RATING: 4.4 stars
Okay...so...let's try and keep the spoilers to a minimum, eh? Toy Story 3: The Video Game review here, at least, holds true for all systems but the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable and the PC, because I know that the rest are basically the same as the XBOX version. Anyway...It's a wonderful family game, just as a heads-up!
REVIEW INFORMATION
PLATFORM: XBOX360, PlayStation3
RATING:
PRODUCT INFORMATION
ESRB RATING: E10
OFLC RATING: G-PG
PUBLISHERS: Disney Interactive
DEVELOPERS: AVALANCHE softwares
GENRE: Unknown
DISTRIBUTORS: EA Distribution
PLAYERS: Single/Multiplayer (1-2 players)
PLATFORM: XBOX360, PlayStation3
RATING:
PRODUCT INFORMATION
ESRB RATING: E10
OFLC RATING: G-PG
PUBLISHERS: Disney Interactive
DEVELOPERS: AVALANCHE softwares
GENRE: Unknown
DISTRIBUTORS: EA Distribution
PLAYERS: Single/Multiplayer (1-2 players)
GAMEPLAY
GAMEPLAY RATING: 3.7 stars
TS3 Video Game Cover ARt
Okay, so, overall the gameplay for this game is nice. The controls make sense...such as to attack you press the "X" button (for XBOX360, don't know about PlayStation3), and to throw/shoot, you press "RT."
Anyway, Toy Story 3: The video game has two modes for gameplay. One is Story Mode, in which you (as the name implies) follow the story. The second is Toy Box/Woody's Roundup Mode, in which you get to play around in your own world! Both of these sections will get their own reviews below.
Now, a downside to gameplay in this game is you cannot restart your game as far as I know. You are stuck with the game you have, no matter what you do. You can only restart your Toy Box Mode game...
Anyway, Toy Story 3: The video game has two modes for gameplay. One is Story Mode, in which you (as the name implies) follow the story. The second is Toy Box/Woody's Roundup Mode, in which you get to play around in your own world! Both of these sections will get their own reviews below.
Now, a downside to gameplay in this game is you cannot restart your game as far as I know. You are stuck with the game you have, no matter what you do. You can only restart your Toy Box Mode game...
STORY MODE
Now, let me begin by saying that this game is true to the movie. It does not cut out important parts, and it even adds two extra parts not seen in the movies. The story is told by Hamm, and illustrated using what looks like a spin-off of a Game of LIFE playing board with houses and models on it. Explore the map a little to get the Manipulator Achievement. The story progresses, and as you finish a level, the next will appear as a building/playing piece on the board. You can direct from level to level using this board and access Woody's Roundup (Toy Box mode) from this board. Also, this can also be used in Toy Box mode by saying Exit to game board in the menu, which causes your Toy Box game to stop, save, end, and then you'll be redirected to the game board. You begin at a train playing piece (which resembles a painted Monopoly game piece) which is the first level and the level you will automatically redirect to when you start a new game.
Anyway, the levels are as follows... As stated, you begin with the train, which is the level Train Rescue/ Loco Motives. After completing this, you're redirected straight to Toy Box Mode/ Woody's Roundup. Here you can explore as you please. When you feel you want to continue the story, you can either find a portal which saves and directs you back to the game board or use the menu option to return. When you return, you'll find a miniature version of Andy's house next to that piece. Go there for the second level, which is Andy's Room/Hold the Phone. After you finish this level, you'll go back to the game board instead of to Woody's Roundup. To go back, there, you just select the area. The next level is one of the two extra parts. To be honest, I thought it would be a horrid addition, but Disney pulled it off nicely and produced a near-perfect and rather long and challenging new recreation of the Buzz Lightyear video game seen at the beginning of Toy Story 2. Anyway, that level is Buzz Video Game/To Infinity and Beyond. After that is the next level: Sunnyside Daycare/Fair Play, then you go to Bonnie's House/ Witch Way Out (which is a ridiculously long and complicated level), then from there you go to Prison Break/Hide and Sneak, then Junkyard/Trash Thrash, and finally the second addition (and rather strange addition at that) Haunted Bakery/Muffin to Fear.
So, whatever, I'm ranting. To cut to the point...the Story Mode is nice, and follows the story perfectly. However, it cuts out key favorites in the movie and is admittedly choppy. If you haven't seen the movie, the video game is pretty safe to play, because it doesn't reveal much. Maybe that's a gimmick to make people see the film, but I don't enjoy not having most of the movie in there. Also, being that the story is narrated from Hamm, it also takes away a bit of the authenticity.
