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"Future!"
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SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is an upcoming 3D platforming video game based on SpongeBob SquarePants. It will be released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on June 23, 2020.[2]
Rehydrated is a remake of the Heavy Iron Studios version of the original Battle for Bikini Bottom, originally released in 2003. The player controls SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy to defend Bikini Bottom from a robot army created by Plankton. Rehydrated includes all of the original game's content and adds a new multiplayer mode, which will feature content cut from the original game.[3]
Rehydrated is being developed by Purple Lamp Studios and published by THQ Nordic. It was officially revealed on June 5, 2019; the first gameplay footage was shown at Gamescom 2019 a month later.[4] Special physical editions were made available for pre-order in October 2019;[5] digital pre-orders became available on April 16, 2020.
Plot
The game will follow the same plot as the original. THQ Nordic's announcement featured the following overview: "Are you ready, kids? The cult classic is back, faithfully remade in spongetastic splendor! Play as SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy and show the evil Plankton that crime pays even less than Mr. Krabs. Want to save Bikini Bottom from lots of rampant robots? Of course, you do! Want to underpants bungee jump? Why wouldn’t you! Want to join forces in a brand new multiplayer mode? The battle is on!"[6]
Cast
- Tom Kenny - SpongeBob SquarePants, Gary the Snail, French Narrator, SpongeBot SteelPants (archival recordings)
- Bill Fagerbakke - Patrick Star, Robo-Patrick (archival recordings)
- Carolyn Lawrence - Sandy Cheeks (archival recordings)
- Rodger Bumpass - Squidward Tentacles (archival recordings)
- Mr. Lawrence - Sheldon J. Plankton, Johnny Elaine, Larry the Lobster, Prawn, Robo-Plankton (archival recordings)
- Mary Jo Catlett - Mrs. Puff (archival recordings)
- Joe Whyte - Eugene H. Krabs, Mermaid Man (archival recordings)
- Tim Conway - Barnacle Boy (archival recordings)
- Brad Abrell - Bubble Buddy (archival recordings)
- Brian Doyle-Murray - The Flying Dutchman (archival recordings)
- John O'Hurley - King Neptune (archival recordings)
Development
Concept art
There have been online petitions from fans wanting a Battle for Bikini Bottom remake as far back as 2014.[7][8][9] According to Gematsu, the game will be "faithfully remade in spongetastic splendor."[6]
THQ Nordic created a Flash-animated teaser trailer to announce the game. In it, SpongeBob wears his helmet from the original Battle for Bikini Bottom and even does the original pose from the box art. The trailer was released alongside a piece of concept artwork, showing shaded artwork of the playable characters: SpongeBob on top of a defeated robot, Patrick eating a throw fruit, and Sandy swinging on her lasso.
Rehydrated will also feature cut content from the original, including a cut boss fight with Robo-Squidward.[3]
Changes
(NOTE: This remake is currently in development, so anything listed here is based on the footage shown at Gamescom 2019, and may change over time.)
- The graphics and visuals have been improved, making the game look a lot more realistic.
- Many of the tikis and robots have received redesigns.
- When you get close to a robot, their eyes will turn red as they chase you.
- Hans, who is supposed to take the player away whenever they go out of bounds, is not present in this version.
- Characters now move and emote more during conversation scenes, and their mouths are fully articulate instead of just flapping up and down.
- Before a cutscene or major conversation scene starts, the scene goes to black and fades up on the first character who speaks.
- A sound effect plays when advancing through the text box.
Trivia
General
- This will be the first SpongeBob SquarePants video game:
- to be released through Steam.
- to be released for the PC since SpongeBob and the Clash of Triton in 2011.
- to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
- to be published by THQ Nordic.
- to be released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
- to use Unreal Engine 4 as the game engine.
- to be released in the 2020's decade.
- Unlike the original, this remake is confirmed to have an ESRB rating of Everyone 10 and Up.[10] This marks the second SpongeBob game that has an ESRB rating of E10+. The first is Plankton's Robotic Revenge from 2013.
SpongeBob making the surprised face.
- While the original game is well-known for containing many references to the show, this remake game is going to make references to newer episodes and the movies. The original game only makes references to the episodes from seasons 1-3 due to what was out at the time in 2003. Purple Lamp Studios felt it was necessary to add a little bit extra for the fans.[11]
- For example, in the Jellyfish Fields level, when SpongeBob says, "Oh my gosh -- you're bald!" he makes his surprised face from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (which he also does in "Scavenger Pants").
