SpongeBob’s
Atlantis Squarepantis is one of the more diverse multi-platform games released
this year. Not so much because the series accomplishes many great things, but
because each version differs greatly in mechanics, objectives, and level design.
The version in
question, made for Game Boy Advance, falls in between the Nintendo DS and
PlayStation 2 versions. Part adventure game, part mini-game collection, this is
the best one for parents wanting to give their young kids (6 or younger) a
simple game with familiar images.
A Difference
You Can See
One of the
commendable things about Atlantis Squarepantis is how it diligently tries to
utilize each character in a unique and important way. This is similar to the DS
version, which featured four playable characters – SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy,
and Mr. Krabs – and a specific move set for each. The GBA version has those as
well, and while I don’t want to say this one is more expansive, it may appear
that way in its approach. That’s because the team moves differ not by which of
the two characters you are currently controlling, but by which two characters
are paired together.
Like excited
teens at a punk rock show, Patrick and SpongeBob like to jump around. Thus,
their team move is a jump/butt stomp. The stomp comes in handy when faced with
brick barriers that stand between you and an underground passage. Combine
Patrick with Sandy and he’ll be thrown like a boomerang. This is similar to the
special move featured in the DS version, except that it is primarily used to
flip switches that are unreachable either by length or by a wall that Patrick’s
body has no trouble penetrating.
Atlantis
Squarepantis also informs us that Mr. Krabs is a helicopter enthusiast. When
paired with Sandy, he’ll spin like a madman, eventually gaining enough momentum
to lift him and his partner into the air. On the other hand, he stays firmly on
the ground for Patrick. Their team move is another one you’ll recognize from the
DS version. Patrick enlarges his muscles, looking like one tough starfish, and
holds Mr. Krabs by his legs. Mr. Krabs is then free to use his claws like a
sharp utensil to remove blockages growing under the sea.
Mr. Krabs is
also a helpful ally to SpongeBob. Together they are able to double jump into the
air, as SpongeBob uses his squishy body to thrust them twice as high as a normal
jump.
Only one pair
remains: Sandy and SpongeBob. Sandy’s karate kicks and relentless combos give a
hint as to what their team move may be, but you won’t know for sure until you
see it. When joined as one fighting machine, Sandy grabs SpongeBob and slams his
body through thick barriers. SpongeBob looks terrified throughout the ordeal,
but he comes out looking as good as new every time.
These joint
character mechanics are utilized – sometimes too frequently – to navigate the
game’s simple maze designs. Atlantis Squarepantis also features mini games, but
these are not the highlight of the game. One involves the reiteration of button
icons as they scroll across the screen. It’s a Dance Dance Revolution knock-off
without the dance pad or entertainment value. The music is catchier than what
plays in the PS2 version, but that is by no means a compliment.
Another
mini game dares you to collect coins as they fall. First you have to shoot the
fake coins back up into the air to convert them to bronze, then to silver, and
finally to gold. You can collect the others, but they yield fewer points, and
the fake ones don’t award any points.
There’s a
bubble positioning game where you have to tap the A and B buttons to keep a
bubble in the middle of the screen, and another mini-game where you’ll bounce
Mr. Krabs off Patrick’s stomach. The Sandy attack-fest isn’t too bad – just
pummel your enemy till it falls. But the Mr. Krabs rocket game is terribly
cumbersome, forcing the player to control him through a narrow area using
control mechanisms that defy video game norms.
On the bright
side, the mini-games are short and do not make up the bulk of the game. Most of
your adventure will be spent doing just that – adventuring. This isn’t the
mainstream SpongeBob game its Nintendo DS counterpart turned out to be, but
should be a good fit for kids looking for short bursts of amusement.
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Gameplay: 6.9
Cool team moves and
simple puzzle solutions are the primary sources of Atlantis Squarepantis’
entertainment value. The mini games don’t provide much fun, but they are easy
and do not take long to complete.
Graphics:
7.5
Very good by GBA
standards. Lots of character detail, creative animations, and a fair amount of
background detail and diversity.
Sound: 5.0
No need to grab
headphones for this one.
Difficulty: Easy
Easy enough for most
kids to grasp.
Concept: 7.5
Atlantis
Squarepantis takes advantage of the SpongeBob license with a multitude of
unique, character-specific actions. It’s not as good or as varied as the
Nintendo DS version, but still comes out a winner.
Overall: 6.9
The Nintendo DS
version is the right choice for most gamers. But if you’re looking for a simpler
game that doesn’t have as many enemy encounters but is still fun and creative,
Atlantis Squarepantis isn’t a bad buy for the Game Boy Advance.
