Nintendo Wii

Shrek Carnival Craze Party Games for Nintendo Wii is a party game that I have wanted to try since it was released back in October.  I really liked the Shrek Super Party game for Gamecube, so I wanted to try the newer version for the Wii.  I was a little afraid it would be too similar, but it actually is quite different and to some extent I do not like that.  The main thing I do not like is that there is not a board game style party mode like Shrek Super Party had.

Despite it not being exactly as I expected, it has other new things and formats that make it a good Wii game.  This game has a story mode that includes well animated Shrek sequences that give it a good plot about trying to become the king or queen of the carnival.  To beat story mode you have to beat all the games in each area.  After you beat each area you get a crown or jewels for the crown.  After you beat the first five areas the final six area in Shrek’s Swamp is unlocked.  Beating every game in this area completes the story mode.  As you compete in story mode you are competing against computer players, but the nice thing is that you just have to get 500 points in the game and it counts as beating it even if you lose to the computer players.

I found most of the mini games to be pretty easy to beat.  Some of my favorites included Gingy’s Crazy Cookie Conveyor in which you selected the right piece to complete gingerbread men and Mud Slide Madness in which you  went on a mud surfing ride.  A few of the games I found almost impossible to get the needed score, such as the Melon Toss and the final Shrekpalooza level.  Mostly though it only took one or two tries to get the needed score.

Overall this is a fun game to play.  I enjoyed it on my own against the computer in both Story Mode and Tourament Mode (you play 5 games).  I did not play Quick Play, but it could be a fun way to play if you want to just play one game at a time.  I imagine this would also be a fun party game much like Shrek Super Party is for the Wii, but I did not get a chance to try it as multiplayer.  The graphics are great, especially the short video parts of story mode.