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SpongeBob's Truth or Square

(2009, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated E, Play it on: Nintendo DS, PSP, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DSi)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Goofy humor and enjoyably simple gameplay under the sea.

In this game kids can:   kill non-humans (without blood), play in a virtual world, whack cartoon characters

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Ease of play:

    The level of difficulty is set just right for the age of the intended audience. More experience players can get more out of the game by seeking out bonus items and attempting extra challenges, but none of that is necessary to finish the story.

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    Outside of the puerile humor, there are no real negative messages. SpongeBob only wants to do a good job and not let his friends down. And they try to help him succeed.

  • Role models:

    SpongeBob may be a goofy half-wit, but he's infinitely earnest, good-hearted, and industrious. He only wants to help others, never wants to let anybody down. He's not very good at anything he tries to do, but that never stops him from trying.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Enemies -- all of whom are robots -- are dispatched by various forms of hitting, slapping, and pounding. SpongeBob changes his shape, becoming things like a spatula, spinning wheel, or water-balloon shooting cannon, to take on the bad guys. Robots explode when destroyed, leaving what SpongeBob refers to as "robot guts," but even those quickly vanish. Some of the bosses look menacing enough to be frightening to very young children.

  • Language:

    You'll hear name-calling along the lines of "weenie" and "twit." There's a lot of underwear-based humor, including one boss battle in which SpongeBob must cause the bad robot's pants to fall down in order to defeat him.

  • Consumerism:

    The game ties in to the already massive media presence that SpongeBob has.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of SpongeBob's Truth or Square was written by Christopher Healy

Parents need to know that this silly, fun game utilizes the same type of humor that fans have come to expect from the SpongeBob TV series. That means you can expect burps, underwear, and anything else that would make a seven-year old giggle. In terms of violence, however, the game pales in comparison to the show. Here you get nothing more than exploded robot parts, while in the cartoon, characters have had their skeletal systems ripped out of their bodies and their eyeballs burst. For SpongeBob, this game is incredibly wholesome.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Parents can talk about comedy and what makes something funny. In the game, as in the show, lots of things happen that would be considered impolite if they happened in real life, but they're played for laughs. Why can such behavior be funny on TV or in a game, when it's not acceptable in daily life?
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More on SpongeBob's Truth or Square

What’s the Story?

In SPONGEBOB'S TRUTH OR SQUARE, the titular hero is charged with safeguarding the secret recipe for Krabby Patties, but forgets where he puts it. He can only remember things when he's happy, so his friends try to jog his memory by reminding him of the best times of his past (all actual moments from the TV show). At the same time, his nemesis, Plankton, has injected his mind with nanobots, so the formerly fond memories SpongeBob relives in the game are now populated with attacking robots. Close

Is It Any Good?

SpongeBob video games have a very mixed record, but Truth or Square should be counted among the best of them. It's got simple-yet-fun gameplay, tons of side missions that add replay value, lots of genuinely funny moments (try keeping a straight face when SpongeBob sucks up water and inflates his body to ridiculous proportions), and more than enough show references to please true fans. There's a co-op feature, which allows a second player to function as Plankton and assist SpongeBob in blasting run-amok robots. And money earned in-game can be spent to upgrade the furnishings of SpongeBob's pineapple, buy new characters costumes, or purchase power-ups. Truth or Square succeeds as both an enjoyable game for young kids and a part of the greater SpongeBob mythology. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/3/2009, price $29.99–$39.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E (for Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief)

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    gabygirl305
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • Safety is an issue

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

    hahe it boring

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    gabygirl305
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • Safety is an issue

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

    hahe it boring

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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