Game Review: Shrek the Third (Console Version)
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this game is based on the movie of
the same name, and there are three games named
Shrek the Third. The version reviewed here is for the
consoles -- Nintendo Wii ($50), Microsoft Xbox 360 ($50), Sony
PlayStation 2 ($40) -- and for the PC ($20) and Sony
PlayStation Portable ($40). While this version tracks the
storyline of the movie, this game is all about beating up bad
guys. Although there is no blood, you inflict pain and
punishment on others to make them fall down and eventually
disappear.
Families can talk about how developers extend the movie
experience through games. Did this one stay true to the
franchise? If you were responsible for developing a video game
based on the Shrek character, what would your game look like?
What makes the world of Shrek fun to play in?
This version of SHREK THE THIRD, created for the consoles (Xbox 360, PS2, and Wii), PSP, and the PC, is an action-adventure with a heavy emphasis on bashing the bad guys. It tracks the story presented in the movie, with Shrek searching the world of Far, Far Away to find the missing heir, Arthur. As players explore the 20 levels of the game, they will have the opportunity to play as Shrek, Puss-in-Boots, Donkey, Fiona, Arthur, and Sleeping Beauty.
On each level you are assigned a character and a series of quests, from playing through the level without dying, to finding a hidden geek in a locker, to destroying Captain Hook's piano. You will also need to collect coins and smash everything in sight to acquire fairy dust, the commodity that allows your character to execute special power attacks. While the game is mostly about combat, it also offers a little bit of puzzle play and six two-player Mini games (except on the PC, which only has one Mini game).
The constant fighting gets old quickly, but the humor in the dialogue keeps it fun. If your kids like games that let them smash and bash everything in sight, then this is not a bad movie tie-in adventure. And the Mini games can be entertaining. The Nintendo DS version is the better game because it offers cooperative play for up to three players and focuses on puzzle play instead of combat.
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