As a generic, roaming brawler of a game starring iconic ogres and fairy tale sidekicks, enchanted trees and un-charming princes, Shrek the Third for PlayStation2, Wii, and Xbox 360, contains most of the mean-spirited maliciousness and murderousness of the overwrought, under-scripted, one-too-many trips to the joke well of the film.

Fortunately, brainless, button-mashing brawling and banal bauble-collecting with various characters (voiced by second-rate sound alikes), each with a unique, often funny "special" attack, makes for a fine if frivolous game. Shame about the movie, which was only fine in that it offered lengthy bouts of context for the five funny bits seen in the movie's 30-second trailer.

The Wii version of Shrek the Third has you wanking on the Wii-mote and nunchuck in lieu of mashing a couple of buttons; the 360 version has slightly better visuals; the PlayStation2 version is most homely but least expensive. It's a trade off that makes neither version better than the other.

Aside from the main game, which is a short, 5 - 6 hour affair, Shrek the Third also contains a clutch of mini-games that can be played with one or two players. These can be enjoyable in the causal galleria sense -- shooting, shuffleboard, frog-herding, etc., -- but still do little to give the title anything resembling lasting appeal.

Still, Shrek the Third (the game) in any console format is better than Shrek the Third (the film), but, again, that's not saying much.

TIP: In the Xbox 360 version of Shrek the Third, press Up, Up, Down, Up, Right, Left at the gift shop to receive 10,000 gold coins.