Shrek is getting freaky in theaters, so it's only fitting that he's dropped in on the Game Boy Color as well. Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown is a 2D fighting game that features large free-roaming environments and animated fisticuffs--executed Street Fighter style. However, the lack of moves, strategy, and a two-player mode limits the game's appeal.
Shrek's characters are drawn with a minimum of colors and are reminiscent of their big-screen counterparts. Shrek, Gingerbread Man, Thelonius, and the other six included personalities, each feature ample frames of animation and at least two or three character-specific special moves. However, there is no ducking, and there are no grapple moves, which severely restricts Shrek's visual variety. Backgrounds are largely pleasing, with a few pitfalls and inclines to lend realism, as well as an animated moat, a torture table, and jungle details.
In keeping with 2D fighting game tradition, the A and B buttons offer punches and kicks, while half-circle motions unleash a number of special moves. As you play through Shrek's quest, more specials unlock, such as speed, invincibility, and strength. Unfortunately, the lack of grapples, throws, and ducking eliminates a great deal of excitement from a game with otherwise huge potential. Furthermore, there really are only two kicks and two punches per character, one for ground attacks and one for the air. On the positive end of things, control is responsive, and special moves are easy to unleash.
CPU behavior is Shrek's greatest undoing. Besides a constant barrage of punches and repeatedly cheesy special moves, there's really nothing mysterious about defeating Shrek's antagonists. For the most part, aerial kicks, incessant jumping, and projectile attacks from afar will do nicely. In this respect, the absence of a two-player mode really hurts.
Despite haphazard gameplay, Shrek's audio is passable. Background music is woefully forgettable but innocuous as to never distract. Also, an array of standard punch and jump sound effects mix with a great number of digitized grunts, groans, and screams to imbue a movie-faithful auditory experience.
On the whole, Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown won't hold up for discerning game players or devout fighting game fans. In fact, it'll probably disappoint the majority of those who've seen the movie or played Capcom's Street Fighter Alpha. For younger players, however, it could serve as a decent introduction to a usually adult genre.
