After a successful run with Shrek 2 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube back in 2004, Activision returns with a brand new game based on the forthcoming CG-animated film Shrek the Third. Players who like to control the gas-passing ogre and his band of friends should be in for hours of enjoyment.

The plot revolves around Shrek and his huge predicament. The king of Never Never Land, a frog who happens to be Shrek's father-in-law, has fallen ill. A new king must take the throne, and Shrek, being of royal blood (from his marriage to Fiona), stands next in line. He doesn't seem too thrilled with the idea of wearing king's clothes and ruling the land, so he sets out on a mission to find a new king-in-training. Along the way, many dangers pop up, with the villainous Prince Charming wanting to claim the throne and several other foes, including Captain Hook and an evil queen, backing him up.

Shrek the Third follows a conventional platforming blueprint. Players switch between various characters at certain parts of the game, each doing their part to help Shrek move along to the end. The demo Activision recently showcased starts out with the big ogre beating up pirates and pulling off special attacks, such as a finger flick and a squashing butt slam to put them out of their misery. He eventually gets to a point where a wall stands in his way, with a crack too small for him to fit through. However, Puss in Boots, his sword-slashing feline pal from the second film, can squeeze his way inside, and control shifts over to him as he battles pirates while trying to reach a larger door that Shrek can get through. Other playable characters include Donkey (with powerful kicks and lots of comedic barbs), Fiona (with her kung-fu abilities) and two additional characters not yet disclosed. More than likely, they'll end up being a couple of Fiona's girl friends, such as Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.

Game play wise, Shrek the Third doesn't take too many chances outside of the platforming genre. The beat-em-up action works on a very easy level, with tap-tap combos at the player's disposal and jumping abilities to reach higher-up ledges and bonus goodies. The in-game level featured in the demo shows potential, although the frame rate was a little jittery. Other smaller details, most notably the character animations, don't appear to be as sharp as the film's animation. Furthermore, the game also has voiceovers from celebrity impersonators and not the actual film cast.