SpongeBob's Truth or Square
Common Sense says
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo Wii, PSP, Xbox 360
- $29.99–$39.99
- 2009
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
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.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
A great game based off a great SB special!
An Okay Platformer
What's it about?
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.
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.
Talk to your kids about ...
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?
Game details
- Platforms: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo Wii, PSP, Xbox 360
- Price: $29.99–$39.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: THQ
- Release date: November 3, 2009
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: E for Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.