Genre: Action
Gameplay: Arcade, Platform
Published by: THQ Inc.
Developed by: Climax Group
Released: 2001
Platforms: PlayStation (PSX, PS1), Game Boy Advance (GBA)
It's the second SpongeBob game released for PlayStation after Nicktoons Racing, which features SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick and Plankton as playable characters. The PlayStation version of SuperSponge sold 1.06 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games on the console. Later, the game was re-released for the PlayStation as a Greatest Hits title.
Plot
It's Patrick's birthday, and SpongeBob wants to give him "the best gift of all": A photo signed by his favorite superheroes, Mermaid Man and Mussel. However, the heroes want nothing more or less to get rid of SpongeBob, so that he performs random tasks around the Bikini Slot. After returning from such a task, SpongeBob discovers that the television from the nursing home of Mermaid Man and Mussel is broken, so he should look in the Bikini Slit for repair tools. After finding the tools, SpongeBob will return to fix the television. Man Mermaid and Mussel, feeling satisfied, finally give autographs to SpongeBob. The game ends with Patrick thanking SpongeBob for the autographs, and everyone wishing him a happy birthday.
Gameplay
The game is divided into five worlds (listed as "chapters"), each with four levels: Bikini Slit, an underwater volcano, the prehistoric Bikini Slot at the bottom and the Bikini. The levels can be compensated by collecting the objects desired by the Mermaid Man. In addition, the fourth level of each chapter has a boss.
There are scattered across all levels, golden spatulas - if you collect all 100 on one level, SpongeBob earns an extra life. In the PlayStation version, the spatulas also serve as health gauges, as if SpongeBob touches an enemy, he loses all the collected golden spatulas, and if he is touched by an enemy without any spatula, he loses a life, which is similar to the rings in Sonic the Hedgehog. In the Game Boy Advance version, a separate health meter is used, which can be replenished by collecting items such as chips, milkshakes and crab burgers. Life can also be obtained by collecting briefs.
In the PlayStation version, by collecting a number of spatulas in each chapter, a secret level called "Six Clams Adventure Land" (a reference to the Six Flags amusement park) can be unlocked. At that level, located in an amusement park, SpongeBob SquarePlace has to walk through the toys and collect all 25 flower tokens. These tokens can be used to buy props for Patrick at the birthday party at the end of the game.
Jellyfish Net: SpongeBob SquarePants can capture the jellyfish and throw them at enemies. (The limit of jellyfish that can be kept on the net is five in the PlayStation version, and ten in the Game Boy Advance version.
Coral Blower: While using his "Coral Blower", SpongeBob can pick up scattered shells and throw them in order to break walls formed of rocks. SpongeBob can not do the "butt-bounce" when he has that item.
Squeaky Boots: (Only in the PlayStation version) SpongeBob can use these shoes to walk on sharp surfaces without getting hurt. Its effect is limited, however.
Jelly Launcher: A lightning gun that launches dehydrated jellyfish. The ammunition is limited, and SpongeBob can reload the weapon by collecting a jar of jellyfish, which is marked with a blue light with a jellyfish drawing on the side.
Bubble Wand: SpongeBob, despite having the Bubble Wand, can blast bubbles, which serve as platforms. The amount of bubbles is limited, and SpongeBob can fill Bubble Wand by collecting pink soap jars.
Karate Glove: SpongeBob can give a karate slap on enemies and grab distant objects. It's a weapon in the GBA version, but in the PS version it's a power-up to get caught, and its effect is limited.
Glove World Balloon: SpongeBob can jump higher than normal and also float (PlayStation version). Its effect is limited.