I came across SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge a week ago, and I’ve been hooked. This heartfelt entry is colorful, simple, and quite clearly rushed out to ride the waves of its namesake.
That said, nostalgia can only take you so far. Let’s find out if the goofy veneer and retro art style can make up for a frankly basic platformer. I have a ton of criticism coming up below, so buckle up, folks!
SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge’s Story
In SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge, the plot is barely more than a setup. Patrick’s birthday is coming up, and SpongeBob wants to get him the perfect gift, an autograph from Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
Naturally, Barnacle Boy responds by sending SpongeBob on a bunch of busywork missions instead of, you know, just signing something.
The story is only told through static conversations at the start and end of each chapter, and none of the writing captures the show’s unhinged energy.
The absence of iconic humor, like Mermaid Man’s “EVIL!” outbursts, was baffling to me. For a show famous for its absurd dialogue, the game offers almost none of it. The tone and setup both feel alien to the show.
SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge GBA Gameplay: A C-Tier Platformer
If you’ve played any generic 2D platformer from the early Game Boy Advance library, you already know what to expect here. SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge has twenty stages across five chapters. You’ll jump across platforms, slap enemies with your karate glove, and collect spatulas. That’s… mostly it.
The difficulty is laughably low. SpongeBob has a generous health bar, healing items are abundant, and extra lives come easily. Outside of a few mildly annoying pits and the occasional boss fight, it’s hard to lose. The game isn’t broken or offensively bad, it’s just dull.
No Real Challenge, No Real Reward
The boss battles did feel slightly more memorable than the levels themselves. I generally dislike timing-based encounters or involving using a level-specific item like the jellyfish launcher, as they feel more like gimmicks.
They’re fine. Not great, not awful, just fine. But compared to the strange, imaginative villains in the show, even these highlights felt underwhelming. I had much more fun working on our Pokémon Pinball Review, and that game basically played itself!
SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge’s Tools and Toys
To its credit, SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge GBA tries to add variety by introducing new tools on some levels.
These include a balloon that helps you float, a bubble wand for vertical movement, and a coral blower that’s barely useful. Unfortunately, these items are underutilized, often disappearing completely after a single level.
The ideas are there, but none of them evolve or contribute to long-term gameplay. Instead of deepening the experience, they feel like fleeting gimmicks, forgotten as soon as they’re introduced.
Trying and Failing to Match the PlayStation Version
The Game Boy Advance version clearly tries to imitate the broader SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge PlayStation release.
But without the visual flair or expanded content, the GBA version comes across as a stripped-down imitation. A decent platformer for kids, sure, but one that’s missing the heart of its console counterpart.
The Best Bits: Music and Nostalgia
Where Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Supersponge definitely shines is its soundtrack. The music is bright, quirky, and surprisingly catchy. It perfectly captures the upbeat weirdness of Bikini Bottom and stands out as one of the game’s most enjoyable features.
Visually, the sprites are sharp and colorful, though animations are very limited. Familiar locations and characters pop up throughout the levels, from Sandy and Mr. Krabs to the Flying Dutchman, adding a touch of fan service even if their roles are minimal.
SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge: Short, Shallow, and Spongey
With no secrets, no meaningful collectibles, and very little reason to replay, SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge is a platformer that exists for its brand, not its gameplay.
It’s not a disaster, it’s just deeply mediocre, which is the worst thing it could be in my eyes. Kids in the early 2000s might’ve loved it for its characters alone, but anyone revisiting it today will find little beneath the surface.
My Final Thoughts on SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge
If you’re a die-hard fan or feeling a pang of retro curiosity, SpongeBob SquarePants SuperSponge GBA might be worth a quick run-through.
It’s short, harmless, and occasionally fun thanks to its music and aesthetic. But if you’re looking for a great SpongeBob game, or even a good platformer, there are better fish in the sea.
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