It was only a matter of time before the two fantasy worlds collided, and on June 13, 2025, Magic: The Gathering will finally join forces with the world of Final Fantasy to bring a stunning ?new set of cards to the tab??le.

As part of MagicCon: Las Vegas, Wizards of the Coast have revealed a bunch of new sets that will be released at some point in 2025, and while we’ll get into the other sets a little further down, the focus here is definitely on the Final Fantasy cards and the beautiful examples of artwork that ??w??e’ve already seen. 

The set will feature not only well known faces from across the 16 game franchise, but also locations, spells, and mounts. It will be the largest single collection of artwork from the franchise as well, featuring artwork by both Wizards of the Coast artists and renowned Final Fantasy illustrators. 

My Final Fantasy XIV fangirl heart is overjoyed at the inclusion of an Emet-Selch card, as well as other familiar faces like Kefka from FFVI and Sephiroth from FFVII. There’s also a Post Moogle ??that’s beyond adorable, and an illustration of Tidus and Y?una wrapped in an embrace. 

I’ve got to be honest, I’ve managed to avoid being pulled into the world of Magic: The Gathering thus far, but this might be the set that breaks me. In fact, there’s no might about it, I’ll be pre-ordering this as soon as I possibly can. If you want to do the same, you can sign up for updates via the Wizards of the Coast website. 

All Magic: The Gathering sets revealed at MagicCon: Las Vegas

If you’re not into Final Fantasy, here are? the other sets that were a??lso revealed during MagicCon: Las Vegas:

Innistrad: Remastered (January 24)

This reprint of the Innistrad set first released in 2011 will be the first to release in 2025. If you’re a fan of the gothic horror world filled with vampires and werewolves, then you’ll know what to expect from Innistrad: Remastered. However, there will be a new type of card included, called He?adliners, which are described as “the most exciting card to collect in a releaseâ€? 

Aetherdrift (February 14)

The first Standard-legal set of 2025, Aetherdrift will follow a “death race�theme in which residents from three different planes in the MTG universe will come to together to comp?ete for the Aether Spark. Apparently it’s a trophy that provides an incredible amount of power to the winner.&nbs??p;

Tarkir: Dragonstorm (April 11)

Tarkir: Dragonstorm will be set on the plane of Tarkir, and will see five clans battle it out against a surge of lethal dragons. This set will include some familiar faces, including Sarkhan and the spir??it dragon Ugin. 

Edge Of Eternities (August 1)

When Edge of Eternities is released in August, MTG will be jetting off into space for this first-time space opera. Explore beyond the edges of the k??nown multiverse in an area known as the Solthera system, and encounter a familiar yet long-absent villain, Tezzeret. 

Marvel's Spider-Man (TBA 2025)

Although we have no specific release date for this Spider-Man themed expansion, it will work nicely alongside the soon-to-be-released Marvel themed Secret Lair Superdrop, which is coming in November. 

Secret Lair x SpongeBob SquarePants

I think you could be forgiven if you didn’t see this one coming, but yes you read that correctly. SpongeBob, and likely the rest of Bikini Bottom, is being brought into the Magic: The Gathering universe. There’s no specific release date for this one, and I’m interested to s????ee how it goes, so watch this space.

The post Magic: The Gathering 2025 sets?? revealed, including gorgeous Final ??Fantasy set appeared first on Destructoid.

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

When SpongeBob SquarePants debuted in 1999, I had just said goodbye to Nicktoons and Nickelodeon as a whole. Arguably, I should have parted with that part of my childhood a few years earlier, but I was a late bloomer. Nevertheless, the misadventures of the little yellow sponge that lived in?? a pineapple under the sea? would fly under my radar for several years. It wasn't until my final year of high school that I, bored at home one afternoon, decided to give the show a go during one of its many marathons.

