Shrek Forever After

Just as the movie it’s based on, Shrek Forever After is a fun yet shallow experience that should keep the younger players entertained for a while. Short and to the point, this is one of those games that can be played leisurely when there’s nothing else left to play. Some knowledge of the Shrek lore is a must to completely enjoy this game, as it is a faithful adaptation of the movie and doesn’t waste any time introducing its colorful cast. In fact, the game doesn’t waste any time at all, and that’s both one of its biggest strengths and weaknesses.

Travel to Far Far Away

If you’re not familiar with the fourth Shrek movie, here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on with the plot: Shrek, tired of his quiet life, wishes to become the terrifying ogre he once was. Luckily for him, the mischievous Rumpelstiltskin grants his wish, and Shrek’s life returns to the way it was just before the events of the first film.

But things aren’t as great as the ogre thinks: with his wish, he’s also lost his family and Fiona, his one true love. To recover everything he holds dear, Shrek must explore the alternate version of Far Far Away – one where he wasn’t born – and defeat Rumpelstiltskin at his own game. The game is a simple beat ‘em up mixed with puzzle elements, in a similar style as previous Shrek games, particularly Shrek 2 for the PS2. That said, more attention has been given to the multiplayer component this time around, making the four-player mode better than ever.

Combining Strengths

Most of the time you spend with Shrek Forever After will be solving some pretty basic puzzles. For older players, they might seem downright trivial, but they’re perfect for younger audiences. Think of games like Crash: Mind Over Mutant where every character has a unique skill that helps them with the puzzles. In this case, Shrek is a brawler, Fiona can set things on fire, Puss in Boots can jump high, and Donkey can kick stuff.

Most of the puzzles are a simple task that involves changing characters to move an object from point A to point B, making use of the characters’ skills to complete the puzzles. For example, Shrek will have to push a box that Fiona then sets on fire, and finally, Donkey kicks said crate into a target.

Magical Visuals

If there’s one thing that’s simply commendable about Shrek Forever After is the attention to detail in the visual department. Character models, especially, look fantastic: pretty close to their movie counterparts. The land of Far Far Away looks visually pleasing and varied, especially when taking into consideration that the game will have you traveling between two versions of it. The one where Shrek wasn’t born looks gloomy and desolated, while the real Far Far Away looks magical and charming. As is the case with many movie tie-in games, don’t expect to hear Mike Myers or Eddie Murphy voicing their characters.

That said, the replacement voices do a great job at imitating the original actors, well enough that the younger, target audience will have a hard time telling them apart.

Pros:

• Simple, easy-to-learn controls
• Gorgeous visuals
• Charming soundtrack and convincing voice actors

Cons:

• Can be too short
• The game gets repetitive really fast