Proto:SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge (PlayStation)/SBSP 020501

This is a sub-page of Proto:SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge (PlayStation).

  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

To do: Rip SpongeBob's sprites and compare them with the final.

Dated May 2nd, 2001, this build is very incomplete, with many features yet to have been implemented.

Gameplay Differences

Interestingly, the game plays much more like the Game Boy Advance version.

• SpongeBob has a health system in the prototype that was changed to a system similar to Sonic's rings. This also means spatulas have no use.
• SpongeBob doesn't have knockback when getting hit.
• There's food items that were removed in the final game. These restore health to SpongeBob.
• The controls are different:
  • ◻- Jump
  • ✕- Karate Chop (Only with full unarmed mode)

Graphical Differences

At this point in development, most objects used pre-rendered 3D models. In the final game, most of these were drawn over (though a lot of the enemies weren't), which results in an inconsistent art style.

Legal Screen

SBSP 020501	Final

• When booted, the game shows the placeholder copyright screen, and immediately begins to load the first level. However, a title screen and main menu is implemented, and can be accessed by exiting the level from the pause menu.

SpongeBob

• SpongeBob's sprites are slightly different, due to being raw 3D Studio MAX renders that have not been drawn over yet.
  • He has a thinner outline in this build.
  • His pupils are smaller.
• SpongeBob uses an animation when dying that was replaced in the final, though it's cut-off here. The animation still exists in the final.

Squidward

Squidward looks really different here, being a pre-rendered 3D model for the sprites.

SBSP 020501	Final

Dialogue Boxes

SBSP 020501	Final

• The dialogue boxes use a bamboo border.
• Text clipping hasn't been implemented yet.
• All of the dialogue head sprites are sketches.

Prototype
Final

Pickups

Powerups had their sprite size doubled in the final game.

Prototype
Final

Unused Levels

• Normally, progressing after 2-2 will break the game. But by mashing the R2 button, it's possible to skip past 2-4 and access the rest of the levels.

Chapter 4

• The spike balls don't harm the player.
• Level 3 breaks the game.

• Level 4's sky is missing.
• No transitions exist.

Chapter 5

• Levels 2 and 4 breaks the game.
• Level 3's liquid is solid.

Chapter 6

• Level 1's sky is missing.
• Level 2 breaks the game.
• Attempting to skip past Level 5 breaks the game.

Bugs

• Kill plains don't work yet.
• SpongeBob can walk through big rocks in 1-3.
• Level and object generation is a bit broken as parts of levels and objects disappear when slightly on-screen.

Oddities

• The bus in 1-1 has collision at the top.

• There's a spike generator inside a rock in 1-3.

Debug Commands

Many debugging features are enabled by default.

• Holding L1 will enable "No Clip Mode".
• Pressing R2 will skip a level.
• Pressing Triangle will enable a simple collision debugger.
• Pressing Select shows the current VRAM.

• Pausing the game will give you the following options.

1. Invincible SpongeBob - Makes SpongeBob invincible.
2. BASIC & FULL UNARMED mode - Removes upgrades from SpongeBob.
3. BALLOON, BUBBLE MIXTURE, NET, CORAL BLOWER and JELLY LAUNCHER mode - Gives SpongeBob the specific item.
4. DEAD mode - Kills SpongeBob.