Shrek 2 Remastered gets a rough welcome on Steam despite new co-op features

Just a day after launch, DreamWorks' Shrek 2 Remastered has managed to win over fewer than half of its Steam reviewers. From over 350 reviews posted at the time of writing, only 47% are positive. Not quite the homecoming the developer Aspyr Media had in mind for a $30 trip down the memory lane.

Visually, the game is not bad at all. To its credit, the developer has done more than giving the 2004 movie-inspired game a visual makeover. The textures and cutscenes have been updated, the interface has received some attention, and there's now 4K support for compatible hardware. The biggest addition for this version is a four-player co-op mode, available both online and locally. Players can even mix playing from the same machine or online, which should make getting the whole gang together a little easier.

There's also a new photo mode and a dedicated cheats menu, a feature from the days when games developers let skilled players bend the rules. Classic titles such as Doom have embraced the idea in their modern re-releases, so it's a good addition to Shrek 2 Remastered, useful for anyone more interested in revisiting the old levels than fighting their way through them.

Unfortunately, some players are having trouble getting that far. Aspyr Media has confirmed reports of launch crashes affecting certain Steam Machine users and says a fix is on the way. We’ll see if this will repair the rather rough welcoming from the fans. Shrek 2 Remastered arrived on November 10 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Steam, the Epic Games Store and Nintendo eShop are offering a 10% launch discount, lowering the price to $26.99 in the US.

As usual when there’s a remaster, the collectibles appear. There will be a $189.99 physical collector's edition available for pre-order for 49.99 in physical stores in the US and scheduled to ship in Fall 2027. The Collector's Edition includes the game, a steelcase storybook cover, a replica Donkey coin, a hanging "Beware Ogres" sign and an 8-inch Shrek and Donkey statue. That's quite an investment for a couple of swamp characters, but you know the saying: “Retail is the therapy for the soul.”