Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis
Score: 80% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: THQ Developer: THQ Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Platformer (3D)
Graphics & Sound: Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis, an odd name for an equally odd premise. Spongebob and his friends ride a song-powered magic bus in order to reach the city of Atlantis and see the World's Oldest Bubble. Actually, if you've even seen the show, it actually makes sense and is part of its charm. Charm is something the game has in spades, which manages to add a little luster to the dull gameplay. I'm usually a little apprehensive when 2D properties are brought into 3D - especially when it comes to the DS. The results are usually good, though there is always a bit of awkwardness which can usually be attributed to a loss of personality that 2D animation gives. Atlantis Squarepantis does a great job at bridging this gap; everything is kept very simple and manages to hold on to the show's look and feel. The animation is well-done and gets the personalities of each character across. Patrick blunders around levels while Spongebob happily flits along. Sound is bothersome and, in some instances, annoying. A few of the tracks aren't that bad when you first hear them, but it doesn't take long before they begin to grate on your nerves. Younger gamers probably won't notice this as much, but parents will probably want to make sure their kids have a set of earphones.
Gameplay: Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis is what is typically referred to as a "2.5 D" game. The game plays mostly as a side-scrolling platform game, though it also makes use of a few 3D tricks, such as allowing players a little more freedom to explore their environments. These tricks are used really well when it comes to general level design and gameplay, though it isn't without its problems. Each level is kept basic. There's some light puzzle-solving and a few driving sequences, but most of the game sticks to fundamental platforming. Players control two of the four playable characters during levels, switching between the two when their abilities are needed. For example, Spongebob can inflate himself and float across long chasms. The mechanic feels a little like LEGO Star Wars, only it doesn't work as well. There's no indication as to what characters you need to bring along, so you can easily go through half of a level, find out you brought the wrong person and have to go back to the beginning of the level to switch them out. If this were for unlocking special areas, as in LEGO Star Wars, it wouldn't be an issue. But, as a major gameplay mechanic it doesn't work. This becomes especially problematic when you have to replay areas more than once. One character plays through part of a level to unlock a path for their friend, who then has to play through the level to catch up. This isn't fun - especially in the multiplayer variant. Mini-games pop up between levels, many of which are more entertaining than the core gameplay. There's a touch-controlled tank game where Spongebob shoots Jellyfish and a fighting game that features fighting mechanics that are better than the ones used during levels.
Difficulty: Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis finds just the right amount of difficulty for its target audience. Levels are hard enough to challenge young players, though never so difficult that they'll say they "Hate this game" or ask parents/older siblings for help. Characters share a common life bar, though it is pretty big and seems to replenish a lot. Still, there are some issues with the combat system. It is easy to understand, but it isn't fine tuned. Even though an enemy is right in front of a character, hits will not come in contact and, in some cases, lead to cheap hits. Although you control two characters, only the selected character actually fights; the other one just follows you around until you need their special move. Given some of the combat issues, a little help would have been nice.
Game Mechanics: With the exception of their special abilities, all four characters use the same attacks. Each has a base attack as well as a special move, such as Spongebob's Bubble Blower or Mr.Krabs' 3-hit combo. Characters can also use team moves to tackle bigger problems. Pressing (R) allows one character to pick up another and throw them, which helps you to reach certain hard to reach areas. Pressing (L) activates a special move; Spongebob can inflate and carry his teammate around like a hot-air balloon while Patrick turns into an area-clearing ninja star and Sandy can knock down rocks. The trick to using special moves is that they require Melody Shells to work, which are scattered throughout each level. It's a cool mechanic, though I can't recall ever running out. The touch screen comes into play during a few moments in the game. In addition to switching between characters, you can also drag the camera icon and get a preview of what lies ahead in the level. During levels, you'll also use the touch screen to pull levers or solve other smaller puzzles. Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis is about par for most licensed games. It does a few things that really help to push it in the right direction. However, there are still a lot of little nagging things that hold it back. Still, for a younger Spongebob fan with a DS, it is a fun game.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Fish Tycoon Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis