Um, okay then. In what I can only describe as one of the most unexpected pre-E3 surprises of all time. THQ Nordic has announced a remake of 2003’s SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom.
Original released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube, Battle For Bikini Bottom was, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, based on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon.
The plot involved SpongeBob teaming up Patrick and Sandy in order to defend Bikini Bottom from an invasion of robots created by Plankton. I don’t know that it was crying out for a remaster, but here we are.
Gameplay in the original game was reminiscent of classic 90’s 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, in that players would have to overcome obstacles and enemies and search for various hidden items in order to unlock new areas.
While details on the remake are fairly scarce right now, we can assume enhanced graphics and audio will factor in. According to THQ Nordic, we’ll also be getting a brand new multiplayer mode for the game.
Here’s the official YouTube description:
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!
This is the first of three reveals that THQ Nordic has planned for the build up to E3. Previous reports have suggested the publisher will be showing off a new Red Faction and revival of Destroy All Humans before the week is done.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom Re-hydrated is in development for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. THQ Nordic has 48 games in active development, so I have a feeling we can expect a lot more surprises like this in the coming months.
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Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.