SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, developed by Purple Lamp Studios and published by THQ Nordic, is a 3D platformer that draws players into the whimsical world of Bikini Bottom. Released on January 31, 2023, the game is available across various platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, catering to a wide audience of players, aged 10 and above. While the game successfully captures the charm and humor of the beloved cartoon series, it also faces several drawbacks that impact the overall player experience.

Starting with the strengths of the game, The Cosmic Shake stands out with its faithful visuals and vibrant art style. The game's environments are meticulously designed, capturing the essence of the SpongeBob SquarePants universe, and providing an engaging and nostalgic experience for fans of the series. The character animations and level designs are distinct and well-crafted, adding to the authenticity of the game. Additionally, the game features strong humor and storytelling, with witty dialogues, hilarious situations, and playful interactions between characters that resonate with players across different age groups.

From a gameplay perspective, The Cosmic Shake shines with its solid platforming mechanics. Players are offered the opportunity to explore diverse and expansive levels, each introducing unique themes and challenges inspired by iconic episodes of the show. The game's level design pulls together elements from the source material while adding new elements that fit within the game's story, providing an exciting and engaging experience. Furthermore, the introduction of new movement abilities for the main character, SpongeBob, adds depth and variety to the platforming challenges, creating an immersive and dynamic gameplay experience.

However, despite its many strengths, the game is not without its shortcomings. One of the main drawbacks is the unambitious nature of the platformer. While The Cosmic Shake successfully captures the charm and humor of the SpongeBob SquarePants series, its gameplay pales in comparison to its peers. The combat mechanics, although initially engaging, can become repetitive and lackluster during extended battles, leading to a tedious and unexciting experience. Additionally, the game faces occasional performance issues, such as frame rate drops during intense moments and graphical hiccups, which detract from the overall immersion and polish of the game.

Another drawback is the unenticing optional collectibles. While the game offers players the chance to collect cosmic jelly and doubloons, the rewards for gathering these collectibles feel lackluster and superficial. The costumes acquired using these collectibles do not impact gameplay in any significant way, leading to a sense of disinterest and discouragement regarding the collection aspect of the game. The linear structure of the levels and the lack of incentive for revisiting them for side quests also contribute to the overall feeling of repetitiveness and lack of engagement.

In summary, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a visually appealing and humorous 3D platformer that authentically captures the essence of the beloved cartoon series. It offers engaging platforming mechanics and a faithful adaptation of the show's humor, making it an enjoyable experience for fans and newcomers alike. However, the game falls short in terms of combat mechanics, optional collectibles, and occasional performance issues, which impact the overall quality and enjoyability of the game.

By Jerry | Copyright © GameHubX - All Rights Reserved