Shrek (video game)

Shrek is a 2001 platform video game developed by Digital Illusions CE (DICE) and published by TDK Mediactive for the Xbox, based on the 2001 animated DreamWorks film Shrek. The game was released on November 14, 2001 as one of twenty-two North American launch titles for the Xbox, and later in Europe on March 14, 2002, also as a launch title for the system. A reworked version of the game, called Shrek Extra Large, was released for the Nintendo GameCube on October 31, 2002 in North America[1] and on October 24, 2003 in Europe. A port for the PlayStation 2 was planned for 2003, but was cancelled due to TDK Mediactive being acquired by Take-Two Interactive later that year, as a result losing the rights for Shrek games.[2] Extra Large uses the same engine and game mechanics as the original Xbox release, but with an altered story and different levels.

Shrek
North American Xbox cover art
Developer(s)Digital Illusions CE
Publisher(s)TDK Mediactive
Director(s)Gary Corriveau
Designer(s)Gary Corriveau
Atman Binstock
Programmer(s)Atman Binstock
Richard Geldreich
Artist(s)Denis Cawson
Composer(s)David Kerr
Platform(s)Xbox
GameCube
ReleaseXbox
  • NA: November 14, 2001
Gamecube
  • NA: October 31, 2002
  • EU: October 24, 2003
Genre(s)Platformer
Mode(s)Single-player

The game was noted for being one of the first commercial titles to make use of deferred shading.[3][4]

Gameplay

The player completes objectives ("Good Deeds"). In most objectives, the player hunts for an object and completes an action. Not many objectives vary from this, though a few will occasionally vary.

Plot

Following a completely different narrative than that of the eponymous film which it is based on, Shrek is meant to be a "continuation" of the story of the film, taking place after the title character has set out to regain his swamp and become a "'de facto' hero" to the fairy tale creatures.[5] Shrek is delivered a message by the infamous Magic Mirror that his wife Princess Fiona has been captured by an evil wizard, Merlin. Shrek must travel to Merlin's Dark Tower Fortress of Pure Evil, but an impassable fog has been laid across the Fairy Tale Lands. The fog and Merlin's Fortress can be passed through the completion of Good Deeds. The Magic Mirror gives Shrek a Book of Good Deeds and offers to teleport him to places where Good Deeds are required.

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCXbox
AllGameN/A[6]
EGMN/A3.33/10[7]
Game Informer3/10[8]2/10[9]
GameProN/A[10]
GameRevolutionN/AD+[11]
GameSpotN/A5.3/10[12]
GameSpyN/A48%[13]
IGN3/10[14]5.6/10[15]
Nintendo Power2.1/5[16]N/A
OXM (US)N/A5.3/10[17]
X-Play[18]N/A
The Cincinnati EnquirerN/A[19]
Aggregate scores
GameRankings33.89%[20]51.65%[21]
Metacritic36/100[22]49/100[23]

Reviews of the game range from very mixed to negative. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 52% and 49 out of 100 for the Xbox version,[21][23] and 34% and 36 out of 100 for the GameCube version.[20][22]

Reviewers criticized the gameplay in particular, as well as the audio. IGN described the game's puzzles as "run of the mill" and complained of the lack of audio in certain sections of the game.[14] X-Play criticized the GameCube version's framerate, "jerky" animation, and camera control claiming it could make some players nauseous. Critics generally praised the game's graphical presentation, with X-Play's Skyler Miller saying the game's graphics were "impressive at a standstill"[18] and Raymond Padilla of GameSpy claiming the in-game graphics matched the movie's visuals.[13] The Gamecube version's visuals were less favorably received, with IGN critiquing the game's lack of bump mapping when transitioned over to the Gamecube as well as the poor animation. [24]

References
  1. "Shrek Extra Large - GameCube - IGN". IGN. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  2. IGN (September 3, 2003). "Take-Two Acquires TDK Mediactive". IGN. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  3. "History - Electric Sheep Games". electricsheepgames.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  4. "Rich Geldreich's website". Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  5. Staff, I. G. N. (June 13, 2001). "Shrek Interview (Xbox)". Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  6. Marriott, Scott Alan. "Shrek (Xbox) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  7. EGM staff (January 2002). "Shrek". Electronic Gaming Monthly (150): 230.
  8. Brogger, Kristian (January 2003). "Shrek: Extra Large". Game Informer (117): 102. Archived from the original on August 27, 2004. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  9. Helgeson, Matt (January 2002). "Shrek". Game Informer (105): 86. Archived from the original on November 15, 2004. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  10. Iron Monkey (November 15, 2001). "Shrek Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  11. Baldric (December 10, 2001). "Shrek Review (Xbox)". Game Revolution. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  12. Lopez, Miguel (November 15, 2001). "Shrek Review". GameSpot. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  13. Padilla, Raymond (December 8, 2001). "Shrek (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  14. Casamassina, Matt (November 12, 2002). "Shrek Extra Large". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  15. Lopez, Vincent (November 19, 2001). "Shrek (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  16. "Shrek Extra Large". Nintendo Power. 163: 218. December 2002.
  17. "Shrek". Official Xbox Magazine. January 2002.
  18. Miller, Skyler (December 9, 2002). "Shrek Extra Large (GCN) Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on December 19, 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  19. Saltzman, Marc (December 28, 2001). "Xbox launch lineup". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  20. "Shrek Extra Large for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  21. "Shrek for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  22. "Shrek Extra Large for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  23. "Shrek for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  24. Casamassina, Matt (November 12, 2002). "Shrek Extra Large". IGN. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
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