Are you ready, kids? Everyone’s favorite cartoon sponge is back with a brand new video game for the first time since 2015. 

  “SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake” has been called a “spiritual successor” to the 2003 game, “SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom,” which was remastered for modern consoles in 2020.

  Similar to “Battle for Bikini Bottom,” “The Cosmic Shake” follows SpongeBob on adventures throughout different areas of Bikini Bottom. This time, however, each area differs from the show but maintains familiarity.

  A western-themed Jellyfish Fields and a prehistoric-themed Kelp Forest are a delight to explore. To coincide with the themed worlds, there are matching costumes for SpongeBob that are directly from the television show. Those who grew up with the show will recognize many of them.

  My personal favorite area in the game is a Halloween-themed Rock Bottom, where you traverse through the game’s most dynamic level design. Eventually, you go trick or treating to complete the level. It’s very charming and I am very excited to return to the area to complete post-game goals.

  The overall storyline of the game is simple and makes you feel like you’re playing through an episode of the series. You can tell the creators of the game anticipated a lot of people who haven’t watched the show since the 2000s would be playing, as there are tons of references from the first three seasons of the show.

  I found myself chuckling at several of the jokes told and finding myself reminiscent of my childhood being reunited with these characters. 

  Unfortunately, there are a few negatives that I should mention. On the Nintendo Switch version of the game, there are some points where the game will freeze or lag for a few moments. It’s not that big of a deal, but it’s worth noting.

  The game felt large and expansive up until the end, and I was disappointed in its conclusion. Each area allowed for exploration and finding secrets. That is, until the last area: Glove World, the amusement park where the game’s story comes to a close. 

  Glove World, in my opinion, is the weakest level in the game as it lacks the charm found in other parts of the game. The finale felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the game, which is a shame. I feel the same way about the final battle of the game, which also felt very tagged on at the last minute.

  Despite the end of the game feeling a bit rushed, I greatly enjoyed playing “SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake”. It brought me back to a simpler time of watching SpongeBob as a kid and enjoying games such as “Battle for Bikini Bottom”.

  If you didn’t grow up with SpongeBob, this game likely won’t do much for you. If you did though, I would highly recommend “The Cosmic Shake” for a fun reunion with some old childhood friends.

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