SpongeBob's Truth or Square

Xbox 360 Cover

PlayStation Portable

Nintendo DS

**SpongeBob's Truth or Square** is a 2009 action platforming video game on the SpongeBob SquarePants' TV movie of the same name. It was also Heavy Iron Studios' last SpongeBob game.

## Gameplay

### Two-Player Minigames (PSP Only)

Multiplayer in the PSP version is a set of party games that can be played through Ad-hoc as opposed to the console version's cooperative gameplay.

## Reception

*SpongeBob's Truth or Square* received mixed reviews from critics and gamers. Corey Cohen gave the game a 4/10, calling it "boring." Common Sense Media was more positive, giving the game a 4/5. On Metacritic the Xbox 360 version has a 65/100, indicating "mixed reviews." The Wii release received slightly more positive review, with Metacritic giving it a 70/100.

## Trivia

* This takes place before the episode as SpongeBob claims tomorrow is the eleventy-seventh anniversary.
* The game reuses many assets from *Battle for Bikini Bottom* and *The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie*, both by Heavy Iron Studios, along with some music from both games, and the show. This is because *SpongeBob's Truth or Square* was originally going to be a successor to both games, titled *SpongeBob SquarePants: Happiness Squared*. However Nickelodeon stepped in and forced them to tie it in with the TV movie "Truth or Square," resulting in it being rushed.
* The game was originally going to be released on the PlayStation 2, but was cancelled for unknown reasons.
* The Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation Portable all have the same gameplay styles (except for multiplayer), while the DS version has its own gameplay style.

### References to the Show and Battle for Bikini Bottom

*SpongeBob's Truth or Square* has a lot of references to the show, to the point that it's extremely likely the developers watched some episodes while working on the game.

* *Fun Times Jellyfishing With Patrick* has the SpongeHenge statues from "SpongeHenge," and the Jellyfish jars from "Jellyfish Hunter."
	+ Jellyfish Rock from *Battle for Bikini Bottom* can also be seen in the level at the beginning.
* Screenshots from "Tea at the Treedome" and "Graveyard Shift" can be seen in a book when selecting a level.
* The *Talent Show* level from the PSP version is based off the episode "Culture Shock."
* *Pretending To Be Tough With Patrick* is based off Patrick beating himself up from the episode "No Weenies Allowed."
* The level, *Becoming a Fry Cook* is based off the pilot, "Help Wanted."
	+ The level also has the buses full of anchovies, like "Help Wanted."
	+ The Krabby Patty launching machine in the level is possibly based off the Patty Gadget from "SpongeBob vs. The Patty Gadget."
* *Meeting Sandy Cheeks* is based off "Tea at the Treedome."
	+ The clam Sandy fights at the beginning of the episode is also present.
	+ The Club house from the episode "Club SpongeBob" can be seen at the beginning of the level.
* *Santa, Santa, Santa!* is based off the episodes "Christmas Who?" and "Survival of the Idiots."
* The level *24 Hours of Fun at the Krusty Krab* is based off the episodes "Graveyard Shift" and "Rock Bottom."
* The boss, *Squidward's First Yummy Krabby Patty* is based off the Season 3 episode, "Just One Bite."
* *Meeting Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy* is based off the Season 1 episode, "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy."
	+ Prawn from *Battle for Bikini Bottom* also makes a cameo appearence.
* The level *Kara-Tay! With Sandy!* is based off "Karate Choppers" and "Karate Island."
* *Ambush at the Krusty Krab* contains many references:
	+ Robo-SpongeBob from "Welcome to the Chum Bucket" makes an appearence.
	+ The frozen part of the level is referencing "Krabs à la Mode."
* The final boss, *That's Not Your Formula, Plankton!* is based off "Imitation Krabs."
* Most of the costumes reference past episodes:
	+ SpongeBob's Criminal Outfit - "Krusty Towers"
	+ SpongeBob's Mermaid Man Outfit - "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"
	+ Patrick's Barnacle Boy Outfit - "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"
	+ Patrick's Pirate Outfit - "Arrgh!"
	+ Sandy's Band Outfit - "Band Geeks"
	+ Sandy's Old West Outfit - "Pest of the West"
	+ Squidward's Pirate Outfit - "Grandpappy the Pirate"
	+ Mr. Krabs' Criminal Outfit - "Krusty Towers"
	+ Gary's Christmas Outfit - "Christmas Who?"
* Some items are based off objects from episodes:
	+ Iced Tea - "Tea at the Treedome"
	+ Magic Conch Shell - "Club SpongeBob"
	+ Heart-shaped Acorn - "Valentine's Day"
	+ Golden Spatula - "Plankton!" and *Battle for Bikini Bottom*
	+ Snellie's Pet Carrier - "The Great Snail Race"
	+ Soda Drinking Hat - "One Krabs Trash"
	+ Wooden Clarinet - "Christmas Who?"
	+ Bellybutton Lint Earmuffs - "Survival of the Idiots"
	+ Mermaid Man's Utility Belt - "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV"
	+ Aquaphone - "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"
	+ Mr. Krabs' First Dollar - "Wet Painters"
	+ Volcano Sauce - "Karate Choppers"
	+ Picnic Basket - "Karate Choppers"

### Differences in the PSP version

Due to space limitations in the PSP release, several things have been edited to better suite the PSP's weaker hardware.

* Several graphics have been scaled down, and the hud is much larger.
	+ Some hud icons (for example Buff SpongeBob) look different.
* All music tracks are shorter, and some are missing. The level end theme is also from *Battle for Bikini Bottom* instead of the show.
* Costume changes are simple texture swaps instead of actual models. The dumbbell power-up is also missing its costume, and SpongeBob's eyes are glitched.
* Two extra levels are present *Squidward's Talent Show* (based on Culture Shock), and *Ambush at the Krusty Krab* (based off Krusty Krab Training Video).
* Cutscenes in SpongeBob's house don't have lip movement or animations, and other cutscenes use recordings from the Xbox 360 version.
	+ Also, the PSP version lacks the letterbox screen during dialogues.
	+ Oddly, incomplete renders of these can also be found in this version.
* Subtitles shown on cutscenes are on the very bottom of the screen and the text has a very small font while overlapped on a black transparent border instead of a blue rectangle.
* With the exception of pre-rendered cutscenes, small cutscenes, such as stage and enemy introductions, cannot be skipped.
* SpongeBob instantly moves to the direction where the analog stick is pushed towards to instead of turning around first.
* Using the spatula move in mid-air damages twice on normal enemies.
* Health Upgrades are brought in a chest instead of the closet.
* There are less costumes.
* Prawn (who makes a cameo in *Santa, Santa, Santa!*) is in a T-pose, instead of his regular pose.
* Instead of ice and jelly for the Pat-bot, it was changed to ice-cream and candy.

### Errors

* In the Wii, Xbox 360 and PSP versions, *Pretending To Be Tough With Patrick* is set a night, but in the episode, it's set during the day.
	+ In the DS version, the level is correctly set at day.
* *Meeting Sandy Cheeks* is set in Kelp Forest, but in "Tea at the Treedome," SpongeBob meets her in the middle of nowhere.