Potrick Snap

Potrick Snap - Patrick Star May Not Be How You Remember Him

An Unsettling Visit to a Bizarro Version of Bikini Bottom

Not Your Average Spongebob Game

If you've ever wondered what Spongebob Squarepants' best buddy Patrick, would be like, in a disturbing alternate universe, Potrick Snap by Combo Bomb Games is the game for you. In this surreal indie horror game, you can experience nostalgia for your childhood in the strangest way imaginable.

Combo Bomb Games has unleashed one of the most unsettling creations in gaming history with Potrick Snap. If you grew up watching Spongebob and his best friend Patrick on Nickelodeon every morning, you should know that you may never be able to look at the lovably oafish starfish the same way again. However, if you're willing to take that risk, Potrick Snapp is most certainly a unique and memorable gaming experience.

Cleaning Potrick's House: Simple, Right?

The game takes place inside the humble undersea home of Potrick Snap, an unusual anthropomorphic starfish with disturbingly human-like facial features and a lazy attitude. Your task is to clean Potrick's house, which sounds easy enough, right? However, you will quickly realize that it isn't as straightforward as it seems.

It soon becomes apparent that something isn't right in Potrick's home, but the starfish refuses to tell you what has happened inside his abode. As you explore the dark, creepy house, you'll encounter disturbing versions of several familiar characters and get a glimpse into the unsettling world of Potrick Snap. All the while, Potrick will be watching you clean from the shadows.

Concept Rating: 3/5

Disturbingly Realistic

When you think of Spongebob Squarepants, you picture the show's cartoony and exaggerated animation. The visuals of the iconic underwater world were part of what made the show so endearing and memorable. In Potrick Snap, Combo Bomb Games decided to go in a slightly different direction.

Although it wouldn't be accurate to describe the game's 3D graphics as hyper-realistic, they're infinitely more life-like than what fans have seen. This realism is particularly creepy when applied to the faces of Potrick and other characters, which will most certainly give some players nightmares.

As for the game's environment, the visual design is relatively sharp and detailed. The developer has managed to turn the cozy, dome-shaped house of Patrick Star into a shadowy world of terror.

For the most part, the game's soundtrack consists of standard horror sound effects, but the audio that truly stands out is the voice acting. Although the game's characters don't sound exactly like the beloved Spongebob Squarepants characters, they do sound similar, making the dialog and tone of the game even creepier—especially for those who grew up watching the show.

Graphics & Audio Rating: 4/5

Twisted Nostalgia

Spongebob Squarepants is one of the most popular television shows in history, spawning an endless stream of episodes, movies, video games, and merchandise. In Potrick Snap, much of what you remember and love from watching the show is brought back and twisted to make it as strange and unsettling as possible.

Potrick Snap begins with the iconic theme song, sung by a tattooed and armed pirate with murder in his eyes. The slightly altered music is jarringly cut short, and you enter the creepy home of Potrick Snap -- who is standing in the entryway menacingly while staring you down.

As you continue to play Potrick Snap, you'll continuously notice references to the show, but none of them will feel quite right. And sometimes, seeing something that's just slightly off can be one of the most unsettling feelings there is.

Cleaning Tasks

Although the gameplay of Potrick Snap never fails to be creepy, it starts relatively mundane. As the game progresses, you'll do very straightforward tasks, the first several of which involve reorganizing Potrick's home. As you clean the house, Potrick will sit in front of a blank television screen, his head swiveling on his body to watch your every move.

As you clean the house, Potrick will sit in front of a blank television screen, his head swiveling on his body to watch your every move.

During this part of the game, you will quickly get a feel for how bizarre everything in this world feels. For example, when Potrick is ready to give you a new task, he'll sprint directly at you without warning, and you'll suddenly be looking at his grotesque face.

A Weird Situation Gets Weirder

You may think the first few minutes of gameplay are disturbing, but it only gets more bizarre. After spending a night in Potrick's guest room on a stone bed, you'll awake the next day to discover Potrick's friend Spongebab tied to a wall in a prison cell.

For an entire generation that grew up watching Spongebob Squarepants, there's nothing quite like seeing the beloved character locked in a torture chamber with red eyes. Shortly after this, you find yourself locked in the cell with Spongebab.

For an entire generation that grew up watching Spongebob Squarepants, there's nothing quite like seeing the beloved character locked in a torture chamber with red eyes.

At one point, another of Potrick's associates, Mr. Crobs, will visit the home to make a vague transaction with Potrick. Of all the twisted versions of famous characters represented in this game, Mr. Crobs is by far the most normal, sounding and looking surprisingly similar to the Mr. Krabs of the original show.

Thrilling Climax

Potrick Snap takes a violent turn in the later stages of the game. After Spongebab gets a bit too mouthy with the deranged starfish, Potrick murders him in cold blood, then implies that you could be next if you don't watch your attitude.

Fortunately, you'll come upon a gun of your own, and your next task is simple: kill Potrick. At that point, you must find out if you have what it takes to escape your prison and forever rid the world of this disturbed starfish.

Gameplay Rating: 3/5

Extremely Affordable

The complete version of Potrick Snap launched on February 7, 2023, and you can currently download it on Itch.io for only $1. The low price is primarily due to the game's short length, but if you're looking for a strange and surreal gaming experience, it's more than worth spending the dollar.

A Bikini Bottom Fever Dream

It's hard to do Potrick Snap justice when describing it, as it's the type of game you can only really understand by experiencing it yourself. The game takes one of the most beloved children's cartoons in history and warps it into a grotesque and unsettling 15 minutes of horror. If this sounds like the type of indie horror game you're into, the Potrick Snap is worth a play!

Replay Value Rating: 2/5

The Pros

• Successfully disturbing and unsettling
• Nostalgic in a creepy way
• Grotesquely realistic graphics

The Cons

• Limited gameplay
• It could ruin Spongebob Squarepants for you forever

TL;DR

Potrick Snap is a disturbing indie horror game featuring deranged and grotesque versions of beloved Spongebob characters.