It's difficult to classify the games themselves as fun. At a mere few seconds in length, they're hard to get an inkling towards, which leaves it to overall aesthetic to make an impression. With only six levels, the variety of styles is limited, but the ones chosen are distinctly different from one another. You'll see a sketch style and comic book games, as well as a suspense movie scene and even some pixelated 8-bit forms. I was a little disappointed, however, with the rather tame imagery. Given the somewhat lewd nature of the SpongeBob brand, I half-expected a mirror of the coarse display from the WarioWare series. But SpongeBob SquigglePants stays firmly planted in the family-friendly territory.

Against the majority who are anxious to see the full power of the 3D effect, I have played enough of the launch titles to conclude that subtlety of this effect is much more satisfying and less straining on the eyes. SpongeBob SquigglePants has chosen the minimalist route, giving depth to the backgrounds of the nanogames instead of pushing the envelope. Since there is very little animation within the framework of the games, you'll never feel overwhelmed with a flurry of disorientation. Feel free to crank that 3D slider to the max.

Since you're constantly playing against a timer, it's no surprise that the music follows suit. Each level, with its own ambience, has appropriate music, all carrying a percussive beat to keep you following the rhythm as you progress. The beat is especially important when the tempo changes. All of the tunes fit the SpongeBob universe, and I'll admit I was tempted to purchase a kazoo after playing this game. However, the tracks are overly repetitive, which I realize also fits the style of game, but they're hard to tolerate for lengthy play sessions.

Short bursts is the recipe for your enjoyment of this game. While you may finish the game quickly, you'll still find plenty of minigame medals to earn gold in, and even a doodle pad in the game's Art Studio to test your creativity with. The forty-dollar price tag is certainly steep for a game so bereft of content, but fans of SpongeBob or microgaming on the go will find this one easy to pick up for quick and intense action.

By Sean Engemann
CCC Contributing Writer

Game Features:

In SpongeBob's most crazy, creative adventure yet, be prepared to laugh your SquigglePants off as you tilt, flick, tap and draw through more than 100 Nanogames set in six zany worlds.

SpongeBob SquigglePants puts you in the driver's seat for a dizzying series of lightening-speed Nanogames, giving you mere seconds to finish one before moving right on to the next.

With this rapid-fire succession of challenges, SpongeBob SquigglePants exposes players to never-before-seen SpongeBob art styles from the Nickelodeon vault.

The entire game is hosted by SpongeBob's biggest fan, Patchy the Pirate, in a never-before-seen live-action experience for an added level of under-the-sea silliness.