SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated Reviews
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated is a fun enough game in its own right, but it's encumbered with the weight of near-ancient game design practices. It's new bright visuals bring Bikini Bottom to life in a whole new way, with character animations now better portraying the classic cartoon than ever before, but its gameplay is still firmly anchored to 2003, some of which has been negatively impacted by its updated visuals. At its core, Rehydrated is a repetitive and cumbersome 2003 platformer. A bit of water in 2020 isn't enough to soak new life into this old dried up sponge.
If you're completely, absolutely sure that you'd enjoy Battle for Bikini Bottom as much today as you did as a kid if not for the outdated platform and visuals, Rehydrated serves the same experience in a cleaner package. However, if you, like me, have fond memories of the game as a kid, muddied by the passage of time, be warned that this remaster might take your rose-tinted glasses and break them in two.
A game that does not play on nostalgia, but on tight gameplay and atmosphere that is so well delivered.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is not the best remake you can get these days. The animations, character models and gameplay mechanisms seem odd and outdated. That being said, if you are a dedicated fan of the original animation, you'll still enjoy the story and the great voice acting.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Remasters are always a tricky affair, and topping that potential problem with a licensed game is likely all the more risky...
Spongebob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated isn’t particularly revolutionary, but it is a lot of fun.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated is a solid enough 3D platformer that all ages can enjoy.
Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated is an unfortunately rough package.
I think fans of SpongeBob, parents, and fans of 3D platformers should really think about getting this game. It’s a lot of fun and it’s being released at a discount price, which is crazy because it’s clear Purple Lamp Studios has put a ton of work into this remake.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated seems directly targeted at those with a real nostalgia for the original game. Improved visuals and audio aside, it’s hard to recommend to a new audience when the platforming genre has had some truly outstanding remakes these past few years, let alone new entries.
SpongeBob's renewed adventure is the return of an iconic platformer we all once embraced. The game looks good and refers to a lot of hilarious situations from the cartoons. You simply can't help to smile a lot during the game, but the controls are not nearly as good. They are barely touched and feel outdated which makes the game less good than an average patty.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
One of the hidden gems of the 6th generation finally got a remake allowing new players to experience what is it like to be a sponge living in a pineapple under the sea. It is a game well-needed in these trying time, distracting the players’ attention from the current problems with its wholesome atmosphere, lovably absurd humour, and beautiful visuals. It’s just F.U.N.
Review in Polish | Read full review
SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is an example of how a faithful remaster should be done
Everything feels extremely SpongeBob-like, from colourful, zany environments to character design and especially the game’s soundtrack (which you’ll have stuck inside your head for days after you play, though pleasantly so). As a result, those with ties to the television franchise will absolutely adore proceedings, while those who enjoy a old school collectathon will also feel right at home.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated gives the original a nice paint job but fails to do much more than that.
SpongeBob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated, brings back the most praised game of the franchise, with updated visuals and audio. If you liked the cartoon or the original release. Is bound to bring a smile to your face, but not without some problems
Review in Spanish | Read full review
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated isn’t a perfect remastered release, but it still remains a fun and enjoyable platforming escapade that fans of the TV show are sure to love. Sure, it can feel a little dated in places, but the charming level design and zany antics of the game more than make up for it. It’s just a shame a few of the technical issues couldn’t be ironed out in time for release, but hopefully SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated will see some improvements made with additional patches in the future.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated proves that a great game is a great game regardless of age. The remaster of the campaign is phenomenal, with impressive improvements to the character models, textures, and environments. Some may be turned off by the overly saturated visuals, but it does match with the show's current look. Aside from Mr. Krabs and Mermaid Man, all of the original cast reprised their role in the initial release. The optional multiplayer horde mode disappoints, but it can easily be ignored and left untouched.
Rehydrated chooses to maintain all of the original's flaws, resulting in a very faithful remake that will surely elicit nostalgic memories if you've spent a lot of time with the original Battle for Bikini Bottom, but it will do absolutely nothing for everyone else.
Despite a lacklustre audio treatment and throwaway new content, this underrated 3D platformer makes a surprising return that looks fantastic and plays better than ever