One of licensed gaming’s most precious treasures returns with a graphically revamp in Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Battle-Rehydrated. In the first of hopefully many returning Nickelodeon video game-based blasts from the past Spongebob, Patrick, and Sandy must deal with Plankton’s latest scheme which has unleashed an army of robots all over Bikini Bottom. Using unique abilities and powers they work together to thwart the mechanical menace and save their home.

Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom-Rehydrated is a 2020 action-adventure, platforming game, it is remade from the original 2003 game. It is developed by Purple Lamp and published by THQ Nordic.

Editor’s Note: A Playstation 4 review copy of Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom-Rehydrated was provided by THQ Nordic in support of this review. Near complete to complete spoilers for Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom may be present within this review.

Spongebob returns to video games in Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated.

After over a decade not counting tie-ins and mobile Spongebob returns to it’s own core video game. This time focusing on a robot invasion unleashed by Plankton,’Battle for Bikini Bottom’ has you playing as Spongebob, Patrick Star, and Sandy Cheeks was they traverse Bikini Bottom taking out the robots that’s destroying the place. Along the way you’ll interact with several key characters such as the aforementioned Plankton, Mr. Krabs, Mrs. Puff. Pearl, Squidward, and plenty more. You also have the freedom of a semi-open world map of Bikini Bottom, Jellyfish Fields, and other famous Spongebob set pieces.

Licensed games continue to make a bit of a comeback with Spongebob Rehydrated.

THE GOOD: In Spongebob Rehydrated you follow Spongebob, Sandy, and Patrick who are out to save Bikini Bottom from Plankton’s latest scheme of controlled robots. In typical Spongebob fashion Plankton’s scheme backfires to the point where he too becomes a victim of the robot attacks. Having been kicked out of the Chum Bucket he enlists Spongebob and the others to insist with the destruction of the robots so Bikini Bottom can once again be potentially ruled under his tiny iron fist. You travel across a fairly large map with areas such as Bikini Bottom, Goo Lagoon, etc being playable in some shape or form. In order to progress throughout the game you’ll have to collect shiny coral pieces and golden spatulas which are obtained through either exploration or missions such as finding missing boat parts, destroying enemies, and protecting citizens of Bikini Bottom.

Each of the playable characters have their own unique abilities that help advance the game.

Combat is standard you have your attack button, jump button, special attack buttons. Eventually you can unlock special environmental attacks which helps in combat and unlock new areas on the map such as Spongebob’s bubble bowling attack. There’s also some fun easter eggs like sand surfing in certain levels and callbacks like Rock Bottom which is actually an explorable level. It makes the game a real love letter treat for long-time fans of the show. There’s a multiplayer mode where you can select certain main characters of the show and survive a horde mode that has you killing robots and collecting points.

Oh hey yeah, this game has a multiplayer mode which is a bit of a neat addition.

THE BAD; Loading times are a bit of a pain sometimes, so if you’re privy to death while playing you’re gonna have a bad time. Unfortunately some of the voice actors for certain characters for whatever reason for characters such as Mr. Krabs & Mermaid Man (this one being obvious) aren’t reprised from the show. This was actually fairly common for licensed games back in the day, but to Battle for Bikini Bottom’s credit 95% of the characters retain the voices of their original actors. Animation can at times be a bit off feeling poorly done and unmatched with lip syncing in certain instances but this is a rare occurrence.

Spongebob Rehydrated is a solid first step in THQ Nordic’s return of past Nickelodeon titles.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Outside of maybe graphically Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated isn’t breaking too much ground for it’s hype. However, it does continue the more than welcome trend of good licensed games making a return to form after such a long absence pre-Arkham Asylum.