After exhaustingly putting up with other, lesser versions of Shrek the Third on store shelves, the Nintendo DS version succeeds, thanks to developer Vicarious Visions' multiplayer mode.
Players direct various characters from the Shrek universe across twenty different levels of game play in the hopes of saving an ill-fated kingdom from the clutches of the evil (and self-obsessed) Prince Charming. He has enlisted the likes of Captain Hook and the Wicked Witch to help him complete his journey to the throne. Shrek and company must fight back and stop Charming, using individual talents. Fiona, a master of the martial arts, uses flying kicks to dispatch foes, while the swashbuckling Puss in Boots uses his cute looks as a weapon of mass distraction.
Shrek the Third on Nintendo DS boasts a resemblance to Vicarious Visions' Spider-Man DS games. The game works in a 2-D setting, but with 3-D visuals that provide depth. Some of the animations needed some work, but the game still looks good as it makes use of both DS screens. The audio grows repetitive, thanks to repeated music and dialogue, but at least it doesn't suck like the Game Boy Advance edition.
The cooperative game play actually works well here, as teammates work together to get rid of enemies and solve puzzles. Vicarious Visions finds proper use with the DS touch screen, enabling players to link characters together with ease and use the occasional magic spell. Better yet, friends can join in to make the quest more worthwhile.
Multiplayer provides the DS version with an enormous advantage. Along with being able to lend a hand in the main quest, players can also participate in six minigames designed specifically for versus competition. These include Shreckleboard (an alternate take on shuffleboard), Ships Ahoy (gamers shoot ships out of the water with cannon in hand) and the amusing Castle Attack (where players try to decimate their friends' castles with various weapons).
No doubt about it -- if video game ogre love becomes a necessity, head right for the Nintendo DS version of Shrek the Third. While everything doesn't work as perfectly as it should, the fact that it still works at all, when the others don't, shouldn't be ignored.
Final Score: 7 (out of 10)
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