Shrek 2 Review

Shrek 2 is Activision’s jump into the platforming genre. The first Shrek title, exclusive to the Xbox, was a failed attempted at fun. This review will determine whether the latest attempt in the Shrek series will succeed in giving gamers a good time.

Up to four human players can brawl in this button mashing title. If you opt to have anything less than four, computer players will replace any absent humans. The L and R buttons will swap between characters that are computer controlled, but are obviously not functional when no computer is present.

Speaking of characters, Shrek 2 enables you to play a plethora of them. This includes Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, the Ginger Bread Man, Big Bad Wolf, Puss-in-Boots, Tinker Bell, and more original fairy-land based characters.

Shrek 2 is a collect-a-thon. Collect coins, beans, eyeballs, etc., kill enemies, save dwarfs, escort the 3 Blind Mice, round up chickens, and more. Hero Time gives one player the chance to fly as a dragon, sing to birds DDR style, rescue Princess Fiona, and more.

Team work is the name of the game. If only Sonic Team had done this good of a job, Sonic Heroes would have been far above average. Nearly everything done must be accomplished through cooperation, whether opening doors and paths, killing enemies or whatever else the task might be.

Each player also has a special ability. These abilities can be as passé as faster speed and higher jump or as unique as slow-down, a Donkey slam, tightrope walk, and gigantic blow (as in air).

The controls in Shrek 2 should take no longer than a half hour to fully comprehend. A is used to jump, a + b to jump attack, b to attack, and y to use your special move. The joystick moves your character around the playing field and the c-stick moves the camera, though only a limited amount.

Shrek 2 also has some bonus features. First, there’s a short Shark Tale preview, a game coming this fall from Activision. Second is Ring Coliseum, in which you collect coins by busting crates. Third is Floating Floors, where you must time your jumps to collect coins. Last is Cloud Maze, where you collect coins by jumping platforms.

Shrek 2 isn’t a Super Mario Sunshine platformer. It is meant to be played with friends, and preferably, fans of the series. The gameplay is cliché, but the laughter that you might endure, depending on your personality type, will keep you interested in the game until you beat it in the seven to ten hours that it will take you. I beat it in one night, with a friend, and I have no regrets. Shrek 2 isn’t a priority, but definitely look into giving this a rental.