 Review By: Jared Black |
Developer: | Blitz Games |
| Publisher: | THQ | |
| Genre: | Platformer | |
| ESRB: | Everyone | |
| # Of Players: | 1 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | Nunchuk, HDTV 480p | |
| Buy Now: |   |
Nintendo wasn’t kidding when it said that the Wii’s lower development costs would encourage companies to develop for the system. Unfortunately, the first few months after launch have acted as a clearinghouse for warmed-over previous gen retreads, with a number of mediocre ports from the likes of Ubisoft, Midway, and THQ. You can’t blame the companies of course…with the costs of porting so cheap (particularly when the games were already developed for the similar GameCube hardware), there was really no reason for them not to cash in. Fortunately for this particular game, SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab is one of the better ports in the bunch.
This is one of the many Wii titles already out that features mostly standard platform gameplay, but also mixes things up with several types of mini-games and control schemes. Set in a dreamy version of Bikini Bottom, players use several different characters including SpongeBob himself, Patrick, and even Plankton. Why Plankton was chosen instead of Squidward or Sandy becomes apparent later in the game, and he’s actually a great choice to fill that third slot.
Each character’s part of the game features a couple of different gameplay types. SpongeBob’s levels are mostly traditional platform levels, with a few racing levels in-between and a few on-rails plane segments later in the game. His racing levels are actually the weakest part of the game, as his car/bed controls unevenly (using the Wii Remote on its side of course, like all racing games for the system), you rarely see the person you’re racing against, and it doesn’t seem to matter if you beat your opponent or not (just the time limit). The courses are almost identical too, despite some scripted events that change them up a bit as you progress in the game (and the trippy final level). When on foot, SpongeBob’s controls are pretty standard, with motion in the Wii Remote used for pointing and ground pounds, while the Nunchuk can be flicked downward to perform a dash. SpongeBob’s platform levels really feel like a Crash Bandicoot game, with his twisting hand slap (where he twirls around with arms outstretched) move even being used to smash crates in exactly the same manner as the former PSX mascot. Moving the Wii Remote is also used in a few mini-games and events (as is true for all characters), such as collecting trash with Plankton and turning winches while holding the Remote vertically.
Patrick, as superhero Starfishman, also largely goes about things on foot. The controls are virtually identical to SpongeBob’s, with different attacks (such as a twist attack instead of a hand slap) that still function in the same way. Patrick also faces off against the same types of enemies, which attack in predictable patterns and show up over and over again. Patrick’s alternate levels find him blasting off on a rocket into outer space, which are basically on-rails shooters while moving the Wii Remote (holding it vertically like a joystick) to move Patrick in different directions.
Finally, while playing as Plankton, you’ll see what it’s like to not only be chased by a giant Krabby Patty gone mad, but also what it’s like to tower over it and your enemies. In the beginning Plankton will be his usually diminutive self, running through 2D platforming levels with a deranged Krabby Patty in hot pursuit. For these sections the Wii Remote is held from side to side, with the control pad controlling movement, the 2 button used for jumping, and the 1 button firing Plankton’s freeze ray to clear out obstacles and enemies. These are also some of the best parts of the game in my opinion. Later on Plankton grows himself to Godzilla-like proportions, and in those levels you’ll destroy Bikini Bottom in what is basically Rampage in 3D. After the initial glee of it all, these levels become boring as they move too slowly and have somewhat imprecise controls when trying to destroy buildings and enemies.
Graphically, the game sports a cel-shaded look that works well with the franchise’s simple cartoon roots. There are a lot of neat touches as well, such as the Batman-esque word bubbles that accompany Patrick’s attacks. If you string together several attacks at the same time, these can combine to put on a pretty vivid show. The 480p support is a very welcome addition though, and instantly makes the game feel like a better effort than most other last-gen ports to date. There were bouts of slowdown here and there however, most notably towards the end when giant Plankton and flying SpongeBob are sharing the screen at the same time. The audio’s wacky like the show, with various comments by the characters that are of course used far too often. It’s fitting and nothing more.
Bottom Line:
In the end, all of this comes together to form a game that’s not particularly impressive in any one area, but puts the controller to good use and provides a consistently enjoyable experience and enough variety to keep things moving along at a brisk pace. Sure, a couple of the different game types are pretty weak, and some multiplayer would've been nice, but in the end these problems don’t bring down the game much at all.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab is a good choice for younger gamers and closet SpongeBob fans alike, and it’s one of the few GameCube to Wii conversions where the Wii version is actually worth considering (due to the controls) despite the higher price tag.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 7.1 |
Posted: 2007-02-19 20:50:27 PST