Ghosts of the sea
If there are any constants in the universe, they are death, taxes, and SpongeBob SquarePants will somehow always be relevant. While the show was a bit past my time, its cultural impact is undeniable. When it comes to video games the franchise has also fared much better than most other children’s properties. In fact, some of the games featuring these characters are considered pretty good. The latest entry comes in the form of Titans of the Tide and should be self-explanatory. It is a platform game where you interact with characters from the show while playing as SpongeBob and his friend Patrick, which somehow still works.
So, what kind of mess has SpongeBob gotten himself into this time? The game kicks off with SpongeBob working at the Krusty Krab cleaning tables and collecting ingredients when all of a sudden the Flying Dutchman shows up to cause havoc. This in turn casts a hex on Bikini Bottom and SpongeBob is turned into a green ghost. This ties into the game mechanics as Patrick kicks off finding his friend, and once they touch BFF rings, they can swap places thus creating the core loop.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
This works as it feels like an episode of the show while also making the mechanics make sense. The overall goal is of course to lift the curse and restore Bikini Bottom to its original form. This is achieved by a series of platforming, collecting items, and taking down bosses. The standard formula for any good platform game.
The core game play revolves around swapping between SpongeBob and Patrick; each one has their own abilities such as Patric being able to burrow underground. The level design is decent enough to incorporate each of their abilities. The hub world is a giant floating ship, and players will descend into different levels. The ghost theme gives the game a one-note design, but it still works.
It is further enhanced that the team clearly had a love for the show. The jokes are deep cut references at times, and the voice actors from the show make a return, which is nice. There are a lot of in-jokes here though, so if you are like me and never really dug into the show, some of it will fly right over your head. Still, it remains funny even for those without deeper knowledge.
Controls are very responsive, and I never had any issues completing any of the challenges the game presented. That doesn’t mean it is a cakewalk, but with a few tries anything can be overcome in this game. There are coins to collect which can be used to buy new costumes, again very lovingly pulled from the show. There are also health upgrades in the form of underpants. This game pulls a lot from the very popular Battle for Bikini Bottom, but that isn’t a bad thing. If there is one game to ape, that would be the one.
Visually, the game is impressive with some really slick character models and a rock-solid frame rate. As mentioned, the voices are perfect and the music is appropriate. I did run into a few bugs and issues, but nothing game breaking. I really like the visual style on display here, even if the ghost theme feels a bit overused at times. I wish there were some more variety to the environments.
Titans of the Tide is a very competent platformer that is further enhanced if you are a fan of SpongeBob and his cohorts. I had a great time even without in-depth knowledge of the show. It plays well, looks great, and is genuinely hilarious at times. We need these types of games, and I am glad SpongeBob continues to carry that torch. For the price, this is more than worth your time.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
