SpongeBob SquarePants: Hit & Run is a 2004 action-adventure game developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by THQ. It is based on the Nick at Nite animated sitcom SpongeBob SquarePants, and is the TBA installment in the SpongeBob SquarePants series of video games.
The game follows SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, and Mr. Krabs, who witness many strange incidents that occur in Bikini Bottom; security cameras, mysterious vans, crop circles, and a "new and improved" flavor of the popular soft drink Kelp Soda, which causes insanity. Taking matters into their own hands, they discover numerous shocking secrets, and soon realize these incidents are part of a larger alien conspiracy, caused by Plankton. The gameplay largely focuses on exploration and missions; players often race enemies and interact with supporting characters on timed quests. The game also features many elements found in role-playing games, such as a branching storyline and side tasks.
Beginning in late 2002, the development of SpongeBob SquarePants: Hit & Run was extensive. The team sought to differentiate the game from SpongeBob SquarePants: Road Rage, deeming their new entry into the franchise required a different direction. The game was heavily inspired by the Grand Theft Auto series, and the development team re-purposed the open-world design and nuanced character development for the game. This encouraged collaboration with the show's writers and cast, who helped craft the story and dialogue. It was released on May 5, 2004 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo GameCube. It was later ported for the Game Boy Advance and Microsoft Windows on June 4, 2004.
Upon release, it received positive reviews from video game critics, with praise particularly focused on the interpretation of the SpongeBob SquarePants television series as a video game, its parodical take on Grand Theft Auto III, and graphics, while criticism mostly surrounded some aspects of gameplay, such as bugs and glitches. It is often considered to be the best SpongeBob game and has gained a cult following. The game was also a commercial success, with recorded sales of over 3 million worldwide. It received the award for Favorite Video Game at the 2005 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. On the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox, it earned Greatest Hits, Player's Choice and Platinum Hits respectively.
Videos[]
Spongebob Hit & Run - Simpsons Hit & Run Mod (Annoy Squidward)
The gameplay of this game.
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