Shrek 2 - GBA

As Shrek, his ogre love interest and donkey sidekick are welcomed to the big screen for a second animated adventure, publisher Activision has revived the video game equivalent to bring us the aptly named Shrek 2 for Game Boy Advance. And with renowned studio Vicarious Visions behind the development of the side-scrolling platformer, it doesn't disappoint.

As with most virtual movie tie-ins, Shrek 2 sees players embarking on an adventure faithful to the film and visiting a variety of familiar big screen locations. In this offering, players are free to partake as Shrek, Donkey, Gingerbread Man and the newly introduced Puss in Boots. But regardless of character, players are charged with navigating some 25 extended areas from the animated film in an adventure that lasts around 12 hours. Additionally, players will be subjected to humorous dialogue and an array of genuinely amusing gags in what is a surprisingly convincing Shrek world.

And as a distraction, Vicarious Visions has also included a bunch of welcome mini-games, each of them specific to the abilities of one of the game's playable characters. There are games that entail saving the lives of the Three Blind Mice, and games that see Puss in Boots negotiating a hazardous gauntlet of fire. It's all very exciting.

There's no doubt in our minds that Shrek 2 is a solid light-hearted adventure that does the GBA hardware proud. Vicarious Visions has done a fine job. Here's hoping there's a Shrek 3 in the offing... more