Toy Story: Retro Roundup and Toy Story 3 Complete Edition have just launched, and now we’re getting another animated blast from the past in the form of a remaster of the 2004 Shrek 2 tie-in game. For the uninitiated, Shrek 2 picked up the story where the landmark first movie left off, with Shrek and company journeying to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Princess Fiona’s family and thwart the schemes of the evil Fairy Godmother. It also had the debut of the now-iconic Puss in Boots and that awesome cover of “I Need a Hero,” making it the best installment of the series thus far.
Like most blockbuster films of the early 2000s, Shrek 2 received a video game adaptation from Activision and the now-defunct Luxoflux – and it was surprisingly good (Sadly no “I Need A Hero,” but the soundtrack did sample “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”).
Loosely following the plot of the film, Shrek 2 features team-based gameplay where each character has their own special abilities to defeat enemies and solve puzzles – as well as designated “Hero Time” mini-games that focus on a single character. It received average reviews and decent sales, and fans seem to look back on it fondly. I know I had fun playing it on my GameCube back in the day.
The Shrek 2 Game Is Getting Remastered
Well, now you might get the chance to visit Far Far Away all over again. There had already been word of Aspyr (who already has plenty of experience in bringing older games to new hardware) developing a Shrek 2 game remaster during that Steam Achievements leak back in September, and it recently popped up again in a now-deleted page on the Microsoft Store. Not too long after, an official announcement trailer was released, showing Shrek and the gang in a style similar to Grand Theft Auto 6.
According to the Microsoft Store page (via Gematsu), this Shrek 2 remaster will feature all of the wild fairytale fun of the original, as well as a few new bells and whistles for newcomers. These include improved graphics (complete with better textures, enhanced UI, and 4K resolution), couch and online co-op multiplayer for up to four players, a Photo Mode, and a handy Cheat Mode.
There is currently no release date for Shrek 2 Remastered, or any confirmation for systems other than Xbox Series X/S. However, it was likely supposed to be announced during the upcoming Xbox Showcase on October 20 before it was leaked. Strangely enough, Shrek has already made his presence felt in gaming this year thanks to guest appearances in Brawlhalla and FIFA Heroes – both of which were meant to celebrate the original Shrek movie’s 25th anniversary.
Incidentally, Shrek and company are set to return to the big screen as well in Shrek 5, which releases on June 30, 2027. I think the Day of Shrekoning might be upon us…
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