Xbox Dad:

At the Movies with Shrek the Third

Published May 22, 2007

It is going to be a big summer for movies, so big that it started in May! I'm considering the release of Spider-man 3 to have been the official start of the summer wave heading towards us, including Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and more! Luckily for you and me, many of the hottest movies have an Xbox 360™ game coming out right alongside.

Donkey is running to see the wave of summer movies.

I just can't get enough of movies, mostly sci-fi, fantasy, and action. (Is "superhero" a separate genre, or would you just lump that in with fantasy? Either way … I'm a fan!) Dramas, thrillers, and comedies are all big hits with me as well. Back when I was just a happy-go-lucky college kid I used to see every movie that looked good, but things change when you're a dad. Now I'm lucky if I can make it to a movie every month or two, after arranging for babysitting and making sure it doesn't conflict with any of our various family activities.

What really saves the day for me is when a movie appeals to both me and one of my kids. I get to spend time with my son or daughter, no babysitter required, and we get to see a movie. That deal got me out to Meet the Robinsons last month and now I'm all set to see Shrek the Third with my son, Connor. Before we even make it to the show though, we'll have already spent a fair bit of time in Far, Far Away, playing as Shrek, Donkey and Puss-in-Boots in Shrek the Third™, the game based on the new movie.

Who wouldn't want to play as the cat?

It's All About the Cat
Connor was never a big fan of the first Shrek game (for the original Xbox®) or really of the first movie, but he was totally hooked by the second movie due to one thing: Puss-in-Boots! Maybe it's because we've had cats in the house for his entire life, or maybe just because Antonio Banderas plays a great character, but the feline in footwear completely made the movie for him. He especially loved the sword fighting scenes, so it should come as no surprise what he has been enjoying most about the new game so far. He gets to be the cat, complete with sword and Latin-toned repartee, and that seems to be enough for him. Of course, that isn't all there is to the game.

In Shrek the Third, you play from a third-person perspective through a series of levels picking up coins and pounding bad dudes. Not very original on the surface, but it contains a fair number of extra features that provide interest. Try one of the many characters to play, including the stars Donkey, Shrek, Puss, Fiona, Arthur and even Sleeping Beauty, each with special finishing moves and abilities. Visit the movie's locations, playing along with the movie's story and even dealing with some of the major villains from the movie as well. As you'd expect, considering the source material, the whole game is very light. Sleeping Beauty's special attack is a "power nap," for example! If you're trying to decide if the game is appropriate for your kids, I'd suggest using the movies as a guide. If you are ok with your son or daughter seeing the new movie, then the game shouldn't be a problem.

Mini-games Galore
The really appealing feature to me is the support for two players in a long list of mini-games. I don't mind just watching someone else play a video game, but I know that we'll get a lot more play out of a game that lets us both use a controller at the same time. Once we've played through the story, the friendly competition of the mini-games keeps us bringing out the game for more playtime. Our favorite Shrek the Third mini-game is currently Ships Ahoy, but the tomato-based shooting gallery and the frog herding are pretty fun as well. Ships Ahoy is even a bit educational, as you have to judge the speed and direction of the oncoming pirate ships to lead them correctly with your cannon shots.

Pruning seems to have been neglected for a while.

Download the Demo!
There is a demo for this game available right now on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, a completely free way to try the game out for a quick run through part of a level. I personally found that the demo didn't really do the game justice. It was less impressive than the full game, which I have really been enjoying. If your kid is a fan of Shrek, definitely let them try it out. It's a lot of fun watching Connor play, shouting and wanting to show me whenever he makes the cat do something impressive, and I suspect your kids will react the same way.

What's Up Next for Xbox Dad?
In some of my upcoming columns, I'll dig into even more movie games, including Spider-man 3™, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and the games that are coming out along with the new Harry Potter movie and hopefully, even the new Fantastic Four game. I'll give you the run down on each of those, just as soon as I can play them long enough to have some useful information to pass along. Of course, if you have a topic you'd like me to cover, or if you have any questions or comments about the column, just shoot me an e-mail or find me online.

Article by Duncan Festive Turkey Mackenzie