The evolution of the SpongeBob games is perceived in this title, with a correct step for the franchise and with tons of fun.
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There’s a character very beloved by both kids and adults, and that’s SpongeBob SquarePants, who has had multiple adaptations in different media including movies, toys, and even video games, all with the essence of the character and a very colorful world.
This is how we’ve seen a deployment of titles inspired by the Nickelodeon series. We’ve already seen it with SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, or with their recent games SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake and SpongeBob SquarePants: Patrick Star’s Game. Either way, they’ve been good experiences.
And on this occasion, once again with the talent of Purple Lamp Studios hand in hand with THQ Nordic, we get SpongeBob SquarePants: Tides of Tide, the new game of this little guy who doesn’t come alone and will be accompanied by his friend Patrick to bring us a new adventure.
Technical Section
I’ve been playing the new SpongeBob SquarePants games for several years, and I can tell you with certainty that each game, despite looking like more of the same, has very marked differences, and you can see the growth of Purple Lamp Studios, as they know how to give them their seal with a lot of quality and love.
While in other games, you can see a touch that makes the characters look like they’re made of clay, now you can see the change. This has been happening since the last SpongeBob SquarePants movies, where the techniques for representing his world change slightly compared to what we’ve already seen.
And something I must tell you from the start, which I won’t let pass, is that from the moment the adventure begins, we can delight in the exquisite voices of the show (only in Latin Spanish) without having to wait several months to enjoy them. This adds that hallmark that fascinates its fans, and I’m not just referring to English-speaking ones, but also Latin Spanish.
The above is a mix that comes together to offer us a very rounded experience, as if we were entering the world of SpongeBob SquarePants and could see each reference to the series and its universe in a more faithful and tangible way for all of us who love it.
However, despite all the good things I’ve mentioned, there’s a detail that, although not decisive, is present: regardless of whether we’re in performance or quality mode, there are areas where we’ll see strong FPS drops. Although it’s not something that accompanies us always as I indicated, it’s something momentary and is noticeably appreciated. Maybe they can fix it with a launch update.
To conclude, I can tell you that it’s a beautiful game that captures the essence of what we see in the TV series, in addition to giving us the freedom to explore each level that’s presented to us. That’s enough to keep us glued to the controller, an adventure that we can’t put aside, whether we’re fans of SpongeBob SquarePants or not.
Gameplay
A new adventure begins in SpongeBob SquarePants: Tides of Tide when we see that two of the most feared and respected characters meet at the Krusty Krab and a dispute occurs that will leave the fate of Bikini Bottom adrift.
This is how this new adventure begins, with a clever premise, as if it were a new episode of the series. It’s then that SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star come into action to try to undo the disaster that both Titans have caused.
Platforms return in this story, but something that has changed compared to previous games is the fact that you’ll be able to control two characters, either SpongeBob or Patrick, which will open up new playable mechanics that will be the delight of the game.
This means that we won’t just have the typical jump and attack of this series, but we’ll combine both heroes to make our way, and the best part is that we can switch between them at any moment. Although there will be situations that will force us to use one or the other simultaneously, which adds a lot of variety.
Additionally, we’ll explore Bikini Bottom to return everything to normal, and we’ll be in different scenarios, each with challenges and puzzles to solve with our skills. We’ll also have other special objects that will make things easier for us.
A detail that has fascinated us is the bosses we’ll encounter, which will give us good moments. Although I remind you that it’s a game with a more childish audience and the difficulty won’t be a problem for veteran players, making the journey quite easy to navigate.
Don’t get me wrong: the fact that the game is easy doesn’t mean it’s bad; on the contrary, I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I was alternating with my little son, and we had a great time. Every occurrence, comment, animation, everything is well structured to give us memorable and fun moments.
Something that often accompanies us in this type of game comes from the collectibles, whether they’re costumes, objects, and more, which allows us to explore and search more deeply in each level. This doesn’t feel forced; on the contrary, it’s gratifying and addictive, which adds more content to our adventure.
The photo mode is a wonder, as it allows us to capture good moments, either in the middle of action or simply to admire the landscape, and this is complemented by tremendous filters that we can acquire and unlock, to continue having a great time in this world.
To conclude, I’ve spent several entertaining hours with the game. Regardless of its difficulty or level of challenge, I feel that the experience is the most positive aspect of playing it and being able to see our characters. Their interactions and situations are what make the game special. I recommend it to spend a pleasant and enjoyable time.
Duration
It’s no surprise that SpongeBob SquarePants games aren’t characterized by being extremely long or extensive. We’ve already seen this in previous games, and it’s not that it’s bad, but we’re left wanting more to enjoy.
Although we remember that the game’s focus is more towards a childish audience and the difficulty isn’t exactly the most demanding. With this, I mean that the title lends itself to being enjoyed by the youngest members of the household, although for more veteran players, it will be a sweet stroll through their world.
It’s a journey that can take you around 10 hours, leaving aside the cosmetics and secrets that the game has and that it’s always a pleasure to find. Either way, it’s an adventure that’s enjoyable until the end and leaves us with that something that distinguishes the series, and that’s already very positive for players.
Conclusion
SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most representative faces of Nickelodeon today; for this reason, it’s not surprising to see new titles inspired by this world. It’s something that fans long for: to be able to be in Bikini Bottom and experience moments of healthy fun.
This is where we find SpongeBob SquarePants: Tides of Tide, a new installment that sets the bar high for the franchise. We won’t just control SpongeBob SquarePants; we’ll also guide Patrick Star in this adventure, giving a bit more variety to a gameplay that’s already very entertaining.
I won’t deny that it’s a game that entertains, makes us smile, and although it doesn’t reinvent anything, it does allow us to enjoy this new story a lot, with a very notable artistic work, despite minor technical issues. We have a work that’s enjoyable regardless of whether you’re a kid or an adult, a title recommended to get out of the routine and to spend some very pleasant hours.
*Thanks to THQ Nordic for providing us with the material to carry out this analysis.
Video game, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch enthusiast. Frank is one of the most active video game news writers on the web. He covers absolutely every topic. In terms of games reviewed, as of 2024 he has already passed the 60 mark and his average score, according to Open Critic is 80.
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