When THQ Nordic released SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom Rehydrated a few years ago, it probably didn’t expect the mega-response it got from fans of both the original game and the animated series as a whole. But, yeah, based on its response, we knew it was just a matter of time before everyone’s favorite sponge and his friends made some sort of return.
And now we get it with The Cosmic Shake, a game that follows the same formula as Rehydrated, with simple yet entertaining platforming that’s suitable for all ages. While it doesn’t advance the genre as a whole, it’s a good time with SpongeBob and his allies, and sure to put a smile on your face. (Unless you’re a lifeless pirate, of course.)
Wish Upon a Mermaid Tear
The game follows SpongeBob and his starfish pal Patrick, as they inadvertently create a tear within their universe, all thanks to some mysterious mermaid tears given to them. In an effort to right the wrongs they caused, they’ll need to travel across distant lands, while at the same time, keep themselves out of trouble. Yeah, good luck with that.
Although the story isn’t gangbusters, it’s written just like a TV episode, with all sorts of lively dialogue (including the original voice actors), and some scenarios that tie in really well with the gameplay. Which, by any means, is good fun.
The controls are solid and really give you a lot to do, whether it’s attacking enemies with melee moves, shooting a bubble gun or riding a (nearly) out of control seahorse to new areas. You’ll also have plenty of missions to take on, as well as collectibles to unlock (most of which don’t really do much, but still keep you busy) and hidden areas to uncover.
It’s all in good fun. Not too challenging, but rock solid all the same, and something you can enjoy with your youngins.
A Good-Looking Sponge
On top of entertaining gameplay and hours of good play value, The Cosmic Shake also benefits from being the best-looking SpongeBob game yet. The worlds are vast and well worth looking upon, with neat little artistic touches here and there (particularly with some of the bigger enemies). The animation is smooth, and the use of colors is quite noteworthy. It’s not amazing like, say, Hi-Fi Rush, but it’s a good thing to look at.
And, as we mentioned, the game makes fine use of the SpongeBob voice cast, with quality voiceovers and lots of great characters. Not to mention the sound effects are on cue and the music is good Hawaiian-themed fun. I would’ve preferred SpongeBob to maybe not repeat the same lines over and over again, but whatever – it’s not bad.
Get Into the Shake
While The Cosmic Shake doesn’t revolutionize the SpongeBob series as much as, say, Rehydrated, it does continue the trend of good platforming fun for all ages. It’s easy to play, with lots to do, and it looks and sounds like something from the TV show, right down to the singing pirates. So, yeah, if you’re a fan, this is an absolute must. Now get to Shake-in!
