If you fancy diving into those classic 3D action platform games that are seen less and less these days, then the Review of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakeup I could give you some good advice on where to go. Purple Lamp's work seems taken straight from the perfect tie-in manual of the first decade of the 2000s, offering platform action with varied abilities, transformations and variables as one would expect from the most classic Nickelodeon tradition. -licensed games. And it's not bad at all, on the contrary: considering the scarcity of new titles of this type on the market (at least among productions of a certain caliber), we welcome this new SpongeBob adventure with open arms, if only to immerse ourselves. We're back in Bikini Bottom, which is always a pleasure.
After a strangely long break between 2015 and 2020, we have seen a notable number of projects related to SpongeBob SquarePants arrive in the video game sector, among which the Purple Lamp line of titles is being consolidated, which after SpongeBob SquarePants: The Battle for Bikini. Below - Rehidratod continues on its path leaving the overall structure substantially unchanged but adding a lot of originality in this new The Cosmic Shake.
On the other hand, although the previous one was a kind of remake, in this case we are faced with something new and the developers knew how to afford to include some new game mechanics and build a new and crazy story. scenery.
SpongeBob in the gelatinous multiverse
In the space of a few initial minutes, the dynamic duo formed by SpongeBob and Patrick are even capable of altering the space-time fabric, causing lacerations to new dimensions, just to give an idea of the madness of this history. On the other hand, if our two heroes are given mermaid tears capable of granting any wish, the destruction of the dimensional continuum is practically the least we can hope for, and so it does indeed happen. During a fair in Bikini Bottom, the two friends stumble upon Madame Kassandra's stall of ancient magical items and are immediately fascinated by a strange shiny bottle. The unenthusiastic merchant does not seem to give much value to the discovery, stating (with little conviction) that it is a substance capable of making wishes come true, creating soap bubbles.
SpongeBob and Patrick seize the opportunity with their usual enthusiasm and start making wishes and creating balloons in an explosion. Unfortunately, they realize too late that the object belongs to the god Neptune and that it really works, if the person using it is pure of heart, precisely like the protagonist of the square underwear.
What follows is a cataclysm that shatters the reality of Bikini Bottom, leaving the town in ruins and creating a series of alternative dimensions in which the various expressed desires were realized, connected by portals to standard reality. And, as if that were not enough, in all this Patrick finds himself transformed into a balloon, among other things. SpongeBob's mission, to try to fix things, is to explore the different worlds by completing their respective missions, which usually involve several platforming sessions, confrontations with mysterious enemies and even final battles against various bosses. Last but not least, this is all done by dressing our hero in various extravagant alternate costumes, "kindly" provided by Madame Kassandra for the price of cosmic gelatin and gold doubloons.
Action and platforms
With regards to game, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake follows the classic 3D action platform canons quite faithfully, to the point that it seems taken directly from the first decade of the 2000s. The mechanics are what you would expect from a title of this type: it consists in jumping, fighting using some attack or evasion movements and interacting with characters and elements of the stage in different situations. Although the fundamental basis can only be derived and quite far from the best examples of platform games, the madness of the world of SpongeBob SquarePants comes to the rescue by staging a truly remarkable variety of scenarios and situations, to be honest, excellently exploited also from the point of view The Purple Lamp team, who managed to build some pretty interesting levels. Each of the seven explorable worlds it is characterized by a dominant theme (the wild west, cinema, pirates and so on) which influences the graphic representation but also some specific elements of the gameplay.
SpongeBob's progression occurs in these strange contexts and is found in learning new skills and exploiting them in different contexts, but also taking them with him to other worlds and thus progressively expanding the possibilities of movement, interaction and exploration.
Therefore, the license for the seahorse or the flying kick capable of crossing walls and jumping higher are also useful to reach new points on the stage and the construction of the levels is generally quite complex and captivating, presenting alternative routes and secrets to discover. The combat with enemies is perhaps the least successful element of the package, but it also somewhat replicates the classic style of the genre, since it works as glue between the parts and as a condition to increase the level of challenge to be faced. integrated into the platform game phase.
Finally, a very convincing element comes from the number of events and mechanical variations that we can find within the different worlds. Also following the different steps of the narrative, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake transforms the gameplay several times for a few minutes (racing in strange vehicles, platform games with a 2D structure, fighting games with scrolling, etc.). All this, combined with the boss fights, guarantees a remarkable variety.
old style
From a caricature of this magnitude, the characterization graphics You don't have to invent much, since you can count on very recognizable and charismatic characters and settings. The game does an excellent job of reproducing typical stories and situations from the series in an interactive way, also thanks to excellent writing between script and dialogue (in English, subtitled in Spanish). The premise then allowed Purple Lamp to indulge itself, proposing 7 different scenarios with specific themes, which made natural a notable variety in terms of atmospheres, settings and even game mechanics, considering the specific elements of each mission. The result is a platform game that is committed to the progressive exploration of each part of it, at least from the point of view of history and the discovery of new content.
As for the action itself, the problems that usually arise in 3D platform games of a not very excellent caliber are revealed: precision in control system It is definitely not at the level of Nintendo's best productions, to give a simple and perhaps even a little unfair example.
The addition of the double jump and slide also serves to allow a certain margin of error in movements that can be difficult, also because the framing often does not offer the best vision and needs to be constantly corrected. On Nintendo Switch, beyond a resolution that is not exactly remarkable, there is also some inconsistency in performance, which seems to fluctuate around 30 fps with some extra drops, but they are defects that are especially noticeable with the console connected to the television. while they become much less effective in portability.
The interlude sequences are refined and pleasant, in line with the cartoon even if reproduced in 3D, while the soundtrack is appropriately calibrated to the different settings that we find ourselves passing through. For those who are used to following the series on TV and have grown fond of it voices from the Spanish version, the lack of speaking our language can be a burden and is a shame, especially considering that there are numerous idioms from various geographical areas but not Spanish.
Conclusions
Tested version Nintendo Switch digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price 39,99 € Holygamerz.com 7.0 Readers (4) 8.6 your voteSpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is precisely what you would expect from a game based on the famous Nickelodeon animated series: an action platformer that focuses entirely on the charisma of the characters and the madness of the situations in which they find themselves, which seems to come straight from a few years ago. The idea of parallel dimensions takes advantage of the potential of the series by offering strange and diverse scenarios, making exploration enjoyable also thanks to a level design that offers very interesting moments, among others that are decidedly more banal and recycled. Obviously we are far from the greatest exponents of the platform genre, but SpongeBob fans will easily immerse themselves in this new multidimensional Bikini Bottom, which can reserve pleasant surprises even for those who are not exactly fans of the square pants sponge.
PRO
- SpongeBob's charisma is unquestionable
- Alternate dimensions allow for a wide variety of environments and situations.
- Some levels are particularly inspired, on the platform side.
AGAINST
- Some uncertainty between the control system and the camera.
- The fights are certainly less incisive than the platforming phases.
- The level design also finds several flatter and recycled moments.
