Common Sense Media Review
By Erin Bell
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Draw your own adventure, SpongeBob style.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
What's It About?
The unique draw-your-own-adventure concept of Drawn to Life was heralded as one of the most creative and ingenious Nintendo DS games to date, and thankfully DRAWN TO LIFE: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS EDITION retains much of the original's charm while grafting a SpongeBob SquarePants theme over top.
The story begins when a DoodleBob sketch that Patrick has made comes to life and starts wreaking havoc in Bikini Bottom by kidnapping people, creating an army of bad guys, and covering the land in ugly graffiti. Equipped with a pencil of your own, it's your job to clean up Bikini Bottom (by using the stylus to rub out all graffiti you see), stop DoodleBob and his army, and rescue the citizens that have been kidnapped.
Is It Any Good?
Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition features action-oriented gameplay that involves punching or stomping on bad guys and leaping across platforms to make it to the end of each level. The gameplay itself is basic at best, but, like the original Drawn to Life, where this game really shines is in the way it lets players draw dozens of different objects that become part of the environment. You draw the actual character you get to control complete with animations, as well as furniture, buildings, platforms, vehicles, save points, and extra lives.
It's a shame that the gameplay itself couldn't have been more exciting, but Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition still scores points for sticking true to the original game's spirit –- that of encouraging unbridled creativity and giving players a taste of what it's like to actually design their own video game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the creative objects they were able to draw. Did you stick to what the game asked you to do (i.e. draw a car) or create something whacky and different instead (like a banana with lime-wedge wheels for your hero to ride)? Are you tempted to replay this game and draw all new stuff?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo DS
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : THQ
- Release date : September 15, 2008
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 19, 2019
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