Will there ever be a good Shrek game? Could this one be it?

Shrek has been one of those franchises that, despite the fact that the series universe could provide for a terrific gaming experience, has yet to do so. For every Shrek film (two so far and two more on the way) there has been wave after wave of mediocre games that are so bad that they could possibly even turn a Shrek lover into a Shrek hater. With that being said, you can imagine the dread and fear I experienced when I was asked to review the latest game in the Shrek saga, Shrek SuperSlam. Would this game keep up the tradition of movie-based games being better left unmade? Would it be so terrible that I would find myself fighting the urge to give up gaming altogether in order to spare myself from such an experience again? Fortunately, the answer to both questions is no. Shrek SuperSlam manages to take enough right steps to deliver a game that actually contains some fun and hopefully sets the series on the right path for future games.

Features

Choose from 20 characters

16 fully destructible fighting arenas

Up to 4 players can duke it out in a free-for-all melee

Multiple game modes available, including 225 Mega Challenges

Unlock additional costumes, arenas, and more

Story

The story behind Shrek SuperSlam is rather simple, but being a brawler it really doesn’t require much more than that. The tale unfolds with Shrek, Fiona and friends at Donkey’s house to watch television. Unfortunately their plans are being hindered by Donkey’s Dronkeys, who refuse to go to sleep. In order to soothe the Dronkeys to sleep, Shrek decides to read them a bedtime story but when he brings out the book, the Dronkeys accidentally destroy it. Faced with nothing to read the kids, Shrek and his friends make up their own bedtime story.

Told through generally well made and funny in-game cut-scenes, the story pieces are placed in between the various brawls in the single player story mode. These cut-scenes help to make for a mostly entertaining experience that should please both fans and gamers alike, and help to give more length to what otherwise would be an incredibly short mode.

Gameplay

For anyone who is an experienced gamer, when first playing Shrek SuperSlam you will immediately be able to tell what games have influenced its direction. Essentially a knock-off of the popular Dreamcast series Power Stone and Nintendo’s own Smash Bros., Shrek SuperSlam borrows heavily from these games though never really comes close to their greatness. For those who are not familiar with those games, the gameplay is this: Enter an arena with two to four players and essentialy beat the leaving daylights out of each other using a series of combos, weapons, and power-ups. The winner is whoever slams their opponents the most in the given amount of time.

Now, as mentioned, Shrek SuperSlam never comes to the level of greatness and refinement of the games it is inspired by. While player movements are fast, fluid, and responsive in those games, in Shrek SuperSlam, the characters lack these key elements. Depending on what character you choose, you will experience different degrees of sluggishness and awkward movements. For example, the character Donkey is fidgety and suffers from slow reactions when trying to implement his various fighting moves, all due to his four legged character animations. While these problems can frustrating at times, this is not to say the system is broken and void of any enjoyment. It just means that there are going to be some characters, and unfortunately some key Shrek characters, that you will find yourself avoiding.

While the single player game is engaging in its own regard, it is also incredibly short. With that being said, the single player mode is aided by the addition of 225 Mega Challenges. These challenges range from having to slam or attack enemies only using certain attacks, to protecting objects from being destroyed. As great and varied as these challenges are, the game really shines as a multiplayer outing. Up to four players can take part in the melee mode in which players can either play in a free-for-all melee or partner up in teams. For the friendless players out there, a single player can also enjoy the multiplayer modes by using computer controller opponents, though the AI for these opponents leaves a lot to be desired.

Graphics

Strong in some areas, weak in others; Shrek SuperSlam gives players a mixed bag of graphical goodness. On the bright side, the game features solid detailed character models that truly capture the look and movements of their film counterparts. This solid design also carries over to the fighting arenas themselves. Arenas are impressively designed and look as though they came right out of the films. The biggest draw of the arenas is a level of detail and destructibility not found in other games of the genre. Practically everything in the areas, from the props to the buildings, can be destroyed to an impressive extent. This feature really adds to the overall enjoyment of the game and provides for more frantic and crazy on-screen action.

Even so, not everything is impressive in the graphics department. When action gets too frantic or when taking advantage of the three or four player multiplayer, the framerate will suffer, often dipping enough to be rather noticeable. Again, this problem is more noticeable in the multiplayer mode, but unfortunately that is the mode that players would otherwise find the most enjoyment. Another weak area comes in the overall look of the game. Textures can often lack detail and come off a bit muddy at times, while the entire look of the game can be a bit dull at times, especially when compared to the bright and vibrant world in the movies.

Sound

Shrek SuperSlam's audio is another high point for the game. While the game does not feature the original voice actors from the film, the developer has done a commendable job in finding suitable replacements that sound close enough to the originals. The music is also strong for the most part, often fitting the action and environments on-screen. That is not to say you will find yourself walking away from the game humming any tune you heard, as it is all rather forgettable even though it does fit the game well.

Closing

Luck has shined upon the world of Shrek and for once a game has been delivered that will actually provide a bit of fun for gamers. It is not the best brawler on the market, but Shrek SuperSlam is a good one that gets held back from greatness due to some weak parts. Shrek fans will enjoy the solid presentation and humorous story that stays true to the franchise. The game is definitely worth picking up if you are a diehard Shrek fan, but if you are not, you are better off renting it and sticking with Smash Bros.