I remember the first episod?e I saw. It was "Graveyard Shift," the episode where SpongeBob and Squidward have to wo??rk 24-hour shifts at the Krusty Krab. If you've seen it, you know the episode goes for kid-friendly horror and ends with an out-of-left-field cameo from Count Orlock. It was bizarre, it was beautiful, and that was the day I realized I wasn't too old for kids' cartoons.

More than 20 years later, I'm still laughing. While I don't always have a chance to check it out when new episodes release, I always know that sponge will be able to put a smile on my face. And with SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, I wa??s smiling nearly every secon??d I spent with it.

[caption id="attachment_360280" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake (PC, PS4, Switch [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Purple Lamp Studios
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Released: January 31, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake sees everybody's favorite pineapple-dwelling sea sponge causing a ruckus for the people of Bikini Bottom. This time, while trying to enjoy a night out at Glove World, SpongeBob comes across the mysterious mermaid Madame Kassandra who absentmindedly sells him a glowing bott??le of bubble formula that has the power to grant wishes. Cut to a few hours later, and SpongeBob has blown bubbles that'll grant wishes to everyon??e he knows. When those bubbles pop, the universe is torn asunder and his friends are scattered around several different universes that take recognizable locations from the show and mash them with a new theme. With a magic bubble wand in hand, SpongeBob must travel to each of these worlds with his balloon-ified best friend Patrick to get everyone back and restore Bikini Bottom.

Mechanically and structurally, The Cosmic Shake plays similarly to the licensed platformers of the GameCube/PS2/Xbox era. SpongeBob has a double jump, a spin attack, a jump-slam attack, a cartwheel dodge, a bubble projectile, and a weak pizza box glide ability. Throughout each world, there are specific areas where you can use techniques like hook swing and karate kick to access new areas or make it over deep chasms. Levels are linear, usually consisting of a few small open areas connected by long platforming or action sequences. It's somewhat similar to what we got a few years ago with the remaster of Battle for Bikini Bottom, also from Purple Lamp Studios.

That game, for whatever reason, didn't really work for me. The Cosmic Shake, however, does, and I am dumbfounded by how much I enjoyed going th?rough it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KZFL20XDqM

Arguably, the game didn't make a great first impression. The opening tutorially didn't give me a lot of hope for things to come, and ?the first 20 to 30 minutes of the game's Wild West Jellyfish Fields threw me into some poorly controlled seahorse action sequences. Once it slowed down enough to let?? me get my footing, I started to realize the excellent job the developers did putting this game together and how they were able to keep things fresh and new throughout.

Each world brings with it a unique feel and presentation, from chasing down some cosmetics in Medieval Sulfer Fields to setting up a light show in Halloween Rock Bottom. It's truly wonderful to see just how much diverse gameplay Purple Lamp Studios are able to get out of Cosmic Shake's simple formula because they really do take it to fun an?d exciting places. Outside of the levels, you can explore t??he Bikini Bottom hub world that expands and populates as you work your way through SpongeBob's quest.

The platforming sections throughout the game are pretty top-tier for a licensed 3D platformer and the different jelly enemies you face provide enough of a c??hallenge that I had to use every single tool in SpongeBob's arsenal to make it through several of its fights. That includes the boss battles, which can be mighty tough, but thankfully the game is generous with respawns, checkpoints, and auto-saves, so it was never really much of a hassle if I got knocked out.

The game's wonky nature, however, did prove to be something of a hassle, though the developers are aware it needs some work. The framerate is constantly in flux, some of SpongBob's actions weren't entirely reliable–there was a 1-in-50 chance his p?izza box glider wouldn't work and the karate kick attack isn't always available when it should be �and it wasn't unusual for character models and objects to straight-up disappear during cutscenes. At one po??int when running around Bikini Bottom, everything on the screen beside the UI went black and I had to restart the game. As mentioned before, the seahorse controls aren't so great and there are more than a handful of jumps throughout the game that requires overly precise execution and timing of the double jump glide. Cutscenes can often feel like they all end with a smash cut, but I suspect that's intentional as it plays into the game's humor.

