Developer Purple Lamp Studios has been honing its craft engaged on a number of licensed video games, with multiple SpongeBob SquarePants title below its belt.
His final effort, Spongebob: Titans of the Tideis one other 3D platformer that rides the wave of nostalgia brought on by its remake of the fan favourite, Battle for rehydrated bikini bottoms.
Like his earlier effort, The cosmic shakeTitans of the Tide is a strong, enjoyable journey clearly created by followers of the long-running animated collection, however some tough edges and a reliance on previous concepts maintain it again from greatness.
There is a particular deal on the Krusty Krab and it is caught the eye of two of essentially the most highly effective beings within the sea: King Neptune and the ghoulish Flying Dutchman.
The pair conflict, and the latter’s spectral powers flip the residents of Bikini Backside (together with SpongeBob SquarePants) into ghosts and trigger widespread chaos.
Luckily, the unconscious Patrick Star is much from the implications, and when he reaches the Krusty Krab, he and SpongeBob uncover a singular capability to change between their regular our bodies and ghostly kinds. This additionally acts because the crux of the sport.
You’ll be able to change between SpongeBob and Patrick just about everytime you need, and doing so is critical since every has distinctive talents.
For instance, Patrick can dig within the sand and decide up heavy objects, whereas SpongeBob has his karate kick and may blow bubbles.
Utilizing all of those expertise is essential to clearing every degree, typically requiring some fairly skillful character swapping to navigate platforming sequences.
It is a good suggestion and was executed fairly properly; The degrees are designed in such a means that they encourage you to maneuver between characters continuously, and even the fundamental fight incorporates the mechanics, with some enemies a lot simpler to take care of relying on who you management.
For many who need a pretty easy 3D platformer, that is what ticks many of the proper packing containers.
We had been initially fearful that the sport’s ghostly theme may make it one-note, however there’s respectable selection within the phases regardless of the stage decor.
This time your hub is an airship constructed from what was the Krusty Krab, and it isn’t an enormous house to discover, however there’s extra to see and do there as the sport progresses.
From there, you will immerse your self in locations previous and new, like a low-rent resort known as Goldfish Island, the decadent halls of King Neptune’s palace, and even a snowy new twist on Jellyfish Fields.
It feels fairly conscious of play and positively appears good, with vibrant visuals that echo the present. That is vastly helped by having what seems to be all the solid on board for voice work; Even the extra voices of nameless residents of Bikini Backside are recognizable.
The solid does its finest with a script that lacks the liveliness of the cartoon. There are some humorous strains and moments, however some interactions really feel just a little stunted.
What cannot be faulted, nevertheless, is the developer’s clear love for the collection, because it’s filled with references and jokes that followers will eat up. The clearest proof of that is within the number of SpongeBob and Patrick costumes, the place you’ll find outfits from quite a few episodes.
You should purchase any unlocked costume with cash you accumulate in the course of the recreation, however there’s extra on provide: underwear items, which increase your well being and show gadgets that may seem within the middle.
The sport might be among the finest SpongeBob video games launched lately, however there are a few issues that forestall it from claiming to be the perfect.
To begin with, we won’t ignore a few of the bugs we discovered. A mushy crash scenario within the second half of the sport pressured us to begin over, and there are different a lot smaller points, resembling textures taking a very long time to load appropriately.
Secondly, there is a sense that Titans of the Tide nonetheless attracts closely from Battle for Bikini Backside, a platform recreation launched over 20 years in the past.
Some mechanics and strikes appear lifted straight from that template, and whereas there’s undoubtedly an effort right here to strive one thing new, we won’t assist however really feel that a few of its fundamentals appear just a little dated at this level.
That mentioned, followers will not care. In the end, the sport is one other very serviceable Spongebob platformer that builds on the de facto favourite and brings in sufficient new concepts to justify itself.
Conclusion
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide will not blow anybody away, however it’s a superbly respectable 3D platformer that principally captures the power of the present. Switching between SpongeBob and Patrick is a intelligent mechanic that is used very properly all through, and the degrees are giant and different as you discover Bikini Backside and speak to its inhabitants, all of whom are voiced by the suitable solid. It undoubtedly has some tough edges and mushy writing, and will not win over any SpongeBob SquarePants detractors, however it’s recreation for all ages, each children and long-time followers.
