Happiness is as happiness does.
The video game adaptation very loosely based off the episode of the same name and released in 2009 for the Xbox 360 and Wii, being the final SpongeBob SquarePants game developed by Heavy Iron Studios (who also worked on SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom and The Sponge Bob Movie Game). In the game, SpongeBob forgets where the Krabby Patty formula is and tries to regain his memory by remembering past events.
A PlayStation Portable version by Barking Lizard Technologies was also made, alongside a completely different Nintendo DS game by Altron.
SpongeBob's Truth or Square contains examples of:
- Abnormal Ammo: SpongeBob in his base form is able to shoot water balloons, while having the Squidward power up will cause you to shoot musical notes.
- Adapted Out: The home console versions exclude levels based on Culture Shock and Krusty Krab Training Video.
- Advancing Wall of Doom: The final boss of the game requires SpongeBob to jump across collapsing buildings.
- All Just a Dream: The game opens with SpongeBob being put to sleep by Plankton to find the Krabby Patty formula, and the final boss begins with him waking up.
- And Your Reward Is Clothes: Using coins collected through-out the game will unlock alternate costumes for SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy and Gary.
- Anti-Frustration Features: The home console and PSP versions include a warp to challenges after initially completing the level.
- Art Evolution: The game looks more dynamic and polished than its sixth-gen Heavy Iron predecessors, as it utilizes an updated, seemingly in-house engine.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: Robo-Patrick, Robo-Squidward and the Chum Bucket.
- Beneath the Earth: Rock Bottom and the Mermalair.
- Big Bad: Plankton, as per usual.
- Big "NO!": Plankton yells this out in the PSP version when Patrick tells SpongeBob to remember all the memories he has had at the Krusty Krab.
- He has another one when the Chum Bucket starts to rampage Bikini Bottom instead of the Krusty Krab.
- Boss-Only Level: Bikini Bottom (in the console versions) and the Krusty Krab vault.
- Boss Rush: In the PSP version of "Ambush at the Krusty Krab", where SpongeBob fights all three minibosses.
- Call-Back: Also acting as a Mythology Gag, the Robo-Squidward fight that was cut from the console versions of Battle for Bikini Bottom is here; Robo-Patrick also counts.
- The Cameo: Prawn can be seen in the Mermalair.
- Checkpoint Starvation: Averted for the most part, but played straight in the Chum Bucket boss fight.
- Comically Missing the Point: SpongeBob trying to remember who he met on Christmas Day.Squidward: Wait, I remember a certain jolly Fellow that you and I had the pleasure of meeting one fateful night.SpongeBob: Oh, you don't mean David Hass...Squidward: SANTA! Santa Claus. You DOLT!
- Continuity Cavalcade: Even more so than Battle for Bikini Bottom.
- Co-Op Multiplayer: The console versions allow this, with Plankton being controlled by Player 2; the handheld versions lack this feature.
- Damn You, Muscle Memory!: Especially apparent if you played Heavy Iron's previous two games, as SpongeBob controls nothing like he used to.
- Demoted to Extra: Patrick, who is just a temporary power up in this game.
- Dolled-Up Installment: The game originally had nothing to do with the episode, until
Nickelodeon forced them to slap it with the title. - Elaborate Underground Base: The Mermalair.
- Evil Knockoff: Robo-Patrick and Robo-Squidward.
- Excuse Plot: Essentially SpongeBob needing to remember where he put the Krabby Patty formula, only to be revealed at the end he never had it.
- Glass Cannon: The Muscle Arms power up; he can kill everything in one hit, but also loses the power up in one hit.
- Gotta Catch Them All: The end of every level includes a "Happiness Item", with two others being unlocked by completing mini challenges.
- Green Hill Zone: Jellyfish Fields is the first level of the game, set in the typical fields where SpongeBob jellyfishes. It's full of natural greenery and a handful of caves, with little threats and simple Mooks to defeat.
