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Shrek 2: Activity Centre Review - PC

Released simultaneously with the game Shrek 2 was yet another game based on the hit movie. Titled Shrek 2: Activity Centre, the game is obviously geared towards younger gamers, featuring simplistic gameplay and a generally basic structure on the whole. And, unfortunately, the only good thing about it is that it's based on Shrek.

Gameplay

Upon entering the game, you'll find yourself faced with seven repetitive and boring mini-games, each of which is played using only the mouse. Each mini-game is hosted by and is based on one of Shrek and his buddies, including the popular Puss in Boots and Donkey. The first of the lot is Puss in Boots's 'Catch me if you Can', in which you must click on Puss in Boots as he pops out from an array of trees before he is able to slice Shrek using his swift swordplay techniques. Occasionally Donkey pops out instead, and clicking on him results in a 'miss' - something that you'll find in each of the game's mini-games. Gain too many misses and you'll have to restart the mini-game. All the while bronze, silver and gold coins fall from the treetops, offering a few extra points when clicked on.

Donkey's 'Careening Carriage' gives you a birds-eye view of a carriage full of Shrek and friends as they make their way to Far Far Away. The mouse is used to speed up, slow down and turn the carriage as you venture across three bland landscapes laden with obstacles and bonus points, dodging the bad and collecting the good. Make Shrek too angry by jolting the carriage with a collision and you'd better be prepared to start all over again.

The Fairy Godmother has her own mini-game too, in which she abuses her evil powers by altering the colours of Shrek's skin and clothes. Using a few clicks of the mouse you'll have to mix various different coloured potions to restore Shrek to his original form. At first you'll have to simply match the potion's colour to Shrek's colour, but halfway through the mini-game you'll have to use your painting skills to mix two colours to create a new colour.

Shrek's 'Hide and Seek' utilises the theme of memory. As you begin each of the mini-game's rounds you'll see a number of characters hide in various spots on the screen, and the wise Magic Mirror will tell you who to find and when. It's quite simple as only three or four hide at a time even in the later parts of the mini-game.

King Harold's 'Dinner with the King' also tests your memory; you're shown a dinner table at which King Harold and Shrek are sitting, and you have to carefully watch what King Harold eats and drinks and then do the same in the exact order with Shrek. The number of items that King Harold eats grows with each round, but only reaches a total of about five.

Princess Fiona's 'Juice at the ... (continued next page)