Game Info
SpongeBob SquigglePants
3DS | THQ / WayForward | 1 Player | Out Now (North America)
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Review
26th October 2011; By Patrick
First of all, because it will impact my review, let me say I do not care for the license. I tried not to let that affect my enjoyment of the gameplay, but I am not someone who goes out of my way to play or watch things related to SpongeBob.
If you have ever played a WarioWare game, then the gameplay should be instantly familiar to you. You play collections of randomized microgames, attempting to either hit a set quota of games that you pass, or try to beat your high score to progress. Games involve tapping the stylus, sliding the stylus, rotating the Circle Pad, and tilting the system. While all microgames appear in 3D, the bulk of the game will not appear in 3D. The intro credits, cutscenes, menus, and just about everything else is completely in 2D, with the 3D in the microgames themselves being passable at best.
There are several sets of microgames, each with a different theme (8-Bit, Horror Film, Sci-Fi, etc.) and some of them only use certain control methods. One for instance has all Tilt Games, while one will only use the Circle Pad. The other games are mostly forgettable that loop until you fail often enough (one to three times, depending on the game).
The center of the level select screen is the biggest option, as if it was a selling point. It's a portrait option that allows you to... draw a picture. The art tools are pretty limited compared to other applications (like Inchworm Animation) and you will only ever use it once or twice. I can only assume it was put there because it was prominent in the Wii version with the uDraw Tablet. But the uDraw tablet itself comes with uDraw Studio, so I do not know why it was ever included in the first place.
The final complaint plays into the amount of content and length of the game, but is a complaint I rarely ever have with a game, and that is the saving. It seems like a silly issue and it might look like I'm just nitpicking at this point, but It takes too long to save! Let me ask you: If all I did was break my high score of 36 and get a 41 (which doesn't even change my rank), why did I time the saving at 12 seconds? The game didn't even get that right, so I really give it little-to-no credit. And speaking of minor flaws related to saving, the instruction booklet says there are three save slots, but there are really only two. So be happy your child (or whoever is playing) will only be able to make one other kid suffer before erasing a file.
Overall, this game really is not worth paying attention to, regardless of the developer's reputation. It's clear that WayForward knew what they were doing in barely mentioning their involvement in the game and just used this to become familiar with 3DS development. Unless you are a diehard SpongeBob fan that has a lot of patience and will blow enough money to pick up a two to three hour game, avoid this game at all costs.
08/30 - Simply Awful
Gameplay 3/10 - Majority of the microgames are forgettable, 3D and Tilt don't work well together, varying control methods
Presentation 2/10 - Buried in SpongeBob license, unskippable low-resolution videos, 3D is barely worth mentioning in a positive light
Enjoyment 2/5 - Must be patient with saving times, very short, only some of the microgames are fun, lots of SpongeBob references everywhere
Extra Content 1/5 - None to speak of, worthless portrait mode, only replay value is in topping your own high scores
Equivalent to a score of 27% (percentage score is approximate and based solely on the previously stated rating)
