SpongeBob's Truth or Square
On November 15, 2021, the game was made backwards compatible for Xbox One,Xbox Series X, and Series S. It was also published by THQ Nordic on the Xbox Marketplace around the same time.
Characters
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Dream SpongeBob
- Patrick Star
- Dream Patrick
- Squidward Tentacles
- Dream Squidward
- Eugene H. Krabs
- Dream Mr. Krabs
- Sandy Cheeks
- Dream Sandy
- Sheldon J. Plankton
- Karen Plankton
- Gary the Snail
- Mrs. Puff (as tiki only)
- Larry the Snail (as tiki only)
- Flying Dutchman (as tiki only)
- Mermaid Man
- Barnacle Boy
- Bikini Bottomites
- PatBot
- SquidBot
- Wee Yellow Bot
- Demento Bot
- Tenderizer
- PlanktoBot
- Realistic Fish Head
- Prawn
- David Hasselhoff (mentioned)
- Santa Claus
- DoodleBob (mentioned)
- Robot SpongeBob (PlayStation Portable version only)
- Orca kid (PlayStation Portable version only)
- Giant eel
- The Quickster (Costume, can be seen in the Mermalair level)
- Elastic Waistband (Costume, can be seen in the Mermalair level)
- Miss Appear (Costume, can be seen in the Mermalair level)
- Captain Magma (Costume, can be seen in the Mermalair level)
- Pearl Krabs (in game files; see unused content)
Story
Console version
During the preparation of the "eleventy-seventh" anniversary of the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob tells Gary that he has been entrusted by Mr. Krabs to keep the Krabby Patty secret formula safe and secured, but while talking to Patrick, who has been hired for free as a guard, SpongeBob struggled hard to remember the location of the secret formula but ends up forgetting where the formula was at. Noticing his current sadness, SpongeBob worries as he states to Patrick that bringing up sad thoughts makes him unable to remember anything.
Upon hearing the dilemma of the sponge, Plankton shows up and offers a partnership in order to remember the formula's location. SpongeBob hesitates at first, thinking that Plankton might be available to use him to steal the formula but was convinced by Plankton's "honest face."
The two head to the Chum Bucket and SpongeBob is strapped to Plankton's memory machine, in which SpongeBob relives his memories through the help of his friends recreating memories inside his mind.
Unknown to SpongeBob, Plankton deploys his robots to SpongeBob memories to search for the formula's location. Unfortunately for Plankton, the remote for the robots was broken accidentally, forcing him to go to the sponge's mind and search for the formula's location himself while guiding SpongeBob and reliving events in the sponge's life.
SpongeBob, finally remembering the formula's location, wakes up and declares that the formula is inside a safe. Plankton suddenly laughs and reveals his entire plan to SpongeBob that he only used him to find the formula. Plankton, then, turns the Chum Bucket into a massive robot that is headed to the Krusty Krab and ejects SpongeBob out of the giant robot. SpongeBob desperately chases the giant robot and goes inside to destroy its core.
After destroying the giant robot, SpongeBob rejoices but was approached by Mr. Krabs and was asked about what happened. SpongeBob answers that he lost the formula but was able to remember it where he hid it. The two headed to the Krusty Krab's safe where, much to the sponge's surprise, as the safe was empty. SpongeBob cries in complete sorrow but was able to suddenly find a paper in his pocket which is the secret formula. Upon giving the paper to Mr. Krabs, the crab recognizes that the paper was not the secret formula, but his lottery ticket instead, realizing that he handed the wrong paper all along, much to SpongeBob's surprise. Mr. Krabs was able to find the real formula on his back pocket and laughs it off, to which SpongeBob mocks him after learning that all the things are done for nothing. Plankton appears near to them while angrily whine about his constant loss and decides to give up and walk away.
PlayStation Portable version
A scenario exclusive to the PSP version shows that before waking up and unintentionally destroys Plankton's machine, SpongeBob remembers that the formula is somewhere the Krusty Krab but is unsure if he is correct. Patrick suggests that he should remember all of his happy memories at the Krusty Krab, much to SpongeBob's disdain. SpongeBob then encounters Mr. Krabs giving the formula to the Robot SpongeBob, whom he mistook for the real one. As the robot runs away, SpongeBob chases the impostor while surviving hordes of robots, including mini-bosses, while jumping into mysterious teleporting boxes. After catching up with robot impostor, SpongeBob rejoices, only to find the impostor suddenly changed into one of Plankton's rogue hammer robots, who knocks out the sponge.
