SpongeBob SquarePants Featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom Review - IGN (2024)

There's no denying the extreme piles of cash that SpongeBob rakes in for Nickelodeon. Being the company's current animation flagship, it's no surprise to see him headlining a game that features the "non-SpongeBob" Nick characters aptly titled SpongeBob Squarepants featuring The Nicktoons: Globs of Doom. The sheer fact that everyone's favorite pineapple dwelling fry cook is plastered on the cover means people will buy Globs of Doom. But should they?
Globs of Doom has Nickelodeon heroes and villains joining forces to stop the Morphoids, a gelatinous alien race that threatens the Nick worlds. The five Nick shows present include SpongeBob, Invader Zim, Danny Phantom, Jimmy Neutron, and Tak. Each show is represented by one playable protagonist and antagonist, such as SpongeBob/Plankton and so on. Other characters from these shows make appearances as NPCs throughout the game.

The gameplay is fairly straightforward in Globs of Doom. Use the nunchuck's analog stick to walk around, the A button jumps and double jumps, and the B button attacks. Jumping then attacking does a butt stomp type of attack, pressing the C button interacts with objects; really you've seen it all before.

A more creative attack input can be found in the gadget attacks. Each character has its own gadget that provides a different attack. Zim for example, uses his plunger of doom. This gadget draws enemies to him (often accompanied by a "Get over here!"), for an easy beatdown. On the screen you can see a gadget meter, and as long as it has juice in it, your gadgets are usable. Collecting purple orbs from defeated enemies will refill your gadget meter if you are running low.

SpongeBob SquarePants Featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom Review - IGN (1)

Once you've used your gadget a few times, a gadget combo meter will fill up. At this point, press any button on the Wii remote's d-pad to initiate the combo sequence. You will then see arrows on the screen pointing in different directions. Follow the directions with the remote's pointer, and you will unleash a devastating gadget combo that clears out all enemies on screen. In multiplayer mode, both players will have to perform the sequences accurately to unleash their gadget combos.

Globs of Doom features two characters on screen at all times. The AI controls whatever character you are not, and pressing the minus button allows you to swap. Obviously a character is designated to each player in multiplayer.

You will find yourself traversing three levels from each show in your quest to defeat the Morphoids. You start off in SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom but will find yourself in Jimmy Neutron's Retroville and beyond. While the environments change and take you threw different Nicktoon locales, the gameplay stays the same throughout.

The enemies found throughout Globs of Doom are just different versions of Morphoids. The Morphoids vary from brawlers to floating jellyfish-like creatures. The best example of enemy diversity is in the boss fights, where they attach themselves to other Nicktoon characters. Still, while it is a change of pace to fight a Godzilla sized Bubble Bass from SpongeBob, the gameplay is just as stagnant as when you first fired up the game.

Throughout stages you will pick up coins that are either strewn about or obtained by destroying objects. Coins allow you to purchase upgrades like greater attack strength for your characters or more energy efficient weapons. The upgrade system works for what it is, but you never feel like you're truly progressing.

As a beat 'em up/platformer hybrid, Globs of Doom has some serious problems. First of all, when playing multiplayer, the camera never really zooms out so you can keep an eye on both players. Instead the camera stays fixated on player one, often leaving player two guessing where they are somewhere far off screen.

To remedy this problem, Globs of Doom will transport characters to player one when they have been stranded or left behind. All this gimmick really accomplishes is alienating player two from what's supposed to be a multiplayer experience. Instead of working together, it quickly turns into player one doing all the work while player two waits to be beamed into the fight.

Forgetting the multiplayer camera tracking flaws, it's important to note that the camera in general works poorly. Environments and corridors will crowd the camera and leave you guessing which way to go. The camera has trouble swiveling to a designated path and will often force you to push on the screen's boundaries until you find a path that the camera gives in to.

Graphically, Globs of Doom works for some characters better than others. Traditionally 3-D characters like Tak and Jimmy Neutron look natural as 3-D character models. SpongeBob on the other hand comes out looking like waxy plastic in the cut scenes. Cinematics aside, the actual in-game visuals are decent enough. Characters and environments seem appropriate for the characters and their universes.

On the sound front, Globs of Doom has a hefty serving of voice acting. It also helps that each show's actual voice cast resumes their roles, giving you a good connections with the characters you already know. Musically, the game could use some diversity. Instead of really dwelling on the atmosphere of each show's setting, the music is a constant, "March to war with the Morphoids."

SpongeBob SquarePants Featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom Review - IGN (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6267

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.