Drawn to Life Nickelodeon SpongeBob Squarepants Edition Nintendo DS Review

Rated E by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board). This game is based on the Nickelodeon cartoon SpongeBob Squarepants and references the episode "Frankendoodle" from Season 2 in 2002. The game introduction tells about two magic pencils that sink down to Bikini Bottom. Patrick unknowingly sketches the forbidden DoodleBob and it comes to life and takes the first magic pencil and runs away and uses it to write graffiti. SpongeBob takes the other pencil but needs your help to draw a hero.

SpongeBob and Patrick along with Squidward will help you as you track down DoodleBob and clean up Bikini Bottom. You draw a hero and doodle creatures to fend off DoodleBob's army. You can use the X Y A B buttons or the stylus to play. Some of the actions include moving the character, squatting or sliding down an incline. You can crawl right or left and also jump. You can activate a butt smash or Karate chop with the buttons but you need to use the stylus to rub away stunned doodles and doodle goo.

There are collectables such as coins, life, save point and villagers. Coins are collected when you defeat enemies; life is collected where you find it. Save point is saved progress when you are at your doodle home in your doodle bed. Villagers are trapped on each level; you have to save them with a Karate chop or a butt smash. When drawing your hero you have fifteen colors to choose from. If you have a question just tap the question mark, choose your pencil size and pencil line, thick or thin.

You can erase and undo your last action while creating your hero and you can even clear the canvas if you want to start over. Zoom in for details and zoom out to look at the whole picture. Once you decide on your picture tap OK and it will enter into the game.

While playing, if you wait too long in between moves the hero will lay down on his side and tap his foot, each level has something different and you get to draw your own car that you can ride through certain levels. There is a percentage of how much goo you have to clear the number is visible in the bottom right hand corner. It starts at 100% and goes down to zero.

If you just want to color instead of playing the game then start the Nintendo DS and tap on the plank of wood titled Draw SpongeBob, you have learn how to draw him first and then you can have fun drawing SpongeBob and other objects.

Overall the game is easy to understand and each level gets harder and harder. There is a lot a reading at the beginning of the game but it tapers off towards the end. Boys and girls can both enjoy this game. It can be played with English or French as the language. The music is repetitive and earphones are an option for those who are playing.