- Purple Lamp Studios noted that the original game was based on SpongeBob's season 2 design for his 3D model.[11] In this remake game, SpongeBob's 3D model is based on his season 12 design. The developers have stated that the 3D model change was due to how SpongeBob's shape and color have changed slightly between season 2 and 10 seasons later in season 12.
- Unlike previous PC versions of SpongeBob console video games, which are made by AWE Games and are very different to the console games, this game marks the first time that a SpongeBob game on PC will be the same as the console versions.
- The box art uses the 2009-2017 version of the SpongeBob SquarePants logo instead of the 2018-present day version of the logo.
- On the box art, SpongeBob does the same pose as in the original box art except he does not wear his army helmet and his left eye is enlarged.
- Patrick is shown eating a throw fruit on the cover.
- On the PS4 and Xbox One covers, the Krusty Krab can be seen in front of the lighthouse, but SpongeBot SteelPants is missing from the background. On the Nintendo Switch cover, SpongeBot SteelPants can be seen in the background while the Krusty Krab is missing from the shot. The PC cover is somewhere in between, so it can fit both the Krusty Krab and SpongeBot SteelPants. This is due to the size of the game cases, as the PS4 and Xbox One cases are wider, the Nintendo Switch case is taller, and the PC case is just about in the middle.
- A well-known speedrunner of the original game, SHiFT, is a game tester for it.
- All of the voices remain unchanged, thus Mr. Krabs is still voiced by Joe Whyte from the original version.
Videos
References
- ^ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-rehydrated/c35s5brnwl70?cid=msft_web_chart&ranMID=24542&ranEAID=0wLgH49VWzI&ranSiteID=0wLgH49VWzI-LEdOttAla36kKO83.1WI_w&epi=0wLgH49VWzI-LEdOttAla36kKO83.1WI_w&irgwc=1&OCID=AID2000142_aff_7593_1243925&tduid=%28ir__jtd0q9jaqskftlmg0j1ncsypsu2xnyphzttobozl00%29%287593%29%281243925%29%280wLgH49VWzI-LEdOttAla36kKO83.1WI_w%29%28%29&irclickid=_jtd0q9jaqskftlmg0j1ncsypsu2xnyphzttobozl00&activetab=pivot:overviewtab
- ^ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-rehydrated/c35s5brnwl70?cid=msft_web_chart&ranMID=24542&ranEAID=0wLgH49VWzI&ranSiteID=0wLgH49VWzI-LEdOttAla36kKO83.1WI_w&epi=0wLgH49VWzI-LEdOttAla36kKO83.1WI_w&irgwc=1&OCID=AID2000142_aff_7593_1243925&tduid=%28ir__jtd0q9jaqskftlmg0j1ncsypsu2xnyphzttobozl00%29%287593%29%281243925%29%280wLgH49VWzI-LEdOttAla36kKO83.1WI_w%29%28%29&irclickid=_jtd0q9jaqskftlmg0j1ncsypsu2xnyphzttobozl00&activetab=pivot:overviewtab#
- ^ a b Steam page for SpongeBob SquarePants Battle For Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated https://store.steampowered.com/app/969990/SpongeBob_SquarePants_Battle_for_Bikini_Bottom__Rehydrated/
- ^ https://twitter.com/THQNordic/status/1154014719386292225
- ^ https://thqnordic.com/article/spongebob-squarepants-battle-bikini-bottom-rehydrated-will-get-two-collectors-editions
- ^ a b SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated announced for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC
- ^ https://www.change.org/p/heavy-iron-studios-create-a-remastered-edition-of-spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-for-the-playstation-4-and-xbox-one
- ^ https://www.change.org/p/nickelodeon-heavy-iron-studios-create-a-faithful-sequel-to-battle-for-bikini-bottom
- ^ https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/make-spongebob-squarepants-hd-remaster-video-game-collection-for-ps3-ps4-ps-vita-xbox-360-xbox-one-wii-u-and-3ds.html
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mavvmHpfFP0
- ^ a b https://jackofallcontrollers.com/2020/02/18/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-rehydated-will-have-references-to-newer-episodes-of-the-show/