Before it’s
released in theaters, Shrek the Third will make its way to game consoles all
across the country. From Xbox 360 to the Nintendo DS, there’s one for every
player.
The Game Boy
Advance version is the 2D, 16-bit style edition of the bunch. Shrek, our
favorite over-sized ogre, is back and ready to stomp on enemies (and hefty
door switches). Puss in Boots, the comical, wide-eyed kitty introduced in
Shrek 2, has come to the third game with a sword attack that’s sure to leave
enemies with a long-lasting sting. The dragon-loving Donkey is ready for more
kick-action, but don’t expect to hear him pop his lips this time around.
Artie, the fourth playable character, is somewhat of a question mark. He’ll
likely play a major role in the new movie, but I’m staying away from spoilers.
He carries a shield and looks like the Prince. Hmm.
Shrek the
Third looks like any Game Boy Advance title. You see sprite-based characters,
platforms, flat backgrounds, etc. But what the screens don’t reveal is that
this game is one of search and discovery. Nearly every stage in the game
follows the same few rules: (1) find a locked door, (2) locate the switch that
opens the door, (3) find as many fairies as possible, and (4) locate the exit.
The collection of fairies is not required. But as with most adventure games,
you’ll find yourself looking for them whether you want to or not. It drives me
nuts when I’ve exited a stage only to learn that I missed a fairy or some
other key (but optional) item.
In the
stages where multiple characters are used, you must move the entire party to
the exit before the stage can be completed. You’ll see that this is necessary
as soon as you reach the end with a character. One arrow sign will adjust,
pointing toward the next area. The other will remain pointed away from the
exit, indicating that your comrade is needed.
Once you get
into the flow of the game, you’ll learn to switch back and forth between
characters often. You switch by tapping the shoulder buttons. The action goes
through pretty quickly for a GBA title, leaving no time for boredom as the
game changes.
If there’s
anything Shrek the Third does really well, it’s that it doesn’t force you to
use multiple characters for no reason. Shrek is only there when a strong wall
needs to be penetrated. Artie’s shield is great for knocking spiders off of
vines. Puss in Boots can climb walls, giving him the edge in levels with high
platforms. He can also crawl through narrow areas, jump higher than his furry
friend, and attack with his sword.
Donkey’s
hind legs don’t do much except hold him up. But if you’re on the receiving end
of his front-leg kick, you’ll feel the burn (and bruises!). Donkey can also
pick up dangerous fruit and use it as a weapon, which is ironic – don’t most
kids think that vegetables are the food that’s dangerous?
There’s no
question that Shrek the Third is more impressive on the Game Boy Advance than
it is on PlayStation 2. However, this game is not for everyone. There are more
locked doors, platforms, and switches than enemies. The result is a game
that’s less combative than it is puzzling. This game is not a puzzle-based
adventure. But when you’re spending more time opening doors than fighting
enemies, that’s what it starts to feel like. Kids prefer action. While I raved
about Pikmin at GameCube’s release, my cousin (who was nine-years-old at the
time) wanted to play Cel Damage and NHL Hitz.
That being
the case, I can’t recommend this game to the average kid gamer – just to those
who have a ton of patience. If you or your kid meets that criteria, go for it
– add Shrek the Third to your collection. But don’t buy it just because it has
a lovable ogre on the box.
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Gameplay: 6.9
Here’s something
you don’t hear everyday – this game has hours of door-opening action. For the
kind of game that it is, Shrek the Third is a decent action/adventure. But the
majority of your journey will be spent pushing switches to open doors and
trigger moving platforms. Action, unfortunately, is secondary.
Graphics:
5.9
Though not on par
with the GBA version of Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third’s animations are pretty
accurate when compared with the film’s characters. The sprite-based images
look good but the backgrounds aren’t very attractive.
Sound: 1.0
Like a tape
recorder that’s been run over, put back together, and run over again.
Difficulty: Easy
The hardest part
is having the patience to continue playing when the game doesn’t respond how
you’d expect. Example: Artie’s shield can only be thrown while standing still,
a decision that will have every Rygar fan in tears. The levels, objectives,
etc., however, are very easy.
Concept: 5.0
An interesting
use of multi-character gameplay…that’s been done before and in superior forms.
Overall: 6.7
For kids with
patience of steel. Shrek the Third isn’t as mainstream as other recent GBA
hits (such as Ghost Rider), nor is it as family-friendly as Spider-Man 3. The
content isn’t violent, but “family-friendly” also means that the game can be
enjoyed by “all ages.” That’s not the case here. Only a select few will be
repeatedly occupied by Shrek the Third’s search-based gameplay. The rest of
you will beat it once and may never have the desire to return.