Gameplay
The game features ten levels (twelve on the PlayStation Portable) that are reminiscent of various events on the television series.
Each level features platforming with hordes of enemies that can be destroyed through attacks. SpongeBob has three types of attacks that are obtained as the game progress, although attacks that are later unlocked cannot be used when replaying earlier levels. SpongeBob can also absorb water and spray it on various objects such as water-powered machines, fire, and sponge platforms.
Attacks
- Spatula Slam - SpongeBob morphs his head into a giant spatula (hammer if in buffed form) and slams onto the ground. The PlayStation Portable version grants twice the damage when performing this attack in mid-air.
- Spin Slap - SpongeBob morphs his head into a giant rotating ship's wheel (mechanical fans with long blades if in buffed form) to hit multiple enemies at once on a short-range but has weaker damage compared to the spatula. It can also be used for turning on rotating switches and gliding for a half-second.
- Cannon Shot - SpongeBob morphs into a cannon to shoot water balloons at enemies and activates switches from a longer distance. The ammo is limited but can be replenished by collecting another pack of water balloons. The damage is doubled when in buffed mode.
Power-ups
Power-ups are also present in the game. When collected, the power-ups provide temporary enhancements to SpongeBob for only a short period of time.
- Dumbbell - SpongeBob becomes buffed and gains muscular arms while wearing workout clothes. This power-up allows SpongeBob to deal twice the amount of damage to enemies and break stone tikis. Unlike the other power-ups, the buff power-up doesn't have a timer and will only disappear once SpongeBob gets hit once.
- Hammer - SpongeBob morphs into a hammer and summons Patrick to hold him and rapidly slam into the ground, instantly dealing greater damage to enemies.
- Karate Glove - SpongeBob morphs into a karate glove and summons Sandy to spin around continuously. It can destroy giant flowers that eat SpongeBob.
- Music Note - Squidward suddenly appears and rapidly shoots two scattered water balloons.
Happy tokens are scattered throughout levels that can be collected in order to improve the furniture and memorabilia in SpongeBob's home. The coins can also be used to buy costumes and health upgrades.
There are also Patricks hidden around each level. Its purpose has no effect on the gameplay and is merely Easter eggs for the players to find. However, finding all of them will make players gain an Xbox achievement for the Xbox 360 version.
Levels
1. Fun Times Jellyfishing With Patrick
- Based on "Jellyfishing," Jellyfish Hunter," Jellyfish Jam," and "SpongeHenge"
- Place: Jellyfish Fields
- Collectible Objects: Jellyfish net, Bubbles, Baby jellyfish
2. Meeting Sandy Cheeks
- Based on "Tea at the Treedome," and "Club SpongeBob"
- Place: Kelp Forest
- Collectible Objects: Sandy's iced tea glass, Magic Conch shell, heart-shaped acorn
3. Bikini Bottom (PSP only)
- Based on "Culture Shock"
- Place: Downtown Bikini Bottom
4. Pretending To Be Tough With Patrick
- Based on "No Weenies Allowed"
- Place: The Salty Spitoon
- Collection Objects: Hotdog
- Boss: PatBot
5. Becoming The Fry Cook
- Based on: "Help Wanted"
- Place: Goo Lagoon
- Collectible Objects: Golden spatula, Snellie's pet carrier, Soda drinking hat
6. Santa, Santa, Santa!
- Based on: "Christmas Who?," and "Survival of the Idiots"
- Place: The Krusty Krab Freezer
- Collectible Objects: Wooden clarinet, Squidward's paints, Bellybutton Lint Earmuffs
- Boss: Tenderizer Bot
7. Meeting Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy
- Based on: "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"
- Place: Mermalair
- Collectible Objects: Mermaid Man's belt, Aquaphone, Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy's ring box
8. Squidward's First Yummy Krabby Patty
- Based on: "Just One Bite"
- Place: Patty Vault
- Collectible Objects: Krabby Patty
- Boss: SquidBot
9. 24 Hours Of Fun At The Krusty Krab
- Based on: "Graveyard Shift"
- Place: Rock Bottom
- Collectible Objects: Open 24 Hours sign, Mr. Krabs' first dollar, Patrick's alarm clock
