SpongeBob's Truth or Square
SpongeBob's Truth or Square is a 2009 action-adventure platform video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by THQ.[1][2] Released on October 26, 2009, for the Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable platforms, it serves as a tie-in to the SpongeBob SquarePants tenth anniversary television special of the same name.[2][1] In the game's plot, SpongeBob loses the Krabby Patty secret formula, which Plankton steals using a robotic duplicate; to recover it, SpongeBob enters Plankton's memory machine to relive happy moments from his past, journeying through recreated scenes from iconic episodes.[3][2] The gameplay combines 3D platforming mechanics—such as running, jumping, spinning, and using a hammer—with puzzle-solving challenges and mini-games across ten levels set in familiar locations like Jellyfish Fields and downtown Bikini Bottom.[2] Players control SpongeBob and unlock playable sections for friends like Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks, emphasizing cooperative elements and humor drawn from the series' lore.[1] The Nintendo DS version, developed by Altron, adapts the core experience with touch-screen controls, while the console editions support features like Wii MotionPlus for enhanced motion-based actions.[2] Upon release, SpongeBob's Truth or Square received mixed reviews, praised for its faithful recreation of SpongeBob SquarePants moments but criticized for repetitive gameplay and technical issues on some platforms.[2] It marked one of THQ's final major SpongeBob titles before the publisher's bankruptcy in 2013, contributing to the franchise's extensive library of licensed video games.[1]Synopsis
Main plot
The plot of SpongeBob's Truth or Square is set during preparations for the Krusty Krab's eleventy-seventh anniversary in Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob SquarePants is entrusted by Mr. Krabs with safeguarding the Krabby Patty secret formula but becomes distraught upon forgetting its location while chatting with Patrick Star. Seeking help, SpongeBob visits Plankton at the Chum Bucket, where Plankton suggests using his memory machine to relive happy past moments and jog SpongeBob's memory. Unbeknownst to SpongeBob, Plankton has already stolen the formula using a robotic duplicate of SpongeBob to deceive Mr. Krabs, and deploys additional robots to seize control during the anniversary chaos.[4][5] As SpongeBob activates the memory machine, he journeys through ten recreated levels drawing from iconic SpongeBob SquarePants episodes, collecting "memory pages" to unlock truths about his past. These include Jellyfish Fields for jellyfishing with Patrick, the Treedome for adventures with Sandy Cheeks, Boating School for driving mishaps, and downtown Bikini Bottom for various challenges. Along the way, players control SpongeBob using platforming abilities like spinning, jumping, and hammer strikes, while solving puzzles and mini-games. Friends like Patrick, Sandy, and Squidward Tentacles become playable in specific sections, emphasizing cooperative gameplay to progress.[5][1] The memories reveal glimpses of SpongeBob's life, such as his first day as a fry cook and encounters with Plankton's schemes. Midway, Plankton's remote malfunctions, forcing him to enter the machine himself, where he faces humorous failures. SpongeBob eventually recalls the formula is hidden in a safe, but Plankton escapes and transforms the Chum Bucket into a giant robot to attack the Krusty Krab. SpongeBob rallies his friends to destroy the robot, interrupting Plankton's plan. In the resolution, the "formula" turns out to be a fake lottery ticket; Mr. Krabs reveals the real one was safely in his pocket all along. The anniversary celebration proceeds successfully, celebrating SpongeBob's friendships and the franchise's lore.[4][5]Framing narrative
SpongeBob's Truth or Square lacks a separate live-action framing narrative, unlike its tie-in TV special. Instead, the game's story is framed entirely within the animated SpongeBob universe, using Plankton's memory machine as the narrative device to sequence levels as interconnected flashbacks. This structure ties the platforming adventures to the central quest of recovering the Krabby Patty formula, blending humor from past episodes with new anniversary-themed events.[3][5]Cast
Principal voice cast
The principal voice cast for SpongeBob's Truth or Square consisted of the longstanding performers from the SpongeBob SquarePants series, who provided voices for the main characters during the special's framing narrative and flashback sequences.[6] Voice recording sessions occurred at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California, in mid-2009, aligning with the production timeline for the 10th anniversary special.[7][8] These actors brought their established characterizations to the story, where the characters navigate entrapment in a ventilation system while reflecting on key memories through Plankton's memory machine.| Actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Tom Kenny | SpongeBob SquarePants / Gary the Snail / Patchy the Pirate / French Narrator |
| Bill Fagerbakke | Patrick Star |
| Rodger Bumpass | Squidward Tentacles |
| Clancy Brown | Mr. Krabs |
| Mr. Lawrence | Plankton |
| Carolyn Lawrence | Sandy Cheeks |
| Jill Talley | Karen Plankton |
| Paul Tibbitt | Potty the Parrot / Patchy's good and bad sides |
| Lori Alan | Pearl Krabs |
| Mary Jo Catlett | Mrs. Puff |
| Dee Bradley Baker | Additional voices and sound effects (e.g., Squidward's clarinet) |