The original Shrek was an Xbox launch title, one of the many games that aimed to please families that might not necessarily be ready for Halo® and Dead or Alive. Now Activision and developer Luxoflux take over the franchise for Shrek 2™, which looks set to reinvent (and reinvigorate) the big green ogre. The game’s niftyGauntlet-style multiplayer design makes it just as easy to pick up and play for a single gamer as it is for an entire group. A solo player can easily switch between heroes like Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Lil' Red with the pull of a trigger while multiple players can play as a team, but you’ll almost always be able to rely on the well-oiled (if slightly odiferous) machine that is team Shrek. Except for Hero Time challenges, of course, those rare times when one hero must step up to the plate to take on a foe or obstacle that only he or she can handle. Read on to learn about each character’s solo struggle.
Fiona’s all that and a bag of bullet time.
Fiona The first Hero Time challenge has a hilarious intro that I won’t spoil here, but suffice to say that Magic Mirror is in the running for funniest supporting object of the year. At the end of Shrek’s Swamp (the tutorial level), Fiona’s got to bring home the blackbirds for a delicious pie. Who eats blackbirds, anyway? Oh yeah … ogres! This challenge introduces the Dance Dance Revolution-style button-rhythm gameplay featured in many scenes. Just press the button indicated in time to the music. In this particular challenge, there are four different button streams to track. After you get the hang of it, it’s easier than it sounds. At the end, you’ll need to hit A repeatedly to make the high note, and then delicious bird pie will be just around the corner. Time for chapter two: Spooky Forest.
Donkey’s “Burro Blast” opens many doors and gates.
Donkey (and Dragon) Donkey steps onboard Ms. Dragon for the Canyon Run. Fiona’s been nabbed, and Donkey must pilot the unwieldy purple reptile on a course that’s like a fairy tale version of the trench run in the classic Star Wars arcade game. The dragon can’t risk any flame attacks, so you’ll just be steering. Keep your eye on the crab shell, make sure the controls are either inverted or normal to suit your taste, and divide the area ahead of you into four square quadrants. No matter how many obstacles are in your path, one of those quadrants will always be your path through, so look for that and you’re golden (okay, purple and golden). A perfect Canyon Run yields maximum coinage and, of course, lets you progress to the next level: Far, Far Away.
Bad kitty! No, wait, good kitty!
Everyone Still Standing After you make your way through the Far, Far Away chapter, it’s time to get gritty with the kitty. Puss in Boots has been hired by the wicked Fairy Godmother (never did trust her) to slay our big green hero while he’s wandering through the woods pining over an argument with Fiona. This fight takes up the entire Ogre Killer chapter and plays slightly differently for solo and multiplayer. In solo mode, you’ll control Shrek and each of his pals as they duel the feline fencing master one at a time. The duels play almost exactly like Fiona’s blackbird challenge, except there is only one stream of buttons to track, and the buttons change more often (A, Y, X, or B). In multiplayer, only the players plugged into the game get to duel the killer kitty. Puss in Boots does have nine lives, so be patient, get the rhythm of the flamenco tune down, and you’ll be dancing you way to victory in no time. Your heroes may not all be conscious in the end, but afterward Puss in Boots will see the light and join the side of the angels and ogres.
