Shrek SuperSlam

Shrek SuperSlam for Nintendo DS is a 2005 arena fighting game built around the characters and fairy-tale world of DreamWorks’ first two Shrek films. Published by Activision and developed for the handheld by Amaze Entertainment, it reached North America on October 25, 2005, with a European release following in November. Rather than simply mirroring the home-console versions, this Nintendo DS edition has its own handheld-focused implementation of the licensed brawler, retaining the series’ comic tone while adapting the action to the dual-screen system.

Matches place up to four combatants in enclosed 3D arenas, where the aim is to score more SuperSlams than the opposition before time expires. Fighters earn fairy dust by landing attacks; after collecting 100 points, a player can trigger a SuperSlam that sends opponents flying and contributes to the score. The DS roster contains 12 playable characters drawn from the Shrek films and their fairy-tale supporting cast, including Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots, and Gingerbread Man. Each has a special move alongside basic attacks, heavier strikes, short combos, and aerial actions.

The battlefield is as much part of the contest as the fighters. Shrek SuperSlam’s 16 stages use locations and themes associated with its cast, such as Shrek’s swamp, Fiona’s room, Gingy’s gingerbread setting, and Geppetto’s workshop. Scenery and objects can be smashed during a match, while weapons and magical items appear for players to collect. Potions can alter a fighter with effects such as greater speed, invisibility, or a change in size, adding temporary twists to the free-for-all.

Story mode frames its bouts as bedtime tales for Donkey’s energetic Dronkey children. Selecting a character leads into that character’s version of a story, then a sequence of head-to-head battles. Melee mode offers direct match play with configurable rules, including player count, arena, time limit, and the amount of fairy dust awarded per hit. The game also includes 25 Mega-Challenges, giving the action a series of short, objective-based diversions beyond the standard timed fights.

Nintendo DS hardware shapes several of the game’s practical features. The upper display carries the arena action, while the touch screen lets a player select a held weapon with the stylus and provides a slider for camera zoom. Local wireless play supports multiplayer bouts, though each participant needs a copy of the game. Computer-controlled fighters can fill empty places, so solo players can still run battles with a full group of contenders.

Shrek SuperSlam belongs to Activision’s 2005 wave of Shrek games, but the DS version is distinct from the releases made for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. Activision noted at launch that gameplay differed on both the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, and the handheld versions were handled by Amaze Entertainment and Griptonite Games rather than the console developer. For Nintendo DS owners, it remains a compact, character-driven interpretation of the franchise’s all-in-one arena brawling concept.