10. Kara-Tay! With Sandy!
- Based on: "Karate Choppers," and "Karate Island"
- Place: Karate Island
- Collectible Objects: Karate gear, Volcano Sauce, Picnic basket
- Boss: Demento Bot
11. Krusty Krab (PSP only)
- Based on "Krusty Krab Training Video"
- Place: Krusty Krab and Krabby Patty Universe
12. That's Not Your Formula, Plankton!
- Based On: "Plankton!" and "Imitation Krabs"
- Place: Downtown Bikini Bottom Rooftops
- Boss: PlanktoBot
Differences between the console versions and the PlayStation Portable versions
The console version, which is the Wii and Xbox 360, was developed by Heavy Iron Studios, while the PlayStation Portable version was developed by Barking Lizards Technologies. The PlayStation Portable version was made to be similar to its console counterparts while having differences due to the handheld's limited hardware.
- The HUD is closer to the edged screen on the PlayStation Portable version, due to the size of the screen.
- The ending cutscenes of each level are pre-recorded instead of in-game.
- Prawn is seen in just a default t-pose, instead of his regular pose.
- SpongeBob's icon does not show his body unlike the console version.
- Also when on the last underwear life, SpongeBob makes a different scare look when on low health.
- Subtitles shown on cutscenes are on the very bottom of the screen and the text has a very small font while overlapped on a black transparent border instead of a blue rectangle.
- In-game hub world dialogues are only voiced and subtitled as opposed to the console versions, which has characters animated to match the dialogues.
- The PlayStation Portable version also lacks the letterbox screen during dialogues.
- With the exception of pre-rendered cutscenes, small cutscenes, such as stage and enemy introductions, cannot be skipped.
- SpongeBob instantly moves to the direction where the analog stick is pushed towards to instead of turning around first.
- Using the spatula move in mid-air damages twice on normal enemies.
- When buffed, holes are visible on the top of SpongeBob's eyes.
- Also, when buffed, "12th St Rag" doesn't play.
- There are fewer costumes and no health upgrades that can be bought in the wardrobe. Only one costume can be seen and the player needs to use the Direction Pad to view other costumes. The ones that are not bought are shown on silhouette forms.
- Costumes are plain retextures of characters as opposed to actual costumes in the console versions.
- The battle with SquidBot plays the slide theme instead of the final boss from Battle for Bikini Bottom.
- Rock Bottom also plays the Kelp Forest instead rather then it's normal them from the same game as well.
- The PatBot plays the slide theme from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie rather than the slide theme from Battle for Bikini Bottom.
- Rock Bottom also plays the Kelp Forest instead rather then it's normal them from the same game as well.
- SpongeBob does not have animation when he is on ice.
- The water balloons that SpongeBob shoot out his mouth are yellow instead of pink.
- When the player wins in the PSP version, the track "War Blower" is not heard, unlike the console version.
- The coins and power up had a different circle shape.
- Also when getting the Patrick, Squidward and Sandy power ups, they do not play their music themes.
- When hitting the any switch, the track "Grass Skirt Chase" is not heard in the background.
- The trivia facts are NOT present on the loading screens in the PSP version.
- The photo book in SpongeBob's house does not have any pictures on it.
- The Plankton tikis don't make a sad face when the player comes close to them.
- Sleepy Patricks are not found in the PSP version.
- The concept art in the PSP version is already unlocked.
- The player can do the mini challenges in all the levels unlike the console version where they needed to finish the level and come back to Larry.
- There are two exclusive levels, Bikini Bottom and Krusty Krab.
- However, both were originally planned for the console version but was scrapped due to unknown reasons.
- Multiplayer in the PlayStation Portable version is a set of party games that can be played through Ad-hoc as opposed to the console version's cooperative gameplay.
- The graphics are scaled down due to the hardware capabilities of the PlayStation Portable.
Multiplayer
This game includes a multiplayer mode in which the second player can play as Plankton. In the game, they can stun, zap, or grab enemies. When they stun the enemies, they will be temporarily stunned for a short period of time. This is an advantage to player one. When they zap an enemy, they will be damaged. When they grab enemies, they can shake the enemies left and right or they can slam the enemies down. This stuns them for a limited period of time.
The multiplayer option in the PlayStation Portable version is a set of party games that can be played by one or two players instead of a hidden cooperative gameplay. Press the triangle button to view a tutorial video depending on what game is selected.
