superhero in a cel-shaded comic-style world, and Plankton running away from a gigantic and beastly patty (hence the name).
The platforming levels involving the first two are...fine enough. One could easily make the argument that it gets repetitive, with not much in terms of complexity regarding combat while being a linear fare.
Plankton's gameplay is completely different, as with a freeze ray, you are locked into a 2D plane in a 3D environment running away from the patty and have to destroy obstacles, with the latter half of the game having him gigantic Godzilla-style and destroying buildings and such to take the thing itself as it runs away and latches onto SpongeBob's plane.
It is actually decent. Not outstanding, but competent.
The way that it all culminates with all three characters interacting at the end is a little cool, although the plot isn't anything to ride home about.
The minigames between levels to gain in-game currency for extras, with different ones for all the characters, are not the worst thing in the world either.
The game ends in a race between the three, now in this new combined dream for...something, with the three having either the racing from the start of game with SpongeBob, or the shuttle or plane levels with either him or Patrick. However, annoyingly, in order to play as either Patrick or Plankton, you need to get all the starfish or plankton collectables in each of the game's platforming levels, which if you missed them, then you would have to replay them, which is simply ridiculous.
To hit home that the plot is inconsequential despite at least being somewhat different from other licensed games, the true ending, after you beat the race with all three characters, it is revealed that it was all in Gary the snail's dream.
Didn't work in Super Mario Brothers 2, and it certainly doesn't work here.
Overall, a...okay enough SpongeBob game. You could definitely could do worse, but it isn't spectacular or anything either.
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