Yes! You did it! You clicked on the link to a Shrek preview. That must mean you're a gamer who isn't scared of a game based on a movie-license. You're a gamer with a wide interest. I like that about you. Or are you just a Shrek junkie?

Let's shove all prejudices aside of how dull this game probably is going to be and look at the facts. Shrek is, with the Spiderman franchise, the most important game license for Activision finances. It's their money-cow. No wonder new Shrek-based games keep appearing in shops; even with a new movie only appearing in 2007. On the Gamecube alone we've had three of them: the average Shrek 2 game, the poor Shrek Extra Large, and now Activision brings us this new Shrek Superslam. 'Slam, smash, beat and brawl your friends in Shrek Superslam' they promise us.

Therefore it's easy to compare Shrek Superslam with one of the most loved GameCube games: Super Smash Brothers Melee. In Superslam characters of the Shrek movies are going face-to-face with each other. We see Gingerbread Man using his stick to hurt Puss in Boots as much as possible, Shrek clash with Prince Charming, and more of these scenes you probably have in your imagination right about now. Of course every character has his personal special attack. I only have to mention Shrek's green storm attack to give you an idea about these moves.

Four persons can compete at the same time. Expectedly Shrek Superslam contains a story mode, so all the lonely players can have their fun fighting the crew. There're sixteen Shrek styled arenas where the battles take place, like the castle and the inn. Activision claims these environments are 'fully destructible'. Well, we sure have to take this statement with a pinch of salt. Aside from the average windows and chairs to destroy there's not much else. Believe me, I tried to knock down a stone wall for a few minutes but it just wouldn't break.

What I noticed while playing this game are the invisible walls. Yes, they're back. Hadn't we got rid of these back in the old days of gaming? I would've got great satisfaction from throwing the annoying rotten Gingerbread Man down the moat, but the game just wouldn't let me. I end up hitting Bread Man from side to side. Of course this tactic also made me win the fight with great lead (wink wink), but my contentment was less.

The controls for this game are really simple. You can do a quick strike, a strong smack and a few different throws (as you might have noticed). Nothing too complex, therefore easy to pick up and play. Just as to expect from a game like this, aimed most to the younger kids. (I suppose). Unfortunately most times this also means less depth in gameplay. We have to wait and see.

Although we shove our prejudices aside in the beginning of this preview, it looks like this game hasn't got anything special on it. The crazy fights look to be fun a few times, but likely become boring after a while. It's nice to see Shrek not in another platformer, though. The fighting genre fits to the Shrek universe, so if you're a Shrek junkie you sure can be pleased.

Editor's Note: The game turned out to be alright, if Metacritic is to be believed.