Now, let me begin by saying that this game is true to the movie. It does not cut out important parts, and it even adds two extra parts not seen in the movies. The story is told by Hamm, and illustrated using what looks like a spin-off of a Game of LIFE playing board with houses and models on it. Explore the map a little to get the Manipulator Achievement. The story progresses, and as you finish a level, the next will appear as a building/playing piece on the board. You can direct from level to level using this board and access Woody's Roundup (Toy Box mode) from this board. Also, this can also be used in Toy Box mode by saying Exit to game board in the menu, which causes your Toy Box game to stop, save, end, and then you'll be redirected to the game board. You begin at a train playing piece (which resembles a painted Monopoly game piece) which is the first level and the level you will automatically redirect to when you start a new game.
Anyway, the levels are as follows... As stated, you begin with the train, which is the level Train Rescue/ Loco Motives. After completing this, you're redirected straight to Toy Box Mode/ Woody's Roundup. Here you can explore as you please. When you feel you want to continue the story, you can either find a portal which saves and directs you back to the game board or use the menu option to return. When you return, you'll find a miniature version of Andy's house next to that piece. Go there for the second level, which is Andy's Room/Hold the Phone. After you finish this level, you'll go back to the game board instead of to Woody's Roundup. To go back, there, you just select the area. The next level is one of the two extra parts. To be honest, I thought it would be a horrid addition, but Disney pulled it off nicely and produced a near-perfect and rather long and challenging new recreation of the Buzz Lightyear video game seen at the beginning of Toy Story 2. Anyway, that level is Buzz Video Game/To Infinity and Beyond. After that is the next level: Sunnyside Daycare/Fair Play, then you go to Bonnie's House/ Witch Way Out (which is a ridiculously long and complicated level), then from there you go to Prison Break/Hide and Sneak, then Junkyard/Trash Thrash, and finally the second addition (and rather strange addition at that) Haunted Bakery/Muffin to Fear.
So, whatever, I'm ranting. To cut to the point...the Story Mode is nice, and follows the story perfectly. However, it cuts out key favorites in the movie and is admittedly choppy. If you haven't seen the movie, the video game is pretty safe to play, because it doesn't reveal much. Maybe that's a gimmick to make people see the film, but I don't enjoy not having most of the movie in there. Also, being that the story is narrated from Hamm, it also takes away a bit of the authenticity.
TOY BOX/WOODY'S ROUNDUP MODE
Now, this mode is amazing! You progressively build your own town, and along the way you can collect capsules which allow you even further customization. You can do almost anything your heart desires, it's the place to let your imagination loose. Heck, I built a jail with rainbow walls, magical strawberries, and a giant rainbow over it next to a hat shop that looked like something from Zurg's dreams! Up to two players can be playing simultaneously in this mode and you can play as Woody, Buzz, and/or Jessie.
As you expand, you also unlock toys which can be bought at cute little Al's Toy Barn stands with a chicken similar to the one in the second movie on them. The toys include everything from Bullseye, the Teeny Racer, a sports car, and a goo machine (which allows you to grow (using GREEN goo) or shrink (using PINK goo) to new types of townsfolk including artists, scuba divers, and pioneers! Everything costs gold, which is a plentiful resource in Woody's Roundup.
As you grow your town, you can also buy a variety of buildings, all of which are customizable, and you can mix and match stuff as much as your heart desires. The buildings include some of the following:
School which is run by Bo Peep (hidden Easter Egg!)
Bank
Jail which can be either rough and tumble or a sunny, rainbow daycare! XD
Sawmill
Barber Shop
Garden
Barn
Tailor
And much, much more!
Not to mention you also come ready with a whazzoo of buildings including:
Town Hall which has Hamm as mayor.
Blacksmith where one can melt gold down for...MORE GOLD!
Pub/Bar
Hat Shop where one can give townsfolk some new looks
And even more than that!
Think that's not enough? You can also buy new zones in the game, each puts you back 5000 gold, but each unlocks new costumes, custom objects, weapons, quests, and places to explore! What are the zones? Well....first we have...
Still not enough for you? This mode even links to Story Mode. Collect enough collector's cards and Andy's Memorabilia and you'll unlock some new stuff in Toy Box Mode!
Though this mode is great, there area few downsides, however. One is that you can never complete missions because your town is constantly under siege by bandits, pixies, gargoyles, and/or Zurg Bots. However, that is the only major issue. A minor issue is that the Return to Gameboard spots are so spread out, but that's why they have the menu option.