[caption id="attachment_360279" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

And what humor it has. The writer's behind Cosmic Shake have effortlessly tapped into the comedy of the show, bolstered by pitch-perfect performances from the SpongeBob SquarePants cast. I would argue the game could use an option to cut down on some of the repetitive soundbites, but beyond being constantly reminded that Krusty Krab pizza is the pizza for you and me, this is one funny game from beginning to end. It's a?lso one with a soundtrack that is far better than I could have anticipated. I don't often pay attention to the music in games, but I couldn't ignore it here.

If there is one area of Cosmic Shake where I was slightly disappointed–outside of the Krabby Patty minigame that doesn't seem to do anything at all–it's with the game's costume system. Part of the gimmick of SpongeBob traveling to different worlds is he'll be given new costumes that blend him into the environment. These costumes look great, but that's all they do. There's no gameplay advantage to using one costume over another, and you don't even have to wear a costume that fits the theme of the world if you don't want to. There are a lot of costumes to unlock, and doing so is what I suspect will make up the bulk of the post-game experience. It would be nice if each costume had some unique ability tied to it, but it is what it is, and the ?simplicity of the feature didn't detract one bit from my enjoyment of this adventure.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is an astoundingly good game. There is so much creativity packed into its seven different worlds that I could not stop playing it over the past weekend because I was too excited to see what was next. This is, without a doubt, the best SpongeBob game I've ever played, and I hope Purple L?amp Studios keeps the k?eys to the license for years to come.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake appeared first on Destructoid.

Are ya ready kids?

Everyone's favorite yellow friend from under the sea is back on the gaming scene yet again, and this time he's collaborating with Minecraft. He's a square, everything in Minecraft is a square �it just makes sense. Starting today, players can download the SpongeBob SquarePants DLC (as long as they have the latest version of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition installed), and then they're off on their adventures to explore Bikini Bottom like they never have before. The DLC was created in conjunction with Minecraft creators Spark Universe, and this has to be o??ne of the biggest DLC packs I've seen for the gam??e.

It comes with over forty skins, a huge map with locations all over Bikini Bottom, minigames, collectibles, and more. Of course, you'll get to visit classic locations like SpongeBob's house, the Krusty Krab, and the Chum Bucket, but the DLC even includes more obscure locations from the show like the Barg'N-Mart, Glove World, and Goo Lagoon. Whether you're froli??cking through Jellyfish Fields, defending the Krusty Krab from hungry anchovies, or racing at Mrs. Puff's Boating School, you're likely to have the best day ever. Players can also get a free Character Creator item from now until September 16.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9914FnO95J8

Based on the sheer amount of content we saw in the trailer alone, this looks like one of the most substantial DLCs for Minecraft I've ever seen. The level of detail in portraying the sho??w's famous episodes is something to be?hold, and you just know that the creators are really big fans themselves.

Honestly, it looks like this DLC pack is basically a whole new game in its own right, and could keep you busy for a few dozen hours at least if you do everything. I haven't played Minecraft in a good while, but as someone who grew up?? with SpongeBob, this release has me thi??nking I might want to crack open the old account again, for nostalgia's sake.

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It's time for Squidward's revenge

Mods are some of the most fun ways for fans to put a new spin on their favorite games, and Doom has one of the most robust modding communities out there. Fans just put out one of my absolute favorites that I've ever seen, though, because user Contrast Saturation just released a SpongeBob-themed mod on a Doom fan site, and it looks insanely fun.

In the mod, known as The Bikini Bottom Massacre, you can play as?? Squidward, who was just fired from his job at the Krusty Krab and is hell-bent on revenge. "After years of torment from his ??buffoon neighbors SpongeBob and Patrick, Squidward decides to take his life into his own hands," the website reads.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rod37XUu_I

The mod has thirteen different maps set at different locales that we kno?w ?and love around Bikini Bottom, like Barg'n-Mart, Jellyfish Fields, and Glove World.

