Video games come in all shapes and sizes. Some, for instance, are made for the seasoned gamer who’s looking for grit, a deep story and difficult quests.
But other titles, such as the new SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game, seek none of those things. Instead, Patrick’s game is aimed at a young beginner who wants to try his or her hand at this thing called a video game.
Oh, and if those gaming tykes love the residents of a little undersea burg called Bikini Bottom, well, that’s a plus.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game isn’t really a story-driven experience. Gamers simply slip into the starfishy role of a chortling chum named Patrick as he flits from here to there around Bikini Bottom.
Patrick talks to pals SpongeBob, Sandy Cheeks, Sqidward, Mr. Krabs, and the like, and he helps them out with a variety of tasks and objectives. Of course, for Patrick it’s all about spending an average—really fun!—day, while kinda sorta splashing around in giggle-worthy escapades.
Patrick gets the chance to fill in for SpongeBob and to crank out Krabby Patty burgers over at the Krusty Krab, for example. He helps Sandy clean up deep sea glop with a pressure washer. He clears a beach spot for Sqidward, and he plays on slides and carousals in the park with SpongeBob’s pet, Gary. It all boils down to a collection of kid-fun minigames that are punctuated by cute and silly confabs with the SpongeBob SquarePants stars.
Those minigames are complimented by special challenges called “feats.” Feats can feel just as lightweight and goofy as the other challenges, but they require the young player to, say, complete a racing task within a time limit. Or they might nudge at players to interact with Bikini Bottom at large, such as gathering treasure chests for Plankton or rounding up a King Jellyfish’s scattered brood. Feats give more objective-focused players something to shoot for. And they earn sand dollars that can be spent on cute and clownish additions to Patrick’s wardrobe.
This single-player only title is the first game to feature SpongeBob’s good pal Patrick. Remarkably for a game in 2024, it doesn’t even require an internet connection.
Patrick can cause some tumbling mayhem, but by and large he is trying to help his friends through the tasks he’s assigned.
This game is aimed at giving younger players some easy fun while they dig around in a silly sandbox world. The Bikini Bottom township is brightly colored and enjoyable to just wander around in if you’re a young SpongeBob SquarePants show fan. And the minigames and activities are bits of fun that can be played in short segments and easily returned to if parents want to limit game time.
There is a tumble of lightweight violence in the Bikini Bottom-roaming mix. Patrick can push and shove scenery pieces and people. He smashes things with large hammers and a coconut shooter.
Gamers can spray characters with a pressure sprayer and push them off ledges with a broom and other items. They can also set off exploding barrels, though the characters that are sent flying by explosions and the like aren’t seriously hurt.
There’s also some toilet humor to be found. When Patrick gobbles up food, he can belch out a percussive green gassy cloud. He can even toss around Porta Potties in one area.
During those belching moments, Patrick might also call out, “Better out than in!” He sometimes proclaims, “Oh, tartar sauce!” And another character regularly tells the starfish lead to “get lost!” But those are the only bits of dialogue that border on rude reactions to others.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game isn’t going to be for everyone. Mom and Dad might soon be snoring up bubbles with a controller in their hands. But young SpongeBob fans will be calling out, “I’m Ready. I’m Ready!” for another adventure in Bikini Bottom.
After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.
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