Shrek 2 (video game)

Infobox VG|title=Shrek 2


developer=Luxoflux, Amaze
publisher=Activision Publishing, Inc.
designer=
engine=LuxEngine2, Unreal Engine
released=
genre=Action and Adventure
modes=Single player, Multiplayer (up to four)
ratings= ESRB: E (Everyone)
platforms=GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox,Nintendo DS, and PC
media=1x CD, 1x DVD, 1x GameCube Optical Disc
requirements=
input= Standard controller, mouse & keyboard

Overview

Shrek 2 is the video game based on the movie of the same name. The player is able to play as Shrek or nine of his friends throughout the game, and travel through 11 levels, while being able to switch between the 4 characters available in each level.

Features

Hero Time

Hero time is the name given when only one character can complete a special task in a level. For example, Princess Fiona must capture birds for a pie by singing, Donkey must ride on Dragon to save Fiona in the carriage, casted by an evil witch, Puss-in-boots must climb to the top of a waterfall, and Wolf must get a key to save Shrek, Donkey, Puss-in-boots by surviving a Stairway of Doom

Characters

*Shrek (Michael Gough) special: "Lift", Shrek can lift items and dazed enemies. He is the Ogre protagonist of the game and is forced on an adventure to save his wife, Fiona from Fairy Godmother's plans. He is willing to fight any monster to prove to Fiona's father King Harold that he is worthy to be her husband. His Hero Time is in Far Far Away, throwing rioting peasants in the Patty Wagon.

*Princess Fiona (Holly Fields) special: "Time Slow", Time is slowed down to enhance her fighting, à la The Matrix. Fiona used to live in a tower until Shrek rescued her for Lord Farquad. The two fell in love and by a curse of a witch, Fiona was turned into an ogre for her love. Now she is joining her husband to Far Far Away to meet her parents. Her Hero Time is in Shrek's swamp. She sings with the birds in such a high pitch they explode for Grandma's pie, a reference to "Shrek".

*Donkey (Mark Moseley) special: "Burro Blast", A powerful bucking kick. Donkey is Shreks closest friend and althougha bit of a coward, he is willing to help Shrek in any adventure. He helped the big guy in saving Fiona and now wants to help stop Fairy Godmother and save the marriage. He is married to Dragon who unknown to him, is pregnant with his Donkey babies. His Hero Time comes in the Witch chase level. Really it can be said it is Dragon's Hero Time as she is the one who chases and saved Fiona from a lethal fall in an out of control carriage as Donkey rides on her back.

*Gingerbread Man (James Arnold Taylor) special: "Cookie toss", Cookies are thrown that attract enemies. Gingy is a Gingerbread man turned alive by his father the Muffin Man. He was captured by Lord Farquad but now is ready to help his friend Shrek with his new adventure. In an attempt to help, he created a 20 foot little brother named Mongo. He got the group into the castle but slipped into the moat were Gingy is last seen morning his death. His Hero Time is in Jack's Farm where he must climb the hill to fetch water from Jack's well.

*Lil' Red (Tara Strong) special: "Poison Apple toss", Explosive apples are thrown. Red is a baseball pitcher who joins the group after hitch hiking with them to Far Far Away. Her Hero Time is in Fairy Godmother's factory. She uses her apples to hold back Godmother as the others escape.

*Puss in Boots (Andre Sogliuzzo) special: "Tightrope walking". Puss is an assassin paid by King Harold to kill Shrek. He is defeated and spared for help in the adventure. After all he ends up being one of Shrek's closest friends. His Hero Time is in the Road to the Farm level. He must use his tight rope special to bring the elevator down from the top of a waterfall.

*Big Bad Wolf (Aron Warner) special: "Huff n' Puff", Enemies are blown away with a gust of wind. This comes in particularly useful when the character is fighting on high places, as it can instantaneously kill enemies by blowing them away. Wolf is a little resentful at going through such danger for Shrek but is actually quite proud of his power. He is one of the creatures who helps Gingy in the jailbreak. His Hero Time is in the Jailbreak level where he must climb the "Stairway of Death" to save Shrek, Puss, and Donkey.

*Fairy (Tara Strong) special: "Fairy Dust", Causes character to float. She helps Gingy plan the Jailbreak of Shrek, Puss, and Donkey and is quite quick to keep Wolf in line. Only seen in the Jailbreak level, she is the only playable character without a Hero Time.

*Dragon:Dragon used to be the guardian of Fiona's castle but after being defeated by Donkey has now fallen in love with him. They are married and Dragon is pregnant with Donkeys five babies. Dragon only appears in Level 2, Donkey rides her during his Hero Time.

*Shrek (human) and Donkey (steed) special: "Charge", Shrek and Donkey run faster than usual and Shrek attacks the target with his sword. After drinking a Happily Ever After potion. The two turn into a handsome hero and a noble steed. The potion effects the love of the drinker as well so Fiona reverted back to human form and Dragon turned into an unseen Pegasus. There Hero Time is in the mountain level where they must chase Fairy Godmother to save Snow White.

*Fairy Godmother: the games antagonist. She is determined to see her son, Prince Charming, marry Fiona even if it means an ogre falls in the process. She has help from King Harold who owes her after she turned him from a frog to a prince for his wife Lillian. In the end she is defeated at the ball.

*Prince Charming: The son of Fairy Godmother and her right hand man. A perfect example of a momma's boy. He feels cheated that Fiona married Shrek and wants her hand. He is defeated at the ball.

*King Harold: the father of Fiona. He expected to see Fiona married to Prince Charming but is shocked to find Shrek instead. He teams up with Fairy Godmother to get rid of Shrek so that Charming can take his place. He finally comes to terms with his daughter's love.

