SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide Overview (PS5)

Developer Purple Lamp Studios has been honing its craft engaged on a number of licensed video games, with multiple SpongeBob title underneath its belt.

Its newest effort, SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide, is one other 3D platformer driving the wave of nostalgia attributable to its remake of the fan favorite, Battle for Bikini Backside Rehydrated.

Very like its earlier effort, The Cosmic Shake, Titans of the Tide is a strong, enjoyable journey that is clearly made by followers of the long-running cartoon sequence, however some tough edges and reliance on previous concepts maintain it again from greatness.

There is a particular provide on the Krusty Krab, and it is drawn the eye of two of the ocean’s strongest beings: King Neptune and the ghoulish Flying Dutchman.

The pair conflict, with the latter’s spectral powers turning Bikini Backside residents (together with SpongeBob) into ghosts and inflicting widespread mayhem.

Luckily, the oblivious Patrick Star is away from the fallout, and when he reaches the Krusty Krab, he and SpongeBob uncover a novel means to swap between their common our bodies and ghostly varieties. This additionally acts because the crux of the gameplay.

You’ll be able to change between SpongeBob and Patrick just about everytime you like, and doing so is critical, as they every have distinctive skills.

For instance, Patrick can burrow by way of the sand and choose up heavy objects, whereas SpongeBob has his karate kick and may blow bubbles.

Utilising all these skills is essential to getting by way of every degree, typically requiring fairly dextrous character swapping to navigate platforming sequences.

It is a neat concept and executed moderately effectively; ranges are designed in such a option to encourage you to maneuver between the characters continuously, and even the essential fight incorporates the mechanic, with some enemies a lot simpler to cope with relying on who you are controlling.

For these with an urge for food for a fairly simple 3D platformer, that is ticking many of the proper packing containers.

We had been initially apprehensive that the ghostly theme of the sport may make it too one-note, however there is a first rate selection within the phases regardless of the set dressing.

Your hub this time round is an airship constructed from what was once the Krusty Krab, and it is not an unlimited area to discover, however there may be extra to see and do there as the sport goes on.

From there, you may dive right down to areas previous and new, like a low-rent resort referred to as Goldfish Island, the decadent halls of King Neptune’s palace, and even a brand new, snowy spin on Jellyfish Fields.

It feels pretty aware of play, and definitely seems the half, with vibrant visuals that echo the present. That is helped immeasurably by having what appears to be your complete solid onboard for voice work; even the additional voices from unnamed Bikini Backside residents are recognisable.

The solid does its finest with a script that lacks a number of the snappiness of the cartoon. There are some humorous strains and moments all through, however some interactions really feel a bit of stunted.

What cannot be knocked, although, is the developer’s clear love for the sequence, because it’s completely filled with references and jokes that followers will eat up. The clearest proof of that is within the costume choice for SpongeBob and Patrick, the place you may discover outfits from quite a few episodes.

You should purchase any unlocked costumes with the cash you choose up throughout play, however there’s extra on provide — underpant items, which enhance your well being, and show objects that’ll present up within the hub.

The sport might be one of many higher SpongeBob video games to launch lately, however there are a few issues that cease it from laying declare to being prime of the pile.

Firstly, we will not ignore a number of the bugs we encountered. A soft-lock scenario within the second half of the sport compelled us to start out over once more, and there are another, way more minor points, like textures taking a very long time to load in correctly.

Secondly, there’s the sensation that Titans of the Tide continues to be borrowing closely from Battle for Bikini Backside, a platformer launched greater than twenty years in the past.

Some mechanics and strikes really feel like they’re lifted immediately from that template, and whereas there’s undoubtedly an effort right here to attempt one thing new, we will not assist however really feel a few of its fundamentals really feel a bit of dated at this level.

That being stated, followers aren’t going to thoughts. Finally, the sport is one other very serviceable SpongeBob platformer that riffs on the de facto favorite, and it brings nearly sufficient recent concepts to the desk to justify itself.

Conclusion

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is not going to blow anybody away, however it’s a superbly first rate 3D platformer that largely captures the power of the present. Swapping between SpongeBob and Patrick is a neat mechanic that is used very effectively all through, and ranges are large and assorted as you discover Bikini Backside and speak to its populace, all of whom are voiced by the correct solid. It undoubtedly has some tough edges and a few smooth writing, and it will not win over any SpongeBob detractors, however it’s a great all-ages sport for each children and longtime followers.