SpongeBob vs. the Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off is loosely based on a popular episode of the hit underwater cartoon series. Both the episode and game feature surf king Jack Kahuna Laguna, famously voiced by Johnny Depp on the TV show (but not in the game, sadly). Following the genre-hopping tradition of previous SpongeBob video games, the game isn't a straightforward adventure however. Instead, it's a zany cooking simulation quest in line with the Cooking Mama series.
The basics of the storyline has Jack Kahuna Laguna throwing a big beach party, and the Chum Bucket and Krusty Krab restaurants both want to cook for it. To decide who will do the cooking, a contest is held and players, as SpongeBob, are put in charge of teaching the Krusty Krab's new crew of tiny plankton chefs how to cook.
VGG writes: "SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off is an interesting hybrid of SpongeBob humor and Cooking Mama/Diner Dash's addictive gameplay. While it's clearly aimed at children, hardcore gamers such as myself can find something here to enjoy as well. Whenever we happen upon a children's game that's even remotely fun, we should always cherish it and I believe this would be a great DS candidate for gamers of any age despite its graphical shortcomings and obvious reliance on previous titles for gameplay ideas."
At the end of the day, SpongeBob Vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off doesn't do a bad job of being a good food services game. The emphasis on the cooking portions makes it an easy title for the kids, though the controls will frustrate them a bit due to the spotty nature of some of the activities. SpongeBob fans will love the graphics and sound, which do a great job of conveying their favorite cartoon character. All in all, players who enjoyed games like Order Up! will find this title to be a decent companion piece - until they decide to port Order Up! to the Nintendo DS.
CSM:
"Although it clearly borrows its concept from Cooking Mama, and isn't quite as refined, Beach Party Cook-Off does a good job of adapting the formula for SpongeBob fans. The game is fully voice-acted, and the Plankton look cute as they work away in the kitchen. With more than 100 recipes to unlock (many of them SpongeBob themed like seaweed salad and the Bubble Bass Special), the game offers a decent length and support for up to four-person multiplayer. It's just a shame there isn't more of an ongoing story in between levels to break up the action."