*Mongo: The giant brother of Gingy, he is the only non-playable character to have a Hero Time in the second to last level. Human Shrek is the one doing the work but the Hero Time icon is Mongo so it is considered his.

*Magic Mirror: Mirror appears at the begging of every level to dictate the whereabouts between that connect the story. He also serves as a guide through the game and advises the team on what to do next.

*Leprechaun: This wee little man appears in every level to charge the group passage through coins or a service. He also sells upgrades that help the team in battle. In the second to last level he demands the group pay him a billion coins but without the money, Mongo steps on him.

*The Three Pigs: the three pigs are assigned to take care of Jack and Jill's farm while they are away but are to lazy to actually work so they request the help of the group in return for the package to sneak into Fairy Godmother's factory. They are afterwards captured during a jailbreak but saved by Gingy and a gang of creatures.

*Three Blind Mice: friends of Shrek. At the end of the first adventure, they were turned into horses to pull the carriage. On the way to Far Far Away, the three are turned back into mice as to serve as ingredients in witchery. The three remain mice but are captured during Shrek's jailbreak and are saved by Gingy and a group of creatures.

*Seven Dwarves: these little workers must be saved by the group around Shrek's home. They are then seen again in the mountain pass, advising the team on how to get through in return for the rescue of Snow White.

*Goat Brothers: three brothers living on the trail to Jack and Jill's farm. They require the groups help to return to there homes after a few mishapes with trolls.

*Snow White: captured in the mine. She is kidnapped by Fairy Godmother but is saved in Handsome Shrek and Steed Donkey's Hero Time.

*Robin Hood: found in Shrek's swamp. He tries to mug the gang but fails. A reference to "Shrek"

*Papa Bear: The father of the Bear Family. He is seen in Far Far Away as Mongo is in the city. Papa seems to be more worried about the cities well fare then the citizens.

*Witch: a witch living on the trail to Far Far Away. She turned the horses back into mice to use in her witchery.

*Troll: he appears in 4 levels as an enemy

Level overview

*"'Shrek's Swamp: Players travel around the swamp collecting eyeballs.
**Hero Time: Princess Fiona

*Spooky Forest: Players travels to Gingerbread Man's house after the carriage breaks down.
**Hero Time: Donkey

*Far Far Away: Players explore Far Far Away, and beat mini games.
**Hero Time: Shrek

*Ogre Killer: Players must fight Puss in Boots.

*Walking the Path: Players travels to Jack and Jill's farm.
**Hero Time: Puss N Boots

*Jack and Jill's Farm: Almost the same as Far Far Away.
**Hero Time: Gingerbread Man

*Fairy Godmother's: Player try to get the potion, then escape.
**Hero Time: Lil' Red

*Prison Break: Players travel the jail to save Shrek, Donkey, and Puss.
**Hero Time: Big Bad Wolf

*The Mines: Players explore the inside of Mount Grimm.
**Hero Time: Shrek (human) and Donkey (steed)

*Cookie, Cookie: Players must get to the castle, and help Mongo along the way.
**Hero Time: Shrek (human) only (some people believe it to be Mongo for his character icon appears at the bottom).

*Final Fight: Players must fight Knights, Elves, Trolls, Prince Charming, and Fairy Godmother.

Cameos and references from other series

Here is a list of cameos:
* All of the trolls' faces slightly resembles Klungo's face from the "Banjo-Kazooie series" (despite the fact that "Banjo-Kazooie" is developed by Rare (company) and this game is developed by Luxoflux.) Also the gold statue comes to life, a reference from "Banjo-Tooie".
*One of the guards replies when hit is "Tis nothing but a flesh wound!" This is a quote from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" which the voice of King Harold, John Cleese was an actor in.
*After the defeat of Fairy Godmother, the Magic Mirror tells the player directly that the game is over and to play outside, insisting "That is all......folks" This is the famous ending said by Porky Pig in many "Looney Tunes" cartoons.
*The job done for the Leprechaun in the Swamp is titled in the scrapbook as Fairies: Gotta catch um All. This is a reference to "Pokemon"
*Papa bear tells the group that only they can prevent forest fires, a reference to Smokey the Bear
* In a mini game where you play as Lil' Red, the background music is the theme of Devil went to Georgia
* Lil' Red may resemble to Red from "Hoodwinked" and both sound similar.
* Before Fiona's hero time, Lil' Red's granny looks has the same hair and clothes as Fairy Godmother except the granny does not wear glasses.

PC versions

At the same time as the console versions a PC game also named "Shrek 2: The Game" was released developed by Amaze using the Unreal Engine, and by the time of the DVD release of the movie a version of the console game originally developed by Luxoflux was ported by Beenox and released as "Shrek 2: Team Action".

Voice talents

*Michael Gough—-Shrek, King, Knight, Peasant
*Mark Moseley-Donkey, Bartender
*Mel Fair-Magic Mirror
*Andre Sogliuzzo-Puss, Troll, Treants, Papa Bear, Mr. Hood
*James Arnold Taylor-Gingerbread Man, Price Charming, Wolf, Dwarf, Leprechaun
*Tara Strong-Lil Red, Fairy
*Claudia Christian-Fairy Godmother, Female Citizen
*Vanessa Marshall-Wicked Witch, Cinderella, Grandma
*Holly Fields-Fiona, Female Citizen
*Chris Knights-Three Blind Mice
*Cody Cameron-Three Little Pigs
*Aron Warner-Big Bad Wolf

External links

* [http://www.shrek2thegame.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/shrek-2 PC version of Shrek 2 released with the movie release]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/shrek-2-team-action PC version of Shrek 2 ported from consoles]