The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (video game)

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
Original North American PS2 Cover Art
Developer(s)	Heavy Iron Studios (PS2, GC, Xbox) AWE Games (PC) WayForward Technologies (GBA) Aspyr Media (Mac)
Publisher(s)	THQ
Director(s)	Shiraz Akmal
Designer(s)	Joel Goodsell
Engine	RenderWare
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Mobile Phone, Mac OS X
Release date(s)	Windows NA October 27, 2004 PAL October 27, 2004 GBA, GC, PS2, & Xbox NA October 27, 2004 PAL February 18, 2005 Mobile July 16, 2005 Macintosh NA November 7, 2005
Genre(s)	Platform

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is a video game based on the film of the same name, which is a complement of SpongeBob SquarePants. The console versions use the same engine and have similar gameplay to Battle for Bikini Bottom and makes this considered a sequel. The same engine was used for the SpongeBob's Truth or Square video game which is considered a sequel to this game. The game was released on the PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, Xbox, GameCube, and Microsoft Windows. The PS2, GameCube, and Xbox versions are all multi-ports of the same game; the PC and GBA versions were however their own different games.

Plot

The plot of the video game is very similar to the film. King Neptune's crown has been stolen by Plankton and SpongeBob and Patrick must retrieve it from where Plankton sold it to: Shell City. A few areas in the game are not seen in the film, such as where SpongeBob and Patrick must escape Gooberland (their dreams) by following the Goofy Goober in the Patty Wagon. Much of the locations in the game greatly exaggerate the film's screen time; for example, SpongeBob never had to tour "Planktopolis" in the film, but he does so in the game.^[1] And later again to the Krusty Krab 2, in the Patty Wagon (requiring several Goober Tokens to get it back as this is in their reality, not their dreams).

Gameplay

Console versions

The gameplay is similar to that from the previous game, Battle for Bikini Bottom. There are 18 levels in the game that loosely follow the storyline of the film. Each level will contain its main component, and with the exception of the 4 boss levels, each level also has side tasks in it. Each main level and side task will give the player a Goofy Goober Token once completed, and the player needs these tokens to learn certain skills and proceed to the game. Although the player only needs to complete a level's main component to unlock the next level, it is not possible to complete the game only doing the main levels (though the player does not need to do all of the side tasks).

There is also an update system in the game. As the player progresses to levels, they will learn new moves for SpongeBob and Patrick which are needed to win the game. Additionally, the player will receive points as they go through the levels; once the player gains enough, they get an "Upgrade Point" which can improve a skill's effect (or be used to increase the player's Max Health from 3 to up to 6 units). The upgrades are not necessary (but are very helpful) to completing the game.

The game does not use a life system; if the player dies, they are reverted to their last checkpoint, the game doesn't count deaths.

• Platforming - Ultimately, the main levels of the game, the player must use SpongeBob and/or Patrick to proceed through the levels. Several skills such as combat, careful movement, and most notably, the use of SpongeBob/Patrick's movesets are needed to progress. Each of these levels have some side tasks which offer a Goofy Goober Token, and some of the ones which are recurring throughout the levels include:
  • Sonic Wave Guitar - The player has to use SpongeBob's Sonic Guitar (his 5th and last move) to guide the wave throughout rings without missing one.
  • Spongeball - The player must guide a ball-form SpongeBob through a platforming area, similar to the Super Monkey Ball series.
  • Floating Block Challenge - Patrick must jump from block-to-block to reach the Goofy Goober Token, and each block has different attributes.
  • Combat Arena Challenges - SpongeBob, with only few health units throughout the level, must defeat some waves of enemies.
• Driving - Using the Patty Wagon, sometimes the player will need to drive through an area. All of the driving levels have 3 identical side tasks: a time challenge, a ring challenge, and a "Macho" (or harder) time challenge.
• "Sliding" - Using a small bathtub that acts almost like a sled with its movement, the player must slide through the area. The same side tasks as in the driving sequences.
• Bosses - There are a total of four boss battles in the game, and oddly enough, none of them contain any side tasks.

Each completion of a challenge or its side quest grants the player with a Goofy Goober Token. In order to learn the moves required to advance in levels and the stories, SpongeBob and Patrick will have to complete these side missions (like the extra driving and minigame challenges) to get these tokens. SpongeBob and Patrick have a few moves, and when they get a sufficient amount of points, they can upgrade a move or increase their max health. Their health units are measured in Krabby Patties; they each contain only 3, but can be upgraded up to 6 overtime. The moves will improve in effectiveness when upgraded.

PC version

The gameplay is similar to that of Employee of the Month. The game consists of 8 chapters. It mainly follows around SpongeBob and Patrick a various number of locations. It has many gameplay features that are reminiscent of point-and-click adventure games. The 8 chapters the PC version contains loosely follow the plot of the film.

GBA version

There are 6 worlds to progress through, plus many bonus levels. Unlike the console versions, there is no save feature; instead, players are given a variety of level passwords as they progress through the game.

Awards

• Platinum Hits for the Xbox^[2]
• Sony Greatest Hits for the PlayStation 2
• Players Choice for the Nintendo GameCube^[3]

Easter eggs

• In the PC version, in Squidward's house, there is a chalkboard displaying his new phone number and a picture of Flatts the Flounder beating up SpongeBob.
• In the home console version, a license plate reading "HVY-IRN" can be seen in "Shell City, Dead Ahead", referencing the game's developer, Heavy Iron Studios, in addition to many others hidden in the game.
• The robot bosses from the previous game can be seen as garbage in one of the levels, showing how they were scrapped after the events of the previous game.

Reception

The PS2 version was noted by Play Magazine as "a full blown AAA platformer".

PlayStation 3 port

On February 5, 2012 (7 years after the game's release), it was officially revealed that The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie would be coming to the PlayStation Store as a PS2 Classic on February 7, 2012.^[4] It was later taken off the store for an unknown reason. The HD version was still available at Gamestop.com as a download code but has since been removed as well.

Sequel

A spiritual sequel, titled SpongeBob's Truth or Square and based on the SpongeBob SquarePants episode with the same title, features similar gameplay aspects.

References