SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
Cover art for the Xbox
Developer(s)	AWE Games, Heavy Iron Studios, Vicarious Visions
Publisher(s)	THQ
Designer(s)	Mare Chaffe, Jill Bux, Herman Shart
Engine	RenderWare
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, PC
Release date(s)	November 10, 2003
Genre(s)	Platform, action-adventure game
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	CERO: A ELSPA: 3 ESRB: Everyone PEGI: 3

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a video game based on the animated comedy series of the same name. The game was released for the Microsoft Windows and Xbox consoles. The player attempts to defend Bikini Bottom from an invasion of robots created by Plankton with a machine called the Duplicatotron 3000. The playable characters are SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy. The Windows version features a series of mini-games and greatly differs from the console versions. The game was released on November 10, 2003.

Gameplay

Patrick in the Carnival level

Players control SpongeBob, Sandy, and Patrick (except in the GBA And PC version, where the player controls SpongeBob only) through a number of locations besides Bikini Bottom, such as Jellyfish Fields, Downtown Bikini Bottom, Goo Lagoon, Mermalair, Sand Mountain, Rock Bottom, Kelp Forest, The Flying Dutchman's Graveyard, and SpongeBob's Dream. Players also battle robot bosses at The Poseidome, The Industrial Park, and The Chum Bucket Lab. Players can also switch between characters at bus stops throughout the game. Core gameplay involves collecting items and defeating the robots which have attacked Bikini Bottom, whilst crossing platforms and avoiding environmental hazards like spikes and flames. A number of mini-games are also accessible throughout the game, like Whack-A-Tiki, The Rolling Ball, Ske-Ball, The Funnel Machines, or Cruise Bubble Challenge.^[1]

Three types of items can be collected. Shiny objects are the game's currency, and can be used to pay tolls within game areas or to buy golden spatulas from Mr. Krabs.^[2] Golden spatulas are used to grant access to new areas, they are hidden throughout the game and can also be earned by completing tasks set by Squidward and several other characters from the cartoon. Patrick's socks are spread throughout the game and are traded with him for golden spatulas.

Props are also included in the game. Trampolines help the player bounce to farther ledges or platforms. Buttons activate special appearances. Pressure Pads are like buttons, but they are big metal squares with feet. Sandy can swing from Texas hooks. SpongeBob can dive downward on a bungee hook. Patrick can pick up and throw a watermelon, freeze fruit, or fire fruit at any object. Fire Fruits are not that common in the game. They debuted a cameo when the big balls shot out of the volcanoes in Jellyish Caves.

Though some areas can be navigated by any character, several sections can only be completed with a specific character, due to each one having unique abilities. SpongeBob can create a bubble helmet for head-butting enemies. Patrick can throw objects at buttons, robots, and freeze liquids. Sandy can glide over large gaps with her lasso. There are cheats available. To activate them hold r1 r2 l1 and l2 (ps2 version) and then enter cheat code.

Plot

The game revolves around the theme of robots invading Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob's hometown. The robots were created by Plankton, the evil genius owner of the Chum Bucket, who has built a new machine called the Duplicatotron 3000 to produce an army of robots. He plans to take over the world using these robots, but only after he creates them does he realizes that the switch on the Duplicatotron has accidentally been switched to "Disobey" and the robots quickly kick him out of the Chum Bucket.

SpongeBob wakes up to find that his house has been trashed after thinking he wants to play with a robot. He wanders through the house for a while and receives a fax from Mr. Krabs, stating that he would give SpongeBob a golden spatula for every certain amount of shiny objects he collects for him. Outside, SpongeBob finds a disappointed Plankton, who weaves a tale of lies to the hero, claiming that the robots showed up out of nowhere and kicked him out. Fooled by the diminutive villain, SpongeBob embarks on a perilous quest to get rid of the robots and get Plankton back into the Chum Bucket, including bungee jumping, bubble blowing, and traveling through dreams amongst others.

