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Games based on a movie generally suck dirt. We can list and debate the many ways this is true but there are – thank the Game Maker – periodic and welcome exceptions including Toy Story 3.
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The Toy Story 3 console game loosely follows the movie’s story, not in that the story differs but in that the game uses key elements of the movie as a premise and doesn’t force you to play through simply to get to cutscenes. Instead, the cutscenes are the inspirations for game levels, an old way of looking at the movie-to-game move yet it is done pretty well here.
For example, in the movie Buzz zips through a canyon, zaps a few objects and then goes through a few doors to battle Zurg. In the game, each of those is expanded so there is a ride-the-rails flying game (with zapping), platform leaping (some zapping and ground pounding), going through a maze of mechanical tunnels (semi-platform and puzzle style) and finally fighting Zurg and his many mechanical minions (lots of zapping).
The PS3 release, as you can see from the box art, is also the only version of the game that allows you to play as Zurg (after you collect enough objects, of course). This version also will detect a Move controller which, when connected, will unlock a shooting gallery (which I played at E3). In most of the game you play as Buzz, Woody or Jessie, although Zurg has his own missions (destroy Buzz!).
As you complete each level, areas on the main board (made to look like a 3D board game) open up to visit. Western Town is the game’s main hub where must of your time will be spent partaking in role-playing style action, platforming and gathering seemingly countless mini icons to unlock characters, objects for the town (which open more mini quests) and more minigames. Al’s Toy Barn acts as the purchasing hub where you cash in credits to unlock more stuff, characters and costumes.
You can play though as a single player or two-player by simply connecting a second controller before you start any level or mission. When a second player is involved, the difficulty and number of opponents increased a bit which is a welcome variation for skilled gamers but will prove even more difficult to even intermediate gamers.
Wonderful World of Pixar
The few minutes I played the game at E3 2010 made it clear that the developers were trying to take the Toy Story 3 game to a new level with larger environments, more playable characters, role-playing elements, shooting, racing and countless movie tie-ins.
And most of it works pretty well. The main Western Town environment is pretty large with a lot of areas to explore and even more than open as you progress through the game. Hidden objects are everywhere, in every nook and every minigame. They really do a decent job enticing you to play through. (make Bullseye small for some speedy racing action).
My main complaint is the difficulty, especially for some of the story-based level. This is not really a pick-up-an-play game due to the genre swapping and many fast-pasted levels and sometimes hard-to-control mini games (mini kart level immediately comes to mind). You need to be familiar with many game types and control schemes (even though they walk you through most of it), meaning my three-year-old gamer cannot really do much more than watch us play. Several levels also include some awkward angles that contribute to the difficulty (and add a second controller for a second payer and it’s even harder).
Toy Box or Garage Sale?
With so much to do and so many different elements combined, it’s almost as the developers tried to do too much with the game. Even so, they mostly delivered, even admitting at E3 that they could have included even more (look for a few closed caverns in Western World) but had to stop adding things so as to not completely overwhelm gamers. Even with all that is in the game and so many genres, if they had done less we would have been disappointed.
The inclusion of a payable Zurg is great and, like all the other characters in the game, he looks amazing. The game environments are wonderfully imagined and everything has that very Toy Story feel to it. The way they toy with scale (pun partially intended) simply adds to the overall enjoyment.
Toy Story 3 is not a perfect game but with so much to do, the many homages to the movies and replayability, it’s definitely a game worth getting. Just make certain your youngest gamer is able to get in on the action (the “Everyone 10+” rating applies very well here) or they will be supremely frustrated watching you have all the fun.
Side Note: I just noticed that Amazon lists a Toy Story movie and Toy Story 3 game combo pack for $64.99. Note that is the first Toy Story movie and not Toy Story 3.
Read [Toy Story 3 @ Gamertell] Photo Gallery [Toy Story 3 Photos @ Gamertell]
Buy Toy story 3 video games at Best Buy.
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