SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge
Encyclopedia
SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge is the first SpongeBob's game for console and a SpongeBob SquarePants
platform video game
developed by Climax Group
and published by THQ
. It was released on November 5, 2001
for PlayStation and Game Boy Advance
. It is the only SpongeBob game released on PlayStation (besides Nicktoons Racing
which features SpongeBob
, Patrick and Plankton as playable characters).
wants to give him "the best present ever": a photo signed by his favorite superheroes, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. However, the heroes want nothing more than to get rid of SpongeBob, so they keep sending him to random tasks around Bikini Bottom. It's SpongeBob's mission to accomplish these tasks and get Patrick's birthday present.
Scattered through all the levels there are golden spatulas — by collecting all the 100 in a level SpongeBob wins an extra life. In the PS version, spatulas also serve as health measurers, for, if SpongeBob touches an enemy, he loses all the collected spatulas, and if he is touched by an enemy without any spatulas, he loses a life. In the GBA version, a separate health measure is used, which can be replenished by collecting items like Salty Fries, Salty Shakes and Krabby Patties. Lives also can be obtained by finding underpants.
In the PS version, by collecting a certain number of spatulas in every chapter, a secret level named "Six Clams Adventure Land" can be unlocked. In those levels, set in an amusement park
, SpongeBob must ride through the toys and collect all the 25 flower tokens. These tokens can be used to buy props to Patrick's birthday party at the end of the game.
To defeat enemies, SpongeBob can do a butt-bounce or use certain items such as:
The PlayStation version of this game also received the title of "Greatest Hits".
SpongeBob SquarePants (character)
SpongeBob SquarePants is a main fictional character in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. He is voiced by Tom Kenny and first appeared on television in the series' pilot episode "Help Wanted" on May 1, 1999. SpongeBob was created and designed by cartoonist Stephen Hillenburg...
platform video game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed by Climax Group
Climax Group
Climax Group is a British independent video game development company. It was founded by Karl Jeffery in 1988 and is based in Portsmouth, Hampshire....
and published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
. It was released on November 5, 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
for PlayStation and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. It is the only SpongeBob game released on PlayStation (besides Nicktoons Racing
Nicktoons Racing
Nicktoons Racing is a Nickelodeon racing game for the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Windows, and arcade.- Teams :From Rugrats:...
which features SpongeBob
SpongeBob SquarePants (character)
SpongeBob SquarePants is a main fictional character in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. He is voiced by Tom Kenny and first appeared on television in the series' pilot episode "Help Wanted" on May 1, 1999. SpongeBob was created and designed by cartoonist Stephen Hillenburg...
, Patrick and Plankton as playable characters).
Plot
It is Patrick's birthday, and SpongeBobSpongeBob SquarePants (character)
SpongeBob SquarePants is a main fictional character in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. He is voiced by Tom Kenny and first appeared on television in the series' pilot episode "Help Wanted" on May 1, 1999. SpongeBob was created and designed by cartoonist Stephen Hillenburg...
wants to give him "the best present ever": a photo signed by his favorite superheroes, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. However, the heroes want nothing more than to get rid of SpongeBob, so they keep sending him to random tasks around Bikini Bottom. It's SpongeBob's mission to accomplish these tasks and get Patrick's birthday present.
Gameplay
The game is divided in five worlds (listed as "chapters"), each one with four levels ( One is a secret level in the PS version): Bikini Bottom, an underwater volcano, the prehistoric Bikini Bottom, Rock Bottom and the industrial district of Bikini Bottom. Levels can be cleared by collecting the object desired by Barnacle Boy. In addition, the fourth level of every chapter has a boss.Scattered through all the levels there are golden spatulas — by collecting all the 100 in a level SpongeBob wins an extra life. In the PS version, spatulas also serve as health measurers, for, if SpongeBob touches an enemy, he loses all the collected spatulas, and if he is touched by an enemy without any spatulas, he loses a life. In the GBA version, a separate health measure is used, which can be replenished by collecting items like Salty Fries, Salty Shakes and Krabby Patties. Lives also can be obtained by finding underpants.