- Check Please - A hockey game with the patty as the hockey puck. The entire concept was based on the episode "Krabs à la Mode."
- Collide & Conch-er - Players ride with their vehicles and capture jellyfishes scattered on the arena. If a jellyfish is captured, players must return to their starting points to score. There are also item boxes that contain weapons that can be used to attack enemies.
- INCOMING!! - A turn-based war based on the Worms video game series.
Development
Console versions
General
- A debug mode is present in the game and can be triggered by editing the "SB09.ini" file.
- Outside of SpongeBob's house, there are letters and numbers floating in the middle of empty space (2B1456B278B3). Touching these can grants access to most of the levels in the game.
- Two unused models are present in the game files. One is a 1×1×1 cube that can be seen in "Fun Times Jellyfishing with Patrick." And the other one is an "error" model which can be seen at the ending of "Becoming a Fry Cook!!!"
- The logo of "Wall-E," Heavy Iron's previous game is present in the game file.[1]
Prerelease
- An early trailer for the game reveals that it was originally titled Happiness Squared and featured many differences compared to the final game such as the apparition of tikis and character models from Battle for Bikini Bottom and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Although, they were likely used as placeholders.
- Pearl, Man Ray and the salesman were originally supposed to appear in the game. Only the salesfish appears in the Nintendo DS version.
- The levels "Squidward's Talent Show" and "Ambush At Krusty Krab" were both planned for the console version but they only appear in the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation Portable versions.
- The Spanish Wii version of the game still feature a playable version of these two levels in the files.
- Pearl was also supposed to be in "Squidward's Talent Show" but for some reasons, she doesn't appear in any versions of the level.
- The level "That's Not Your Formula, Plankton!" may have been originally named "Becoming a co-cashier," as the official website called this level "Becoming a co-cashier."
- There are unused robots in some concept art. One of them is a flying one, one of them is similar to the used variant but instead has a brown hinge reviewing the cannon, another one is a robot that goes underground and performs a spin attack, and the other one performs the spin attack and acts like a trampoline. All of the robots are used in the DS version and all robots except the underground spinning one who appears in the PSP version.
Gallery
Videos
-
Early Test Demo Trailer
-
Demo reel which includes gameplay footage of Happiness Squared
-
Footage of the scrapped "Squidward's Talent Show" level, reimplemented into the NTSC version of the game
Screenshots
-
The 1x1x1 cube model as seen in "Fun Times Jellyfishing with Patrick."
-
The error model seen at the ending of "Becoming a Fry Cook!!!."
Prerelease screenshots
-
Screenshot of "Squidward's Talent Show" (#1).
-
Screenshot of "Squidward's Talent Show" (#2).
-
Screenshot of "Ambush At Krusty Krab" (#1).
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Screenshot of "Ambush At Krusty Krab" (#2).
-
Models of the characters, including the deleted Pearl, Man Ray, and Salesfish.
PlayStation Portable version
General
- There was going to be an unused driving level for the PlayStation Portable version.[2]
Reception
SpongeBob's Truth or Square has received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Metacritic gave the Xbox 360 version a 6.7/10[3] Corey Cohen of Official Xbox Magazine rated the game 4 out of 10 and considered it boring, while criticizing its "tedious" levels and "irritating" camera. Common Sense Media gave it a score of 4 out of 5 stars.[4]
Walkthrough
Xbox 360 version
Wii version
PlayStation Portable version
Backwards compatibility
The game has backward compatibility on the following systems:
- PlayStation Vita - The digital version of the game bought from the PSP's PlayStation Store, prior to its closing, can be downloaded to the Vita. Similarly, the game can be bought directly through the Vita's own PlayStation Store.
- PlayStation TV - All digital versions of PSP games that are compatible with the Vita are also compatible with PlayStation TV.
- Wii U - The disc of the Wii version can be played on the Wii U.
- Xbox One - Compatibility for the game was added on November 15, 2021. Inserting the Xbox 360 disc on Xbox One and Xbox One X would download the digital version of the game to the console. The digital version bought from the Microsoft Store can be downloaded to either from Xbox 360 to Xbox Series.
- Xbox Series - All games that are backwards compatible with Xbox One consoles are compatible with Xbox Series consoles with the same methods.
Trivia
General
- Despite supporting a 16:9 aspect ratio, the cutscenes in the Wii version are only 4:3. Choosing to play in widescreen will stretch the video.
