Reviewed by Downtown Jimmy
May 18th 2004
Introduction:You'd have to be living in a swamp not to know the big, crude, green ogre named "Shrek". Shrek is back to promote his new movie and to give us another game to add to the Shrek franchise. The developers behind last year's "True Crime" give us their version of Shrek and we're glad to have the big guy back.
The Game:The game Shrek 2: The Game has been launched before DreamWorks' follow-up animated movie arrives in theaters world wide. The game gives a deeper look into the Shrek universe and hints towards the plot and new characters we might see in the next movie.
Shrek 2 is a platform game bridged with other small mini-games which is all easily navigated by using the standard check-point mission, and check-point formula. This formula has been done a bazillion times before, but given the game's target audience it's understandable. Shrek 2 doesn't pose to break any new ground, but what it does is pull off a successful and entertaining game which is rare in movie-based titles.
When playing Shrek 2 you will be in control of four players. You will start out with Shrek, Princess Fiona, the Donkey and the tasty Ginger Bread Man. Afterwards, depending on the level, you can have a character leave to be replaced by another - which keeps the game fresh. Teamwork is important in Shrek 2 because each character possesses unique traits that become essential to finishing levels. Shrek couldn't tackle this world alone, just like in the movie, his side-kicks help him along the way. Some examples of the characters' special abilities are: the donkey's impressive matrix-styled, double-hindleg kick; the princess' ability to slow time; or the Gingerbread man's candycane boomerang, which helps hit targets that are out of reach for the other characters. These abilities are beautifully balanced according to the tasks and levels in the game.
Now, the great thing about all these characters, and the reason for them all being on the screen at once, is multiplayer action. This is where the gameplay really shines. Since the controls are so easy to grasp, anyone can plug in and enjoy a few levels of Shrek 2. Playing with four players is a lot of fun and it's a great game to get video game outsiders to join in the action.
Graphics & Sound:It's not surprising that Shrek 2, that was developed by Luxoflux (TRUECRIME), looks great. The character models look almost identical to their animated counterparts of the big screen. The animation really flows and gives the game a feeling of being in the movie. You won't find any problems with the visual presentation of Shrek 2. Luxoflux did an excellent job recreating DreamWorks' fantasy world.
The sounds, like the graphics, are top notch. Maybe the most important part of Shrek 2 is that all dialog has been properly represented by the actors whose voices starred in the movie. It just wouldn't be the same without Canada's own Mike Myers or Eddie Murphy's snappy remarks as the talkative donkey. I can imagine the horror of some voice actor trying to pull off the ogre's unique accent. The sound definitely keeps the game together and helps make the game a success.
Innovation:The most innovative aspect of Shrek 2 is how the game focuses on teamwork and using four characters instead of the platform standard of using one. Like I mentioned above this is great for multiplayer sessions, but it also brings another dynamic to the gameplay. The three characters who follow your player aren't flawless and do at times suffer from some dumb AI pathwork, but besides that minor issue its fluid and fun to play. Shrek 2 innovates and shows that the younger audience is ready for a little more action and that they want variety.
Mojo:Downtown Jimmy isn't a huge fan of the movie Shrek, I have seen it… I was in the theater… errr. Although I don't dig the green guy as much as others I did find the game enjoyable. The mojo is present with some cool fantasy characters that haven't been in games before… puss n' boots? The dialog can be funny at times and the characters are always throwing little jabs at each other - great morals to teach kids. I'm sure any fan of the movie, and upcoming shindig, will love Shrek 2 and will say “Shrek has the Mojo, Baby!”.
Lowdown:Shrek 2 is a polished, easy to grasp, platforming game which has enough spice to keep you along for the entire trip. The movie franchise has been properly represented and is one of the best four-player, multiplayer games out for the Xbox. All Shrek fans should pick this up, and all others should at least rent it once.
Gameplay: 8.5, Graphics/Sound: 8, Innovation: 8, Mojo: 7. Final: 8 |
