SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab

Wii really recommend staying away from this wii-diculous port.

Tags: Categories: Reviews, Wii Reviews

Posted by Tracy Erickson on Dec 22nd, 2006

Title Players
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab (title page) 1
Developer Publisher Genre Online
Action No


As Nintendo secures its place among the wave of next-generation consoles, Wii finds itself inundated with a slew of ports and licensed titles. While it would be normal to shrug these rather mediocre offerings off, the potential to capitalize on the motion sensitive capabilities of Wii makes checking them out nearly irresistible. As difficult as it might be to resist the temptation, SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab warrants total avoidance—kids and adults should stay away from what is the most disappointing adventure for the porous persona yet. Despite attempts to invigorate gameplay with unique controls, SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab follows in the footsteps of its release on PlayStation 2 and GameCube and fails to stand on its own as a solid game.


Creature from the Krusty Krab is about as twisted and nonsensical as the animated series, which works in its favor since you’re likely playing the game because you’re a fan of the show. Through the course of the game, you’ll take on the roles of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Plankton as they vividly live through their worst nightmares. SpongeBob experiences life in the fast lane when his bed turns into a race car; Patrick becomes Starfishman in an effort to beat back the villainous Dreaded Patrick; Plankton plays with a magnifying ray and has to flee from a humongous krabby patty that hunts him down. All three eventually come together to discover the cause of their unpleasant dreams.


Creature from the Krusty Krab is a straightforward action platform game mixed with a bunch of mini-games for variety. The platform mechanics are basic, with the Wii remote used for jumping (A) and controlling the camera (holding B and moving the remote). Attaching the nunchuk enables you to move characters via the control stick, as well as attack using Z. During traditional platform levels, the controls work nicely; although, there isn’t any additional fun instilled by playing these levels on Wii versus PlayStation 2 or GameCube. If anything, the game’s flaws become all the more apparent when playing on Wii because the platform controls do little to add to the experience.


The game is organized into sections which correspond to a different nightmare as experienced by one of the characters. Each nightmare featuring a unique setting and is comprised of levels that vary from basic platform-action to other styles of play. Here the Wii version of Creature from the Krusty Krab differs from preceding console versions in utilizing the motion controls of the Wii remote. For example, the introductory level puts you in control of SpongeBob as he competes in a series of races using his bed as a car. Completing the level requires supping up his car and finishing three races. Controlling SpongeBob’s car requires turning the Wii remote on its side, as in Excite Truck, and racing through the tracks tilting the controller for direction. Sadly, this method of control doesn’t work due to the amount of inaccuracy in steering. You’ll find yourself sliding about the screen because the remote has not properly been tuned with the game.


Other levels have to cranking wrenches and pulling tabs using the remote or hoping through side-scrolling platform levels with the remote turned horizontally; however, there are issues with these levels as well. For every level, there exists a new game mechanic and a different method of control. While this might seem like a fun bit of variety, it actually proves annoying. The incorporation of motion controls categorically fails in Creature from the Krusty Krab and the wide range of ways in which it is used simply highlights this fact. Tacking unique controls onto a game that was already middling does nothing to improve the experience; moreover, tack on poorly thought-out controls and the game is that much worse off. Sliding about a screen during a race or attempting to manipulate objects on-screen with the Wii remote that don’t respond isn’t making this game anymore fun than it already wasn’t.


Item collection plays a role, both in completing necessary objectives and in unlocking bonus content. Most of the levels require you to collect three or four essential items in order to progress. The item fetching isn’t inherently; what makes it awful is the ridiculous hand-holding. Creature from the Krusty Krab is so incredibly linear that there is never anything else to do but the obvious required action; of course, that doesn’t stop the game for telling you what needs to be done. For every item—important or not—the game runs a cutscene to make it painfully obvious what needs to be done next. Unlock a door—cutscene. Pick up a required item—cutscene. Pause the game—cutscene. Literally, every five seconds there’s a cutscene and it will drive you nuts. Creature from the Krusty Krab should be applauded for catering to its young audience, but it goes too far in explicating objectives and gameplay.


Some action peppers the platform gameplay of Creature from the Krusty Krab, but don’t get too eager for it. Just like with item collection, the game finds it necessary to tell you incessantly how to combat enemies. Not only is this annoying, but completely unnecessary since enemies are easily dispatched. Enemies don’t even look that good, so you can’t even take pleasure in their presentation. The action in Creature from the Krusty Krab is far too simple to be engaging.


Complementing the main game are four bonus games. Beating the story mode is required to unlock each of the games, which is a bit of a pain. The games are obviously very basic; for example, “Meteor Mania” has you pressing button combinations to blast asteroids out of the sky, whereas “Pouncin’ Poundin’ Patty” tasks you with collecting a set number of Plankton’s gizmos within a time limit. While the games are a nice bonus for completing the game, they don’t hold any lasting appeal.


Ultimately, SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab fails to live up to previous video games bearing the Nickelodeon license. Instead of offering an enjoyable experience for series fans, it manages to hold your hand through several levels of mind-numbing action and simple platform challenges. SpongeBob gets to wake up from his nightmare; when do we get to wake up from this one?

What Works Score
+ Loads of bonus content including four mini-games
+ Ability to play as three characters from the animated series 		5.0
What Doesn't
- Excessive, irritating hand-holding
- Poor implementation of motion controls
- Bland action
- Substandard visual and audio presentation
Under the Shrink-wrap
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab is even more of a disappointment on Wii. Far from fun, it holds you hand through level after level of bland action platform gameplay that makes you wish you could escape from this digital nightmare. Put down that Wii remote before you chuck it at the screen in anger for having expected more out of this middling game.
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