At least in the world of computer games, SpongeBob’s drowsy sidekick Patrick Star is frequently disregarded in favor of his extravagant neighbor. He is always the bridesmaid but never the bride. But that has not stopped him from becoming a part of our hearts, so when I heard that the mysterious starfish was finally getting some attention, I was ecstatic. However, after seeing that SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game is little more than a sea of uninspired minigames and repetitive activities that waste practically all of its evident potential—aside from a ton of adorable show references—the emotional rollercoaster crashed back down.
You set out on a six-hour sandbox platforming adventure across a carefully reconstructed Bikini Bottom, donning Patrick’s flowery shorts. Apart from having a dedicated burp button, Patrick can also fall asleep on order and pick up objects with either hand, transforming into a possessed bowling ball that you can launch over the ocean floor. Gravity is more forgiving underwater than in most physics-based puzzlers, so you have more time to plan your jumps and correct errors while airborne.
This kind, of well-known control method, is used for various activities scattered around the game, such as destroying crates in the neighborhood Rage Room and skydiving. If you complete these missions successfully, you will receive valuable Sand Dollars, which will eventually allow Patrick to compete in the famous Fry Cook Games against his leaky best friend. A pleasant but eventually tiresome dialogue with well-known characters like Mr. Krabs, Plankton, and Sandy Cheeks surrounds the approachable premise.
Because the cartoon world around me is made up of both sturdy and brittle structures, I was able to unleash my inner chaos merchant and take out my aggression on both metal walls and glass panes. But, you may also make use of equippable equipment strewn throughout the colorful underwater wonderland, which enhances Patrick’s platforming skills, so it is not just about his spiky limbs. Whether using a paraglider to sail across a valley or an absurdly large hammer to knock down a false wall, it was simple to become caught up in a chaotic feedback loop that would send me zooming through the suburbs and upsetting the people of Bottom. On paper, though, it all sounds incredibly liberating, but it is also paper-thin, and I quickly realized how little this moderately sized universe could be. The mask begins to slip when you push the haphazard responsiveness too far. Unusual NPC behavior and clipping problems reveal the frayed technical seams, shattering the otherwise strong first impression.
For the brief period that the novelty lasts, at least, Bikini Bottom’s overall delight to explore may be its saving grace. It is an interactive diorama with iconic places like Glove World and Mrs. Puff’s Boating School placed in it. I was spellbound by the food items, flower clouds dispersed over the sky, and referential signs, which is a testament to the power of SpongeBob SquarePants. Patrick’s unlockable clothing adds to the memories even more. Although the prospect of playing the Fry Cook Games did not arouse much enthusiasm, scrounging for classic ensembles like The Elastic Waistband and Patrick’s “Sweet Victory” suit did.
But soon, the enchantment wears off and wider shallowness shows its face. This is present throughout The Patrick Star Game, but it is particularly noticeable in its erratic selection of minigames, which range from clumsy busywork to well-intentioned parodies of previous concepts. The Chum Bucket, an Overcooked clone that had me rushing to prepare oozy buckets of eyeballs and bones for paying customers in a time crunch, was my favorite. In another instance, I had to evict residents who were simply relaxing from Squidward’s preferred sunbathing area, which worked well both thematically and by making full use of the absurd physics. During these occasions, I could not help but think of The Simpsons Game, a humorous and addictive set of exercises that merged the distinct humor of the program with suitably comical tasks.
Unfortunately, a surplus of laboriousness quickly eclipsed these moments of clarity. That means searching a miniature amusement park for unending golden gloves or sifting through a landfill to find a growing number of treasure chests. In the latter case, I quickly decided to destroy the entire area with a massive magnet, but that strategy simply made my search harder as abandoned automobiles and other debris became entangled in the surroundings and trapped ruined mattresses in an irritating condition of constant squeaking.
In the end, I gave up and went on, looking for other ways to get the Sand Dollars needed to play the Fry Cook Games. Even when I finally made it to the much-anticipated finale, I was greeted with more of the same awkward exchanges I had already seen; it seemed appropriate that Patrick nodded off during the farewell speech.
Unfortunately, The Patrick Star Game sticks to easy collect-and-clear activities when there is so much SpongeBob history available. While there are hints of this in the Bikini Bottom University portion, when you compete against Squidward in an art competition, it is incredibly cheesy and simplistic, making it difficult to get too attached. It would have been pleasant to witness a more unified narrative unfold rather than juggling numerous disjointed and unimpressive cameos.
Though it is a meager comfort, at least I could change my focus and work through a list of more focused Feats when I became tired of the repetitious minigames. I could earn Sand Dollars by cooking burnt Krabby Patties or realizing a boyhood ambition of turning a full 360 on the neighborhood swing set. When I was starting to lose interest, the lighthearted requirements of these Feats gave me something to focus on, and the collectible Mayo Jars scattered across Bikini Bottom provided some appropriate platforming difficulties to break up the post-game boredom.
Verdict
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game is undoubtedly more suited for younger players than for those of us who grew up with the beloved cartoon series, but that is also true with titles like Astro Bot and Super Mario Wonder, both of which are excellent titles. However, the dearth of engaging puzzle solutions and significant hurdles in this six-hour trip are so severe that it seems to underestimate the target group. Underpinned by the recognizable and lighthearted universe of Bikini Bottom, it creates a powerful initial impression that fades fast.
If you enjoy the TV show, you may find its physics-heavy sandbox entertaining for a short while, but the numerous repetitive minigames and endless chats do not quite bring the essence of the program to life. Ultimately, it is a dull and uninspired adventure that undercuts Patrick’s potential as a protagonist by lacking an engrossing objective or grand narrative to connect with.