Everything has been reskinned to? look like it's straight out of the cartoon, and of course Squidward shoots bubbles rather than bullets. The sprites are super detailed, and the mod's creator divulged in the comments that they would actually trace images straight out of the show, and then create rotated versions, damaged versions, an??d so on. It was painstaking work, but the final result makes it all worth it, I think.

This isn't the first time we've seen the yellow sponge inspire a video game �in fact, there have been dozens of officially licensed SpongeBob titles since the early 2000s. The most notable of these is the beloved 2003 platformer Battle for Bikini Bottom, which was remade in 2020. The SpongeBob br?and has been going strong ever since it was introduced all the way back in 1999, as the show is currently in its thirteenth season, and there are four more movies in the pipeline.

The post This Spong?eBob Doom mod takes you on a romp th?rough Bikini Bottom appeared first on Destructoid.

Following up Battle for Bikini Bottom with a new 3D platformer for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch

The 10th anniversary THQ Nordic showcase stream was a sweet victory for SpongeBob fans, after all �the publisher announced (and ran a trailer for) a new 3D platformer, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, from developer Purple Lamp Studios.

It's got the "original actors" and "101 ??songs from the series," including a fa??miliar anthem.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOwh9befbMg

As a way to blend a bunch of familiar characters, scenarios, and jokes into a new-but-not-too-new storyline, the premise for The Cosmic Shake is that SpongeB??ob and Pa?trick have torn open the universe with "wish-granting Mermaid's Tears." It was an accident!

The game will feature seven worlds?? �two of them, Wild West Jellyfish Fields and Halloween Rock Bottom,? were mentioned so far �and 30 costumes like SpongeGar and SnailBob. Meanwhile, Patrick is a "permanent" balloon companion, hence his stature.

Not that I should've even looked in the first place, but during most of the stream, the live YouTube chat feed had someone spamming "SpongeBob." They willed it.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is headed to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It's probably for the best that they just said "coming soon" without c??ommitting to a release window �we've been through a lot of delays this year, and I'm expecting more.

If you're curious, check out the screens on Steam. They're surprisingly high-fidelity.

The post Spo?ngeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake?? is up next from THQ Nordic appeared first on Destructoid.

He's just wavedashing at me... menacingly!

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has been building up some steam on the promise of a platform fighter featuring some beloved Nick cartoons. Today, we got a gameplay breakdown that shows just how much platform fighter influence this All-Star Brawl will have. A?nd really, the answer is best summed up in one sentence: here's SpongeBob SquarePants wavedashing.

The wavedash is best summarized as utilizing downward air-dashes to propel your character across the arena. By dashing into the ground, you can practically skate across the arena. It's a pretty well-known mechanic in the Smash Bros. scene, and seeing it here is probably reassuring to folks who want to play some more competitive All-Star Brawl.

Here's a short clip of the wavedash in question, via IGN's Mitchell Saltzman on Twitter:

//twitter.com/JurassicRabbit/status?/1435655190930067462

IGN hosted a number of exclusive gameplay breakdown videos today. The first is where the above excerpt came from, where Thaddeus Crews—character designer and programmer at developer Ludosity—breaks down some of the basics using SpongeBob and Patrick. It definitely looks like this platform fighter is utilizing some of the usual staples, which makes sense given that Ludosity's previous game Slap City.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXiOWSKPDG8

It's also different from Smash in a few ways, too. You're still trying to build up percentages and ring-out opponents, but there are some neat interactions where directional inputs (up, down, or mid) can "beat out" other moves, causing opponents to get stunned or turned around. Grabs have a few more options, and I dig the projectile option that turns it into a volley back and forth. You can find some more examples in IGN's four gameplay segments they uploaded today.

It might seem a bit high-level if you're not a Smash player yourself, but even for casual play, I'm really into options like grabbing projectiles or flipping my opponent around with the right attack. I was already interested in the very concept of a Nickelodeon-themed platform fighter, but now that I know I can bring it around town as SpongeBob, I'm eager to see what the high-level Melee folks do with this.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, ??and PC sometime in Fall 2021.

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