In the PS version, by collecting a certain number of spatulas in every chapter, a secret level named "Six Clams Adventure Land" can be unlocked. In those levels, set in an amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
, SpongeBob must ride through the toys and collect all the 25 flower tokens. These tokens can be used to buy props to Patrick's birthday party at the end of the game.
To defeat enemies, SpongeBob can do a butt-bounce or use certain items such as:
- JellyfishJellyfishJellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
Net: SpongeBob can capture jellyfish and throw them at enemies. (The limit of jellyfishes who can be kept at the net is five in the PS version, and ten in the GBA one.) - Coral Blower: While with his coral blower, SpongeBob can suck scattered seashells and throw them in order to break rock walls. Unlike the other items, SpongeBob cannot perform a butt-bounce while having it.
- Squeaky Boots: (Only in PS version) SpongeBob can wear those to walk on spiky surfaces without getting hurt. Their effect is limited, though.
- Jelly Launcher: A raygunRaygunRayguns are a type of fictional directed-energy weapon. They have various alternate names: ray gun, death ray, beam gun, blaster, laser gun, phaser, etc. They are a well-known feature of science fiction; for such stories they typically have the general function of guns...
-esque weapon who launches dehydrated jellyfishes. The ammo is limited, and SpongeBob can reload the weapon by collecting a jar of jellyfish, which is marked with a light blue jellyfish drawing on the side. - Bubble Blower: SpongeBob, while having the Bubble Blower, can blow up bubbles who serve as platforms. The quantity of bubbles is limited, and SpongeBob can refill the Bubble Blower by collecting pink pots of soap.
- Karate Glove: SpongeBob can give a karate slap on enemies and grab distant objects. It is always equipped in the GBA version, but in the PS version it is a powerup to be picked up, and its effect is limited.
- Glove World Balloon: SpongeBob can jump higher than normal and also float (PS version). Its effect is limited.
Voice cast
All the characters of SuperSponge, except Mr. Krabs, are voiced by their original voice actors.| Character | Voice actor |
|---|---|
| SpongeBob SquarePants, Gary, French narrator | Tom Kenny Tom Kenny Thomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on... |
| Patrick Star | Bill Fagerbakke Bill Fagerbakke William Mark "Bill" Fagerbakke is an American actor and voice actor. He is well-known for his long-running-roles as Patrick Star in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants and "Dauber" Dybinski on the sitcom Coach.... |
| Mermaid Man | Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty... |
| Barnacle Boy | Tim Conway Tim Conway Thomas Daniel "Tim" Conway is an American comedian and actor, primarily known for his roles in sitcoms, films and television. Conway is best known for his role as the inept second-in-command officer, Ensign Charles Parker, to Lt... |
| Sandy Cheeks | Carolyn Lawrence Carolyn Lawrence Carolyn Lawrence is a American actress and voice actress best known for her long-running-role as Sandy Cheeks on SpongeBob SquarePants.-Life and career:... |
| Squidward Tentacles | Rodger Bumpass Rodger Bumpass Rodger Albert Bumpass is an American character actor and voice actor, who is noted for his long-running-roles as Squidward Tentacles on the hit series SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Chief from Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?. He also voiced Professor Membrane on Invader Zim... |
| Eugene H. Krabs | Joe Whyte Joe Whyte Joe Whyte is an American actor and voice actor. He attended California State University, where he performed in acting groups... |
| Sheldon J. Plankton | Doug Lawrence |
| Flying Dutchman | Brian Doyle-Murray Brian Doyle-Murray Brian Doyle-Murray is an American comedian, screenwriter, actor and voice artist. He is the older brother of actor/comedian Bill Murray and has acted together with him in several films, including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, The Razor's Edge and Groundhog Day... |
Reception
SuperSponge received mixed reviews since its release: the PlayStation's version received 68% and the Game Boy Advance version a 67.83%, on Gamerankings.The PlayStation version of this game also received the title of "Greatest Hits".