Now, this mode is amazing! You progressively build your own town, and along the way you can collect capsules which allow you even further customization. You can do almost anything your heart desires, it's the place to let your imagination loose. Heck, I built a jail with rainbow walls, magical strawberries, and a giant rainbow over it next to a hat shop that looked like something from Zurg's dreams! Up to two players can be playing simultaneously in this mode and you can play as Woody, Buzz, and/or Jessie.
As you expand, you also unlock toys which can be bought at cute little Al's Toy Barn stands with a chicken similar to the one in the second movie on them. The toys include everything from Bullseye, the Teeny Racer, a sports car, and a goo machine (which allows you to grow (using GREEN goo) or shrink (using PINK goo) to new types of townsfolk including artists, scuba divers, and pioneers! Everything costs gold, which is a plentiful resource in Woody's Roundup.
As you grow your town, you can also buy a variety of buildings, all of which are customizable, and you can mix and match stuff as much as your heart desires. The buildings include some of the following:
School which is run by Bo Peep (hidden Easter Egg!)
Bank
Jail which can be either rough and tumble or a sunny, rainbow daycare! XD
Sawmill
Barber Shop
Garden
Barn
Tailor
And much, much more!
Not to mention you also come ready with a whazzoo of buildings including:
Town Hall which has Hamm as mayor.
Blacksmith where one can melt gold down for...MORE GOLD!
Pub/Bar
Hat Shop where one can give townsfolk some new looks
And even more than that!
Think that's not enough? You can also buy new zones in the game, each puts you back 5000 gold, but each unlocks new costumes, custom objects, weapons, quests, and places to explore! What are the zones? Well....first we have...
- Sid's House/Sid's Haunted House: Buying this zone will allow you to use the lightning rod weapon and will also welcome ghosts and gargoyles to your town! The zone questgiver is Rex the dinosaur. Look hard enough and you'll find the things you need to turn your buildings into gooey haunted mansions, haunted mansions, bat-infested lots, coffin-themed buildings, and even more! You can also find supplies to turn your townsfolk into werewolves, vampires, mummies, Frankenstein, and much, much more! The area comes complete with its own level and quest which is obtained at the top of the house: Escape Sid's House.
- Enchanted Forest: Buying this zone not only welcomes evil strawberry-firing pixies to your town, but it also supplies you with the baby dragon mount, the magic wand weapon, and a whole new level to explore. The area's main questgiver is Lotso (Lots 'O' Huggin' Bear) and the area gives you the supplies to turn your town and townsfolk into enchanted insanity or to just deck your entire town out in crazy cuteness!
- Farm/Rural: This area is unlocked along with the main town. It is run by Slinky and it where you'll put your garden and barn. It gives you some random collectibles but gives you no new weapons.
- Suburban/Canyon: Unlocked after you complete the Blow Up the Dam quest, this area is run by Little Bo Peep and is the place for your school, hotel, candy shop, and some other buildings. It comes with no new weapons, but contains some collectibles.
- Zurg's Spaceport: This area is another with its own level. It allows Zurg Bots to enter your town, and it run by (as the name implies) Zurg. The area gives you the Laser Gun which goes great with Buzz and the UFO gun (unlocked after completing the Escape the Spaceport mission) which allows you to mark things/townsfolk/NPC's for alien attacks.
Still not enough for you? This mode even links to Story Mode. Collect enough collector's cards and Andy's Memorabilia and you'll unlock some new stuff in Toy Box Mode!
Though this mode is great, there area few downsides, however. One is that you can never complete missions because your town is constantly under siege by bandits, pixies, gargoyles, and/or Zurg Bots. However, that is the only major issue. A minor issue is that the Return to Gameboard spots are so spread out, but that's why they have the menu option.
GRAPHICS
GRAPHICS RATING: 5.0 stars
All I can really say is that the graphics are just phenomenal! The characters appear to be straight from the movies, and the detail is high! This causes some lagging, but it's still great graphics.
SOUND/MUSIC
SOUND/MUSIC RATING: 4.5
Though the sound effects are good, there are some moments when the voice acting is just deplorable. For example, some common sound effects (such as screaming when falling) sound more like someone trying to imitate the actor that portrayed the character while gargling acid.
The music, however, is great. One thing to be noted is that the entire game opens with the start screen bearing the Toy Story 3 logo and playing You've Got a Friend in Me in the background.
The music, however, is great. One thing to be noted is that the entire game opens with the start screen bearing the Toy Story 3 logo and playing You've Got a Friend in Me in the background.
IMAGES/SCREENSHOTS
Click for larger image. Most images credited to IGN.com!
