Game Review: Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys
Rated by 2 members
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this game is based on the
Shrek movie franchise and takes place after the events
of the
Shrek the Third movie. It will make a lot more sense if
the player is familiar with the movies. The game is a
nonviolent, care-giving simulation that focuses on babysitting
Shrek and Fiona's ogre triplets and Donkey's five dronkey
children.
Families can talk about whether looking after these babies has taught them anything about looking after real children. Do they think they would make a good babysitter? How old do they think a babysitter should be? What qualities should a good babysitter have?
Common Sense Media Review
SHREK: OGRES AND DRONKEYS is an original video game that is
set soon after the events of the
Shrek the Third
film. Shrek and Fiona are now proud parents, but they get
called away on royal business and need a babysitter to look
after not only their own little ogres, but also the visiting
dronkeys (the half-donkey, half-dragon offspring of Shrek's pal
Donkey and his fire-breathing lady friend).
The gameplay is similar to the puppy-raising game Nintendogs . You start by picking out two babies to look after from a choice of three ogres or five dronkeys. As the babies toddle around in the play area, you can give them toys to interact with like blocks, balloons, dolls, and musical instruments. Each time the baby interacts with the toy in a new way -- such as blowing a whistle, wearing a top hat, popping a jack-in-the-box, or stacking one block on top of another -- you'll get points that can be used to buy new toys and food at the store.
You can also teach the baby to perform more advanced actions by guiding it with the stylus. For example, by placing a doll on top of a block, the baby will eventually learn how to climb. These skills come in handy when you take the babies outside for exercise to collect hard-to-reach items for extra points.
You start out at Shrek's swamp, but will eventually travel to other locations as Shrek and Fiona make their rounds through the kingdom and see familiar characters like Dronkey, the Three Little Pigs, and the Gingerbread Men.
You'll also have to see to each baby's needs by doing things like brushing their teeth, giving them a bottle, cleaning out their ears, and scrubbing them when they get stinky. This generally involves clicking on the appropriate item (like a brush) and dragging it back and forth on the baby until clean. Each location has its own special mini-game that you can play to earn extra points, such as bowling.
While not as polished as Nintendogs, Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys is still a fun babysitting sim that's high on the cuteness factor and will appeal to Shrek fans in particular.
The platform-puzzle game Shrek the Third (Nintendo DS Version) is another good Shrek title that's more directly related to the movie. There's also a console version of Shrek the Third that's more combat-based.
For other games about taking care of animals, check out Nintendogs , Pet Vet 3D: Wild Animal Hospital , and Fish Tycoon .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