- Hub Level: SpongeBob's house. The level select is set here in a photo album, and you can also explore around to find interactive objects and purchase items to furnish it nicely. There's also a shop to buy costumes and health upgrades.
- Implausible Deniability: Plankton stating that the robots in Jellyfish Fields were always there; keep in mind they have his face on them.
- In Name Only: Aside from its name and taking place the day before the Krusty Krab's eleventy-seventh anniversary, this game has no particular relation to the episode of the cartoon it shares a title with. In fact, it was originally titled Happiness Squared before Executive Meddling forced it to tie into the special.
- Invincibility Powerup: The Patrick, Sandy and Squidward powerups act like this, as aside from bottomless pits, nothing can hurt them.
- It Was with You All Along: Subverted; SpongeBob does pull a piece of paper out of his pants, but it turns out it was Mr. Krabs' lottery numbers.
- Law of 100: Collecting 100 coins will grant the player a 1-Up.
- Lethal Lava Land: Rock Bottom in this game, which has a lava lake section.
- Lighter and Softer: Compared to The Sponge Bob Movie Game and even SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom, this game is considerably more in tone with the series.
- The Lost Woods: Karate Island.
- Metropolis Level: Bikini Bottom in the fights against Robo-Patrick and spoiler:the Chum Bucket, alongside Squidward's Talent Show in the handheld versions.
- Minigame Game: The multiplayer mode in the PSP version.
- Mythology Gag: Has its own page.
- New Work, Recycled Graphics: Although it doesn't reuse the same engine as its predecessors from Heavy Iron Studios, it does reuse plenty of the same textures.
- Played straighter with the DS version whose graphics and character models are pretty obviously lifted from Altron's previous SpongeBob games on the DS: Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition and SpongeBob’s Atlantis Squarepantis
- No Campaign for the Wicked: Averted in the console versions (where Player 2 can play as Plankton), but played straight in the PSP and DS versions.
- Promoted to Playable: Downplayed; Sandy (who was previously unplayable in The Sponge Bob Movie Game) and Squidward are both temporary power ups, but are not playable by themselves. In the DS version, Mr. Krabs can also be played in the form of a temporary power up
- Recycled Soundtrack: Unlike just about every previous SpongeBob video game, there isn't a single unique song composed specifically for the game. Every song is either recycled from previous Heavy Iron Studios SpongeBob games or just lifted from the show itself.
- Shapeshifter Weapon: All of SpongeBob's attacks have him change into different forms to dish out hurt. By default he turns into a spatula to slam in front of him, a ship's wheel to hit in a circle around himself, and a cannon to shoot out projectiles. He can also turn into a hammer as MuscleBob or with the Patrick powerup, an industrial fan with MuscleBob, a pair of kar-rah-tay gloves worn by Sandy, and a clarinet that Squidward uses to shoot a spread shot.
- Spin Attack: The Spin Slap has SpongeBob turn into a pirate ship's wheel, or when using the MuscleBob powerup, an industrial fan. With the Sandy powerup, he turns into a pair of gloves worn on the hands of Sandy, who spins around and can be controlled temporarily.
- Spread Shot: When using the Squidward powerup, SpongeBob turns into a clarinet that Squidward uses to shoot three projectiles, with one going straight forward and the other two moving at diagonal angles on the side of the middle one.
- Timed Powerup: All the character powerups are this, while MuscleBob is a One-Hit-Point Wonder.
- Under the Sea: Naturally.
- Version-Exclusive Content:
- The multiplayer mode in the console versions has Plankton fighting with SpongeBob, while the PSP version is a minigame collection.
- The handheld versions include 2 levels not present in the console versions.
- Womb Level: "24 Hours of Fun at the Krusty Krab" has a point in the level where SpongeBob ventures through a giant creature's innards.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Happens during the final boss where Plankton learns of the formula's location, only for the Chum Bucket to rampage through Bikini Bottom instead of the Krusty Krab.