- On November 15, 2021, the game was added to the backward compatibility catalog of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S.[5]
- The stages take place in events of SpongeBob's life that are similar to events in SpongeBob episodes (such as faking a fight to get in The Salty Spitoon, the story of the hash-slinging slasher, and the time SpongeBob met Sandy).
- The game uses a handful of original tracks from the show. Those are "12th St Rag," "Grass Skirt Chase," "Hawaii Bob (strings in front)," "Hawaiian Adventures aka SpongeBob Theme," "Seaweed 3," "War Blower" and "War Blower (drums only)."
- Plankton's memory machine seems to be connected to Karen's wall form, so when SpongeBob wakes up, Karen's wall form explodes.
- The Soda drinking hat from "One Krabs Trash" returns in this game.
- In the game, defeating the PatBot takes place at night while the episode it is based on takes place in the day, although the Nintendo DS version of it takes place in the day.
- The boxes around the level that the player can teleport to when they have completed the level resemble the box from "Idiot Box." They also are similar to the boxes in Battle for Bikini Bottom and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
- The Magic Conch shell appears in this game.
- This is currently the latest appearance of Ol' Reliable.
- This, SuperSponge, and SpongeBob's Boating Bash are the only video games where Ernest Borgnine actually does the voice of Mermaid Man. In all other video games appearances of Mermaid Man, he was voiced by Joe Whyte or Joe Alaskey.
- This game reveals SpongeBob's real muscles instead of fake ones.
- Prawn, the mini-boss in the Mermalair from Battle for Bikini Bottom, appears in the Truth or Square Mermalair frozen in tartar sauce exactly as he appears when defeated in Battle for Bikini Bottom (except bigger, and SpongeBob said he was Man Ray by mistake and realizes he was Prawn, but calls him Mr. Shrimp).
- SquidBot shares a lot of similarities with a cut boss from Battle for Bikini Bottom, called Robo-Squidward.
- In other SpongeBob games, jellyfish are common enemies, but the jellyfish in this game only appear in the first level but as platforms.
- SpongeBob's tongue slider appears again in this game.
- This game is developed by Heavy Iron Studios, which is the reason this game recycles many elements from Battle for Bikini Bottom and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, such as models, textures, music, enemies, and objects like tikis.
- The level "That's Not Your Formula, Plankton!" may have been originally named "Becoming a co-cashier," because the official site called this level "Becoming a co-cashier."
- In the tutorial videos of "Check Please" and "Collide & Conch-er" in the PlayStation Portable multiplayer party games, the floor has a darker lighting than the actual party game.
- This is the last SpongeBob game for the PlayStation Portable, as well as the last one to be distributed on a Universal Media Disc.
- In SpongeBob's pineapple, there is a photo book that can be used to select levels. The pages shown have a picture of SpongeBob, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs inside the Krusty Krab from "Graveyard Shift," and a screenshot of SpongeBob and Sandy from "Tea at the Treedome."
- This is the first video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios as an independent developer.
- This is also the last SpongeBob game that was developed by Heavy Iron Studios.
- The Wii version has slightly lower quality sound effects when compared to the Xbox 360 version. Some sound effects are also played through the Wii Remote.
- The face SpongeBob makes on the cover art is different for every version.
- This is the only Heavy Iron SpongeBob game to not be released on a PlayStation home console.
- Similar to Battle for Bikini Bottom, the health system in the game is portrayed with underwear.
- In the "Happiness Squared" cover art at the 2 Player notice, Plankton has his machine he uses to control SpongeBob's brain in his debut episode.
Errors
- Even though the game was released after the 2009 rebrand, the game uses the old pre-2009 Nickelodeon logo and opening.
Discs
-
Xbox 360 disc
-
Wii disc
-
PlayStation Portable disc
Videos
-
E3 2009 trailer
-
All Story cutscenes in the game
References
- ↑ SpongeBob's Truth or Square (Wii, Xbox 360) - The Cutting Room Floor
- ↑ SpongeBob's Truth or Square (PlayStation Portable) - The Cutting Room Floor
- ↑ SpongeBob's Truth or Square - Metacritic
- ↑ SpongeBob's Truth or Square - Common Sense Media
- ↑ Celebrate 20 years of Xbox with over 70 new Backward Compatible Games - Xbox Wire
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