SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide – PS5 Review (Worth A Try?)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide – PS5 Review (Worth A Try?)
By Sticks – OnThaSticks.com
Search tags: SpongeBob Titans of the Tide review, PS5 review, SpongeBob SquarePants new game, Worth A Try, Cosmic Shake comparison, SpongeBob game performance, Flying Dutchman King Neptune story.
Quick disclosure: THQ Nordic and Lurkit provided an early review code. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Story: Ghost Chaos in Bikini Bottom
This game opens with pure SpongeBob chaos. King Neptune cuts the line at the Krusty Krab, the Flying Dutchman gets heated, and their ego battle unleashes ghostly mayhem across Bikini Bottom. Citizens are getting possessed, areas turn haunted, and it feels like a full-blown Halloween special episode—but in game form.
You play as SpongeBob and Patrick as they travel through ghost-infected versions of iconic locations, clean up the mess, and restore Bikini Bottom back to normal. It’s simple, silly, and extremely on-brand—in the best way possible.
What Surprised Me
Going in, I expected a light, kid-friendly platformer. What I got was a game that actually feels confident in its ideas and execution.
- PS5 visuals pop in a way that feels like your brain’s nostalgic memory of the show.
- Movement is tight. SpongeBob and Patrick control better than I expected.
- The tone is perfect. It feels like a real SpongeBob episode stretched into a game.
And as someone who literally watched the first ever SpongeBob episode on TV, that means something to me.
The Gameplay Loop
The core loop is simple but works:
- Drop into a haunted area
- Swap between SpongeBob and Patrick
- Clear ghost corruption
- Smack enemies, solve platforming sections
- Push the story forward
The game’s length hits the sweet spot: 4–6 hours for the main story, 8–10 hours if you explore extras.
The Systems
The dual-character system is the biggest improvement over past entries:
- SpongeBob is your all-rounder with cleaner movement.
- Patrick gets grappling and burrowing, which adds variety.
As someone who reviewed The Cosmic Shake in 2023, this feels like the game where Purple Lamp finally nailed the formula. The animation quality, pacing, and responsiveness are all more polished.
Environments like Neptune’s Palace and haunted Jellyfish Fields feel fun, flavorful, and full of personality.
Issues & Things to Know
- Not very deep: If you want hardcore platforming, this isn’t it.
- Some mission repetition: You’ll see similar objectives pop up.
- Performance varies: PS5 ran smoothly for me, but Switch players report dips.
The game aims to be fun, cozy, and nostalgic—not a massive 20-hour platformer.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth A Try?
Yes—if you like SpongeBob or light, charming platformers.
PS5 performance is solid. The ghost premise is fun. The tone feels authentically SpongeBob. And the shorter runtime keeps things tight. If you’re a SpongeBob fan, this is an easy recommendation.
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