Shrek 2

Shrek 2 marks a departure for electronic entertainment based on the Shrek license: It's no longer the ogre of videogames.

That's not to say it's great, but neither is it the worst game in the world, either. Shrek 2 is beautiful, holding a superb interface and diverse gameplay. Another high-water mark for Shrek games is its actual laugh-out-loud moments, which extend from one-liners to comical scenarios.

The problem is its uneven difficulty: The simple sections will alienate experienced gamers, but the game can be too difficult for beginners. Much of the action is dead-on simple, with hints doled out by magic mirrors and enemies destroyed by halfhearted button-mashing. It might be a top game for the grade-school set if it weren't for some genuinely difficult spots, including teeth-gnashingly aggravating jumping puzzles and boss battles.

Through most of the game, there are four controllable characters with different skill sets: Donkey has a killer "burro blast," while Shrek can pick up and carry items. Each character also feels unique in battle. Puss-in-Boots feels light and lithe as he slices enemies with his blade, while Shrek feels Hulk-like with his powerful smashes. The diversity, though one of the game's strengths, also becomes a hindrance, as characters not under player control  sometimes get in the way.

Shrek 2 might be the perfect game for a family of game-players, though. In multiplayer mode, up to four players can each control a different character. If one member of the team can handle the game's hot spots, Shrek 2 could definitely gratify little children.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Xbox Nation.