If I've learned anything from playing videogames over the past twenty years it's that gamers love to beat the crap out of each other. Granted most of us couldn't beat a fluffed pillow in real life, but when it comes to a digital bashing we're the first in line. There's also a segment of gamers out there that, for some reason, spring for movie licensed games. You and I both know that most titles of that nature tend to suck, so if you're a seasoned videogame buff chances are good that you tend to skip them.

So why then would you want to spend your time playing another game based on the Shrek license? Because it's actually fun, that's why!

Everybody knows Shrek and company as the fun loving gang of fairy tail things that enjoy a good round of bodily functions and twisted jokes. I suppose it only seems natural that everyone from the films would get together and star in a fighting game. Well, ok, maybe it's not "natural", but it's a decent idea and if you have ever enjoyed games like Power Stone or uper Smash Bros. Melee, then you'll most likely get into Shrek SuperSlam.

Gameplay:

Like many other brawling games Shrek SuperSlam offers four players (or CPU) the chance to duke it out with a variety of moves and weaponry. The real kicker here is that tons of characters from the films are available here from Shrek, Donkey, Puss-in-Boots and Gingerbread Man to Prince Charming, Fiona and Pinocchio. The list goes on really and the roster even includes characters that weren't fleshed out or introduced at all. Not to mention the different variations to several core characters.

Despite having a huge selection though, the combat basically feels the same no matter who you pick. Each persona controls differently and has a distinct feel, but most moves and combos are pulled off in the same fashion so the variety isn't as great. You've got the ability to block attacks, dash around and pick your opponent up for a good throwing. Attacking boils down to performing combos, using charged attacks or a combination of strong and fast blows.

Each character also fills a "SLAM" meter as they fight. Once it's at its peak they go all crazy and can perform SLAM maneuvers. Basically that means that you can send your foe soaring to the other side of the screen at the touch of a button. These are a little too powerful and nearly impossible to block/evade. It's not that you have to worry about your life being depleted from these strikes, but the winner is the person who performs the most SLAMs. I suppose that's part of the flaw really.

Not having a life bar basically means that the game is a nonstop barrage of pounding the crap out of each other until the time runs out. This may be appealing to some, but frankly I've always enjoyed a definitive "you win" after bludgeoning my enemy. This proves truly tiresome and frustrating when you face three opponents and have to out-SLAM all of them in order to win. Granted this is more prevalent in the single player Story mode, but the same concepts apply to the multiplayer Melee as well.

As with just about every other brawler, Shrek SuperSlam tosses some weapons into the fray for anyone's use. These range from silly stuff like a Fart Wand (offering its user two puffs of Shrek's brand of gas) to more useful items like the Ice Wand. Many of these objects will make you impervious to harm, increase your SLAM meter or stop your foe in their tracks. If you are successful at pulling off the latter keep in mind that you can holster armaments and start punching away to your heart's content.

These items add quite a bit of variety to the already chaotic gameplay and really help keep the fighting from getting too stale. The no life bar thing really got on my nerves, but the fun combat more than made up for it. Apart from the solo Story mode and multiplayer Melee mode there is also an objective-based section that extends gameplay and offers unlockable features. Fans of Shrek will get a kick out of SuperSlam and quite honestly, it's the best game that the franchise has to offer in my opinion. There's not an awful lot of depth to the game though, so it may be better for a rental, but it's a fun rental at the very least.

Graphics:

I have to say that I was very impressed with the visual presentation for Shrek SuperSlam . The character models are pretty much as identifiable to their film counterparts as the current generation of consoles can get and all animate wonderfully. The cut scenes are truly great and filled with a lot of the humor that made the movies so popular so fans will really be able to sink their teeth into it. The environments also carry about as much personality as the characters do and prove to be highly destructible when things get crazy. Windows smash, statues crumble and landings dissolve away into dust and debris. If I have any real gripes they are that the character models could have looked a "little" better and the framerate has some issues that pop up frequently.

Audio:

With farts and all sorts of cartoon-like noises, this is undoubtedly a game aimed at kids and one that sounds rather generic. There's not a lot that's "spectacular" about the soundtrack and the voice acting is a greatly mixed bag of quality. To be fair some of the actors sound just like their movie counterparts but many aren't even close. The Dolby Digital will get a work out though thanks to the sheer amount of stuff blowing up and breaking on the screen at all times.

Conclusion:

Shrek SuperSlam is a game that proves to be a lot of fun and a surprisingly great use of a movie license. Sure things aren't all gumdrop buttons and sugarplum faeries but the gameplay is rich enough to keep you interested and coming back for more. There's plenty enough to do to warrant a rental recommendation for fans with passing interests, but diehard Shrekkers will most likely want to buy this since it's the most fun you'll have with the franchise. Rent It