As it turns out, the sequel has improved remarkably, delivering a party-based adventure that brings back fond memories of Gauntlet and masterfully captures the all-ages fun of one of the summer’s best films. Even with its improvements, Shrek 2 has its occasional hiccup, but for the young gamers to whom this game is geared, those hiccups will be as imperceptible as an ingrown hair on an ogre’s back. In other words, if you know a young fan of "Shrek 2" the film, Shrek 2 the game is going to be right up their alley.

The gameplay in Shrek 2 is based on a party of four characters, most of whom are stars in the film. The lineup includes 10 characters total, from the expected Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots to surprises like the Gingerbread Man and Lil’ Red. Switching between characters is easy using the left and right triggers, and cycling from one to the next is required if you hope to pass the game’s 11 levels.

The reason for this mandatory cycling lies in each character’s unique power, be it a special super-attack or a special move. For example, there are multiple obstacles in the game that can only be destroyed using Donkey’s super-powered "Burro Blast" kick. Once Donkey breaks down the barrier, the rest of the party can progress. Likewise, several hard-to-reach levers can only be accessed using either the Gingerbread Man’s flying candy canes or Lil’ Red’s Rotten Apple projectiles.

For better or worse, the game decides before each level which characters will be playable, so you never have to worry about choosing the right mix for your party. Nor will younger players ever have to worry about not understanding how to advance. In many cases, the Magic Mirror will appear immediately before the obstacle to give hints about passing. In other cases, the characters themselves will give clues, like Shrek saying "Donkey….!" and Donkey replying "Oh yeah, my Burro Blast." This provides a good balance of challenge and hand-holding for the younger crowd, but it will probably prove too pedestrian for parents.

Fortunately, youngsters can invite three of their friends to help solve the puzzles, because Shrek 2 supports four-player same-screen play a la Gauntlet or Hunter: The Reckoning. This is a great addition from a gameplay standpoint, but it also reinforces the message of teamwork conveyed in the movie. That same message is also reinforced by the game’s shared resources. Never will you encounter characters fighting over gold pieces, health or attack-boosting orbs; everyone in the game shares everything. If Shrek picks up an energy boost, it’s applied to everyone. If Donkey trots over immunity, everyone is impervious to harm. Players don’t even fight over extra lives, since "reincarnation" is simply a matter of having the money necessary for revival. And there’s no way that any coin-collecting group of kids will not gather enough gold to come back to life.

The levels, all based on the film, are comprised of straightforward puzzles and/or adventuresome mini-games. Some of the most memorable include catching eggs fired by semi-automatic chickens and slamming on the controller’s keypad in a Dance Dance Revolution-inspired game. In between these levels are scenarios called "Hero Time," which feature one character completing a certain challenge. In one, Donkey needs to fly Dragon safely through a canyon, while in another, Puss in Boots must use his rope-walking ability to navigate a series of waterfalls. The result is enough overall gameplay variety to entice even the shortest of attention spans.

For a game that’s based on a movie but doesn’t include any talent from the film, Shrek 2 has voice acting that achieves gaming nirvana. Never have I heard voice doubles do a job this good, and when coupled with the great script, this really helps capture the magic of the film. Yet as good as the audio is, the comic phrases assigned to each character’s attacks get tiresome after two levels. The delivery is top-notch, but the script writers didn’t give the actors enough to record. Unfortunately, the backlash of voices this good is that the rest of the audio, which is only average, really stands out. And not in a good way.

Graphically, the game holds up to its predecessor’s legacy, with great animations and environments, and detailed character models that only occasionally show their blocky construction. The framerate stays solid as well, even when particle and Far Far Away magical effects are in full force. If there’s a sticking point it’s the camera, which at times gets in the way of the action, but the ability to switch from one character the next renders that point almost moot.

With its good graphics, audio and party-based play, Shrek 2 improves in nearly every way upon the original game. It’s also one of the few examples of a movie-based game that’s worth the price of admission. Like the film, the game may not have Picasso-like quality, but it’s got the right mix of elements to entice a good following. The title is clearly geared toward a younger crowd, but even adult fans of the film will find a good rental in Shrek 2.