User Reviews (1 - 8 of 8)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

WARNING- ONLY FOR MANLY MEN!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: October 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing games since 1988, and this is easily one of the hardest games I've ever played. I'm serious. You wouldn't expect that from what looks like a game for kids, or a game based on a movie, of which, most are never that good. Believe me, I expected the same thing. After becoming obsessed with the SpongeBob movie, I decided I'd give the game version a shot. Battle For Bikini Bottom got rave reviews, and this was made by the same team, so it couldn't be that bad right? Well, yes and no. The game's fun when it wants to be, and you'll get a kick out of the one-liners and especially Patrick's two basic attacks, but then there's the part where the game stops toying with you, and abruptly kicks your ass. I mean it- this game cheats. And that's not an excuse for poor gaming skills- I know what I'm doing. But when I aim right at an enemy, locked on with the targeting, and my attack goes THROUGH them, leaving them unscratched...or if the weapon targets a completely different enemy at the last second...we've got a problem. And that's what made me furious with this game. It's seemingly aimed at the 7-12 year old demographic, but I highly doubt any kid is going to beat this game. Much less, make it through an hour of gameplay without developing the first stages of either depression or violent tendencies.

The game follows the movie for the most part. King Neptune's crown has been stolen, and it's up to SpongeBob and Patrick to get it back. While at the same time, Plankton sends out a bounty hunter to stop them before they can finish the job so he can take over Bikini Bottom. Some scenes have been changed a little for some reason, and the tasks hardly match the movie's, but the layout is still good. It's a platformer, and of course you run around collecting things. In this case, you collect weights. Yes, the kind you lift to work out. It's part of the whole manly theme of the movie, and it translates wonderfully here. Attacking enemies can result in Manly 2-Hit Combos, getting you even more weights that, when you collect enough, let you upgrade either your moves or your health. You get to play as both SpongeBob and Patrick here- both pack their own unique moves. SpongeBob's two basic attacks are a karate spin (using the big foam hands he sports in the cartoon) and a bowling attack in which he aims the ball at far away enemies and lets loose. He also has a special uppercut that's useful for knocking out airborne enemies, and later on, if you can get that far, he gets a Sonic Electric Guitar attack. Basically, it's the bowling move, only it goes even further, and you can guide it. It's pretty useless, and the aiming on it is poor. Patrick's basic attacks are hilarious- a drunkard-like spin and a cartwheel. I almost lost it when I saw these for the first time. The expression on his face during the attacks is priceless. He can also crush enemies from above with a squash attack, and later on, he can throw objects. But platforming isn't all of the game. There's actually a good variety here. There are a few driving stages, some rollercoaster-type ones where you guide your bathtub down a path while avoiding obstacles, a SpongeBall challenge (guide SpongeBob in ball-form down a path while avoiding TONS of obstacles), block hopping, and more. These are all fun in the first stages of their respective forms, but there are harder versions. Like the driving levels- the first stage of any driving level has you just make it to the end of the level. Simple. But then, you have to clear it within the time limit. If you can do that, you then have to beat the time in which you cleared it in. Yes, if you beat a time limit stage at 2:53 and the limit was 3:00, you now have to beat your time of 2:53. And trust me, that's going to kill you. I'll offer you advice right now- during the first time limit stage, just make it to the end of the track, but don't cross the finish line. Wait until the last two seconds, then hit the turbo boost, and go. That way, you have a more reasonable time to beat it.

The point of all these level variants is to collect Goober Tokens. Each time you beat a challenge, you get a token. Usually, you just have to get the token for the first part of a level in order to move on to the next. But later on, you find out that you can only get required abilities (like SpongeBob's Sonic Electric Guitar) after getting a certain amount of Goober Tokens. After getting 40 Tokens, I thought I could make it to the next level. I did, only to find out that I needed 45 to get SpongeBob's newest move, which is required to beat that level. The 5 Tokens I skipped, were the levels that were too hard for me, and the ones I thought I could skip without having to complete them. Yes, I was furious. This is the first game in almost 10 years where I -had- to use codes to move on. I went for the "all stages unlocked" code, and skipped to the next part. Yeah, that makes me look bad for stooping so low as to use codes to beat a game, but it was a last resort. You'll see for yourself when you play this game. It's hands down, one of the hardest out there. I haven't played a game this hard since Metal Slug 3's last level. And if you can somehow make it to the last boss- King Neptune, you'll give up. Get this: you have to flip over 5 tables that are aimed at each other. You have to do this while avoiding Neptune's fire attack that FOLLOWS you. It doesn't just go in one predictable direction, it follows you. You have to avoid this attack 3 complete times before Neptune switches over to his laser attack, which you get behind the frozen Mr. Krabs so the laser reflects off of him (instead of shattering him instantly like it should), onto the tables, and hits him so you can get in ONE attack...of which takes off 1/9 his health. And keep in mind that you have to avoid 3 complete attacks of his. If you get hit even once, you'll have to dodge it 3 times again until he switches over. This fight alone will make you a bad parent if you have your kids play games while you're busy.