PC Version

Opening: Plankton created a robot army to steal the krabby patty recipe, but he had it set to disobey mode, so the robots ignored Plankton's orders and attacked Bikini Bottom instead. Meanwhile, SpongeBob and Patrick are playing with toy robots and having a tea party with them too. When they see a shooting star, they wish that robots were people too. The next morning, the robots break into SpongeBob's house and vandalize it along with the rest of Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob and Patrick go into The Chum Bucket to see that Plankton was the one behind the robot invasion. Plankton admits that it was his fault and that the robots are not listening to him and the only way to control the robots is to set the switch to obey mode. Instead, Patrick fools around with the machine, playing with the obey switch, but he accidentally pulled off the obey switch, which turned off the machine and deprogramed the robots. Plankton tells them that that was his next idea. After SpongeBob and Patrick head out, Plankton tries to tell them that he will be back with another plan.

GBA Version

Opening: Plankton created an army of robots to steal the krabby patty formula, but the duplicatron was set to disobey, so the robots ignored Plankton and attacked Bikini Bottom. The next morning, SpongeBob and friends saw robots invading Bikini Bottom, which Mr. Krabs thinks is putting him out of business, so his assignment for SpongeBob is to fight the robots to get into The Chum Bucket to shut down Plankton's duplicatron.

Cast

• Tom Kenny – SpongeBob SquarePants, French Narrator, Gary
• Bill Fagerbakke – Patrick Star
• Carolyn Lawrence – Sandy Cheeks, Mermalair Computer
• Doug Lawrence – Plankton, Larry the Lobster, Prawn, Fish Announcer, Robo-Plankton
• Rodger Bumpass – Squidward Tentacles
• Mary Jo Catlett – Mrs. Puff
• Joe Whyte – Mermaidman, Mr. Krabs (Cutscenes in PC Version)
• Clancy Brown – Mr. Krabs (PC Version)
• Tim Conway – Barnacleboy
• Brian Doyle-Murray – The Flying Dutchman
• John O'Hurley – King Neptune
• Brad Abrell – Bubble Buddy

Levels

• Bikini Bottom – Although not an actual level, Spongebob can explore his house, Patrick's, Sandy's etc.
• Jellyfish Fields – The first official level, Squidward has been stung by jellyfish and Spongebob has to obtain King Jellyfish Jelly to heal his wounds.
• Downtown Bikini Bottom – Plankton's robots are running amok in the city, Sandy must swing from rooftop to rooftop.
• Goo Lagoon – Spongebob must destroy a robot on another island, making his way through the entire beach.
• Poseidom – Spongebob and Patrick must fight the Robot Sandy.
• Rock Bottom – The robots have taken over Rock Bottom and the R.B. Museum.
• Mermalair – The robots have taken over the Mermalair, Spongebob must also defeat a supervillain of Mermaidman and Barnacleboy's.
• Sand Mountain – Spongebob must ride three mountains.
• Industrial Park – Spongebob and Sandy must fight the Robot Patrick.
• Kelp Forest- Spongebob must find all the (campers) for Mrs. Puff.
• Flying Dutchman's Graveyard- Robots have thrown the Dutchman off his ship Spongebob must get it back.
• Spongebob's Dream- A spatula at the end of the road awaits Spongebob after going through all dreams.
• Chum Bucket- Spongebob must fight Spongebot Steelpants and Robot Plankton alone.

Places the Player Can Visit

• Spongebob's Pineapple House
• Squidward's Tiki House
• Patrick's Rock House
• Sandy's Tree Dome House (requires 15 golden spatulas)
• Shady Shoal's Nursing Home (requires 15 golden spatulas)
• Police Station (requires 15 golden spatulas)
• Krusty Krab (requires 40 golden spatulas)
• Chum Bucket (requires 40 golden spatulas)
• Movie Theatre (requires 75 golden spatulas and 40,000 shiny objects)

Reception

Battle for Bikini Bottom is currently the most successful SpongeBob game produced. It received a 4.5 out of 5 from Official PlayStation Magazine. It has won numerous awards, including the Kid's Choice Award for Best Video Game of the Year, and entered the Player's Choice, Platinum Hits, and Greatest Hits for GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 respectively.

References

1. ^ Irwin, Mary Jane (2008-11-10). "IGN: SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Review". IGN. http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/440/440253p1.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
2. ^ Bedigian, Louis (2008-12-02). "SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Review". GameZone. http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21512.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-21. 

External links

• SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Website