SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie (PS2)

...this is not the case. Spongebob fans who have seen the movie will probably want to have a look at the game, too.

At the beginning of the game, it all is very boring and dull, not much to do and all seems too easy, but don't be fooled, just play it for a couple of levels more. Suddenly the game gets more interesting, with more entertaining levels and colorful worlds. It is quite easy, all you have to do is collect the several tokens ...
...come to the rescue of Spongebob many times - and don't worry, Patrick is a stupid as ever.

The level of humour in the cartoon TV series is present in the game too. Maybe not as much as you would like it to be, but it's there and it's very stupid, but that is what makes it funny after all. The cut-scenes are just more and more "intelligent" conversations between the two protagonists, Spongebob and Patrick, and will sure make ... more

Review also published elsewhere.

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Normally, what you would expect from a platform game with a license from a cartoon movie is, a boring game, with bad graphics and very, very easy to complete. Fortunately, this is not the case. Spongebob fans who have seen the movie will probably want to have a look at the game, too.

At the beginning of the game, it all is very boring and dull, not much to do and all seems too easy, but don't be fooled, just play it for a couple of levels more. Suddenly the game gets more interesting, with more entertaining levels and colorful worlds. It is quite easy, all you have to do is collect the several tokens around the world, as in every platform game; once you have reached a certain amount of tokens a new ability will be unlocked. You can choose to expand your health points, improve one of the abilities you already have or unlock a new one. Abilities aren't just for Spongebob, but for Patrick Starfish, the other playable character too. Patrick will have to come to the rescue of Spongebob many times - and don't worry, Patrick is a stupid as ever.

The level of humour in the cartoon TV series is present in the game too. Maybe not as much as you would like it to be, but it's there and it's very stupid, but that is what makes it funny after all. The cut-scenes are just more and more "intelligent" conversations between the two protagonists, Spongebob and Patrick, and will sure make you chuckle more than once. As for the gameplay, it just is another platform game. It's very easy, nothing complicated involved. Just move around the character, jump or double jump, take down the enemies by hitting them with a Spongebob's powerful punch, or with Patrick's incredibly strong, err, bottom.

But of course, where would be the fun in a game where all you can do is run around and hit enemies? So vehicles are what you're looking for, and they are in the game - in its own particular way, but they are there. Racing in a hamburger may not be as fun as running in the wrong side of the road in Burnout 3, but you can't just beat driving in a bathtub.

Obviously it's just supposed to be fun, and it is, as a matter of fact. You will be handling the vehicles by just using the left analog stick and accelerating in the case of the driving hamburger, or by just moving around with the bathtub.

You probably are wondering if it's a long game or just a 7 levels with extreme ease to complete, but no sir, the game does quite do the job as for a long lifespan game. The number of level is quite high, it will take you a while to complete, but it's not just levels, there are multiple minigames too. The minigames are located around the world, so when you will be playing a certain level you can interrupt and play a minigame which will give you more and more points so as to improve your abilities and just have pure fun.

To progress through the game story you will need to collect special tokens, which can be achieved by completing levels and minigames. Sometimes you will find yourself blocked in the game because you don't have enough special tokens so as to unlock a new level. Once that happens you will have to complete the level again but only with a different goal. For example, instead of just completing a level by driving with the hamburger-mobile, you will have to beat a time limit, and other similar objectives. It's not as boring and repetitive as it sounds. Of course, you must be a fan of Spongebob Squarepants, otherwise you will just find the game as ridiculous as you would find the TV series.

Spongebob Squarepants The Movie is a fun game, very entertaining, no doubt about that. Again, you must like the TV series enough to buy the game. And some may or may not agree, but this game is actually better than the movie.

One of those games that should be a try before you buy, yes to fans of the genre and TV series, maybe for others. 

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