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Shrek has a new movie and accompanying new game. Shrek the Third, based on Dreamworks’ upcoming blockbuster of the same name, is a routine yet enjoyable movie-based game. Shrek is available on Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 and PC. The game structure and features are the same on all platforms. The only notable differences are the graphics (the Xbox 360 and PC versions have better lighting and improved textures) and controls (the Wii version uses the Wiimote and Nunchuk while the PC version lets you use the keyboard).
Like the movie, the game begins shortly after the second movie ended. Everything is going fine in Far Far Away but we all know that wouldn’t last. The kingdom is in need of a new king so Shrek and company decide to find Fiona’s cousin Arthur to fill the seat. Realizing that Shrek is out of the picture, Prince Charming decides to take the throne by force. It’s now up to Shrek to find Arthur quickly enough to restore peace and tranquility to the kingdom. Shrek the Third includes 20 levels, some based on the movie and some not.
7 Studios didn’t seek to reinvent the wheel with the gameplay. As expected, of your time will be spent fighting enemies. The combat system is simple yet effective, which is a good combination for a game aimed at kids. You have a basic, strong, and special attack at your disposal. The special attacks are pretty cool and change when you reach a new level. Shrek uses his raw power, Fiona uses surprisingly good Kung Fu skills, while Sleeping Beauty can charm enemies to fight each other. You can also block enemy attacks, although you will rarely have to do so in order to complete the level. Additionally, you have the ability to slow down time if things ever get too hectic.
The Wii version of the game obviously uses the Wiimote and Nunchuk’s motion sensitity. You control the characters with the Nunchuk’s analog stick but combat is done by actually punching enemies a la Wii Sports Boxing. Special attacks are executed with the C stick. All in all, the simple control scheme works wonderfully well with the game and does enhance the interactivity.
That isn’t to say that you spend the entire game button mashing. There are exploration elements involved since you can collect items to unlock stuff at the game’s gift shop. You will also find simple puzzles, including jumping puzzles. The game includes six minigames: Castle Capture (throw stuff at enemy walls to knock them down), Catatombs (a simple platformer), Frog Herder (collect as many frogs as possible), Shrekleboard (Shrek-inspired shuffleboard), Ships Ahoy (shoot down pirates before they reach shore) and Shooting Gallery (throw tomatoes at enemies for as long as you can). Despite the simplistic nature of the minigames, they’re all quite fun and will keep kids entertained for some time.
The graphics in Shrek the Third are unsurprisingly comparable to the PS2 game. It’s clear that the game was developed on PS2 then ported to other platforms, but this also means that the Wii version doesn’t look much worse than the Xbox 360 version. 7 Studios took great care in assuring that the main characters—Shrek, Fiona, Puss in Boots—are faithful recreations of their movie counterparts and largely succeeded. The animation system is pretty good for the most part, although there are some stiff movements to be found in the game.
The sound, however, is great. The soundtrack is apparently ripped right from the movie and fits the game perfectly. It really helps tie-in the game with the upcoming movie. Activision didn’t hire the actual movie voice cast for the game, although the impersonators sound pretty authentic. The classic Shrek humor is flawlessly conveyed thanks to great performances and clever dialogue.
Shrek the Third, like the other games before it, makes good use of the Shrek license by combining a fun if simple action game with the classic Shrek characters and infamous humor. It won’t keep mature gamers’ attention for very long, but kids will love it. -- Adam Nunez, PGNx Media
---- May 15, 2007
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