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SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is THQ Nordic's first truly substantial (revealed) foray into reviving an old IP with an all-new video game experience. Make no mistake here - The Cosmic Shake is a big deal, especially if you're keen on AA games and mid-tier productions. Think Destroy All Humans!, Darksiders, and Kingdoms of Amalur, for example - that's what AA gaming is all about.
While some gamers may prefer to stick with top-tier AAA(A) superstar blockbuster titles, there are many of us that have broader horizons at the cost of dealing with jank. Indeed, an AA game might not be quite as polished, expansive, and supported as an average AAA title is, but they also come out faster and fit into the category of games you can genuinely finish playing within 50 hours or less. When every new game wants a 100-200 hour investment from the player, that's a huge boon, and THQ Nordic is here to supply us with precisely such titles!
Now, The Cosmic Shake is special for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's an all-new AA production. Secondly, it's the SpongeBob IP. Thirdly, it's a spiritual sequel to the beloved Battle for Bikini Bottom. If these aren't convincing enough at face value, you've come to just the right place, because this article will explain precisely why The Cosmic Shake is a must-play early in 2023!
READ MORE: How THQ Nordic Brought Back AA Gaming
What is SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake About?
Oh hey, you know how Psychonauts tackles its own subject matter? With various different mindscapes cropping up depending on the mission you're on? Well, something similar's up with The Cosmic Shake, as SpongeBob and his crew end up trudging through over half a dozen unique Wishworlds. Indeed, SpongeBob and his trusty sidekick, Patrick, come across wish-granting Mermaid's Tears which end up sending them on a series of adventures you wouldn't believe.
Unsurprisingly, The Cosmic Shake takes its gameplay cues from Battle for Bikini Bottom. The Rehydrated version that is propped up by THQ Nordic, of course. Fans of that game, then, should have a good idea of what's to come with this new SpongeBob title, though there are many novelties as well.
Developers have announced over 30 costumes for SpongeBob to choose from, as well as a number of all-new gameplay tweaks. The Fishhook Swing and the Karate Kick are rather self-explanatory, but the bottom line is that we're getting a sweet new 3D platformer at a time when the industry seems to have forgotten about the genre entirely.
Play SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake on PC on day one with 2Game!
Where Does The Cosmic Shake Fit Into THQ Nordic's Niche?
By the looks of it, THQ Nordic is now entering a new phase of its existence. Over the past couple of years, the publisher has focused mainly on collecting and reviving various fan-favorite franchises that had been lost to time. Kingdoms of Amalur, SpongeBob, Destroy All Humans!... the list is very long indeed. By producing remakes and remasters, THQ Nordic successfully got itself into the limelight. Fans of its AA IPs have been reinvigorated and the interest in classic franchises is, basically, at an all-time high after decades of slumber, in some cases.
Now, however, THQ Nordic is all-in on new titles. As we outlined in our coverage of Destroy All Humans!, there are big things in store for the publisher in the near and far future. Look no further than the list of its announced upcoming games:
- Risen
- AEW Fight Forever
- Tempest Rising
- Gothic
- Jagged Alliance 3
- Outcast 2
- Alone in the Dark
These aren't the next Call of Duty or Need for Speed, by any means. Thing is, though, that THQ Nordic is specifically targeting a different audience entirely. Older gamers may remember Outcast as the tech demo to play. Or those who enjoyed Gothic over Morrowind back in the day. This market was woefully underserved for so long that it was easy to forget that AA games were, at one time, the bread and butter of gamers.
Well, games such as The Cosmic Shake serve as proof that this is changing, and we're thrilled to see it.
A Sign of Things to Come for Other THQ Nordic Franchises?
Indeed, we do believe that The Cosmic Shake is a clear signifier of what we should expect down the line. A modern, up-to-date gameplay system with classic-style content that's going to engage both the old ones and the younglings alike. Because, yes, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is an excellent choice for younger gamers, but anybody could enjoy it - precisely as was the case with the original animated series in the first place!
The most important bit, we believe, is that THQ Nordic is all about sticking with the feel of the old games. One quick look at The Cosmic Shake's gameplay shows that it's a classic 3D platformer. Modernized for contemporary sensibilities, yes, but the kind of stuff we all remember playing back in the day. That's precisely what makes these titles special: maintaining what's important while updating all the other bits.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is slated to launch on January 31st, 2023. It goes without saying that any reviews are still a long way off at this time. Yet, the game isn't an unknown at all, and we're sure it's going to find its place in the sun once all is said and done.
Don't Forget About The Gameplay, Though!
What makes or breaks The Cosmic Shake will be its core gameplay loop. Whether the game feels good to play, how reactive and amusing the player avatar is, and whether the gameplay feedback serves its purpose. It's like hitmarkers in an FPS: simply implementing them tells you about the kind of game you're getting, in more respects than one. As we suggested above, it's still early to tell how The Cosmic Shake plays, though gameplay showcases certainly look engaging and interesting.
The crux of the issue, we believe, is that reviving long-lost and long-ignored IPs isn't enough on its own. THQ Nordic and its developers - like Purple Lamp, the good people behind SpongeBob's new adventure - need to be able to make them as entertaining as possible. In more ways than one, this game will be the one to show how it might pan out over the next couple of years.
We're hoping that The Cosmic Shake is a success; just one of many. There are some huge properties being juggled here, like Alone in the Dark, and we believe many gamers will be thrilled to see how they pan out. So far, things are looking mighty fine indeed. With a bit of luck, we're going to enter a renaissance of AA production soon enough. And, from the looks of it, Cosmic Shake may be the game to kick it all off.
Get in the Game ! 
