I haven’t played the original SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom (released in 2003 on the likes of the PS2, Xbox and GameCube), so drawing comparisons might be challenging. However, a glance at footage from the original game (developed by Heavy Iron Studios) revealed a desperate need for a remake. Whether the video was washed out or the game genuinely looked that way upon release, levels appear empty, dark, and dreary—quite the opposite of the vibrant, lively cartoon it’s based on. Thankfully, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated addresses these issues, successfully injecting life into the game and aligning it more closely with its animated source material.
Visually, Rehydrated is a breath of fresh air. It’s bright, colourful, and brimming with the same energy that defines SpongeBob’s universe. Environments have been expanded, offering more to explore, with textures replaced by whimsical backgrounds and enhanced detailing. Characters, too, receive a makeover, boasting more intricacies and smoother animations.
The gameplay is diverse, allowing you, at different moments, to switch between SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy, each with their own set of special moves. SpongeBob blows bubbles, Patrick lifts heavy objects, and Sandy glides with her trusty lasso. Character switching is seamless, with certain levels catering to specific pairs, like SpongeBob and Patrick or SpongeBob and Sandy, as they team up to combat the robotic invasion orchestrated by the infamous Plankton.
Beyond its platforming core, Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated doubles as a collectathon, offering plenty to discover in and around Bikini Bottom. From familiar locales to iconic characters, each encounter presents unique challenges. Collecting shiny objects serves as the game’s currency, while Golden Spatulas unlock new areas. Additionally, you must keep an eye out for Patrick’s lost socks, trading them for additional spatulas, and complete one-off tasks like rescuing lost campers for Mrs. Puff.
Enemies come in the form of robots, with new variants unlocking as you progress. Large robot versions of main characters pose formidable challenges, with some proving to be memorable boss encounters. Despite occasional frustrations, combat mechanics primarily revolve around luck and timing, with minimal consequences for failure.
Accompanied by jaunty SpongeBob SquarePants music, each level’s soundtrack complements its atmosphere perfectly. The game’s variety is complemented by a convenient fast travel system, accessed via the map, eliminating the need for tedious backtracking.
While SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated excels in capturing the essence of the beloved animated series in its single-player mode, the multiplayer component feels somewhat tacked on. Introduced as a new feature in the remake, to reinstate an unused Squidward boss that didn’t make it to the original, multiplayer mode allows two players to team up locally or online.
The multiplayer experience, while offering a chance for cooperative play (locally or online), lacks depth and integration with the core game mechanics. Unlike the seamless character switching and level design tailored for specific character combinations in the single-player campaign, the multiplayer mode feels disconnected from the main experience. You can choose from 8 characters, and then go up against waves of enemies as you jump from island to island. The cooperative nature of multiplayer doesn’t significantly enhance the gameplay or provide meaningful challenges beyond what can be experienced in solo play.
The graphics here are also underwhelming, with no splash effects when the Squidward bot moves around, no voice acting, and barely any sound effects for characters (other than the jump sound for SpongeBob). Moves are scaled back, and the music simply scrolls through the soundtrack rather than having it’s own unique tunes. While playing with another player may add a social element to the experience, the lack of any unique cooperative mechanics makes multiplayer feel like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the game.
And while glitches were minimal, I encountered a few minor issues, including dialogue desync near the end of the main single player mode. Nonetheless, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated provided hours of enjoyable gameplay, offering plenty of content to explore and replay.
In conclusion, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated successfully revitalizes a beloved classic for a new generation, while offering a dose of nostalgia for returning fans. With its charming visuals, solid gameplay, and infectious humor, it captures the spirit of the original while introducing modern enhancements. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of SpongeBob or simply looking for a fun and light-hearted platformer, Rehydrated delivers an underwater adventure that’s sure to make a splash.