Visually, the game's nothing special. Some characters look weird in 3-D, but it retains the cartoon's charm. Some extra time could've went into the animations though. SpongeBob's double jump looks awkward. I never noticed any slowdown in the game at all, which was impressive since there can be a lot of enemies on the screen at the same time. This game looks about the same as Bikini Bottom. But I have one complaint- how hard would it have been to throw in clips from the movie instead of still-frames with narration? That was sad. As for the sound, almost all the voices are the same. David Hasslehoff and Dennis sounded different, for obvious reasons probably, but all the others are the exact same. I was disappointed when I got to the last part of the Neptune fight, and the scat-type ditty in the Goofy Goober Rock song wasn't included. There's a pause for it, then it goes on to the next verse. It's like this in the official soundtrack for some reason too.

Get this game only if you have experience with some of the harder stuff out there. When I have kids, I'll hide this sucker from them. I don't want their teachers to think I'm abusive or something. Trust me people- this isn't a kid-friendly game. Actually, they should just use the "unlock all moves" and "unlock all levels" codes right from the start. That'll save them an aneurysm or two.

Great for the sponge bob fan

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Cute XBOX game. My kids loved it and were able to get to the end with no problems

The sponge delivers yet again!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is worth playing. I got this game for christmas and couldn't put it down. You play as Spongebob or Patrick (depends on the level). You go on a quest to the one place no sea creature has ever returned from, Shell City, so you can save Mr. Krabs (and not to mention all of Bikini Bottom) from Plankton's Plan Z.

As you continue playing, you earn new moves. You can also upgrade your moves and add on to your health with manliness points you earn by being "manly". Boss fights are easy, BUT can be challanging in some spots. You can drive the Patty Wagon (a car in the shape of a burger) and slide down paths. You can also find treasure chest that unlock extras (trailers, costumes, gizmos, etc.). Overall great game for kids and anyone who likes adventure games. Graphics: A-, Gameplay: A, Fun: A, Overall: A.

A Step Down From Bikini Bottom

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Although this game is supposedly by the same development team, there is a great lack of polish to this game. It looks to me like it was rushed out in time for the Movie. The design is not well though-out. Conventions vary from level to level, and the levels do not hang together well. Some levels are very easy, and some are very, very hard. Overall, it is fun, but spend $20 instead of $40 and get Bikini Bottom, which is a delightful, well-polished, well-balanced game. The "weapons" in this one are crazy and a step down from the sophistication of BB. It can be a very wild kind of game at times, and may be better suited for preschool children if you want to let them spin wildly breaking everything in sight -- better in the game than in your house I guess -- heh heh. Little kids will not be able to play through the game in many parts. I found my self stuck fairly near the beginning. If you have a beverage or two, you could have fun with this one though. If you love SpongeBob, have played BB, and are Jonesin' for some more, get it, but you might want to wait until the price comes down a bit.

Okay, but no consistency.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: August 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have to agree with another reviewer - it is very easy in some places, but VERY hard in others. I can barely complete some levels, let alone my 5 year old. We have yet to get to the end of the game. I find that sometimes you can't finish an earlier level because you have to have a power that you get in part of a later level, and then you have to come back. It can get very confusing on where to go to do what, and sometimes the challenges are hard to find unless you've been through a level a hundred times. It's okay for entertainment value, as my son keeps playing it over and over, but the frustration is high as we can't get past a certain point.

Great game!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

My son has played this game at friends' houses and loved it. We couldn't find it in the stores anymore, but he just had to have it. Its a good challenge and really fun for him.

AWESOME

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 50
Date: December 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

My name is Masty and I think that spongebob rules....yay....I also have a pretty hot sister who likes it too!

Boring

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Bought for My Grandson, because he like the sponge bob war.
When asked how he liked it he said it was boring.

Review Page: 1 

Actions