Toy Story 3: The Videogame
Score: 84% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Disney Interactive Developer: n-Space Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action/ Platformer
Graphics & Sound: The DS isn't known for its ability to render out mad numbers of polygons, lighting effects or any of the other cool 3D effects you typically think of when it comes to Pixar films, but it also manages to show just how iconic the studio's designs really are. Similar to the DS versions of Transformers: War for Cybertron, Toy Story 3: The Videogame takes complex models and distills them to their most basic form without losing a sense of the character. Does it stand toe-to-toe with other 3D games on the system? Not quite, but it still looks great. Story segments are told through pantomimed and static cut scenes. These are some of the game's stronger visual elements. A few audio clips chime in, though these are mostly left as celebratory cries from Buzz and Woody. The cries very well may be sampled from Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and at times, it sounds like the two actors are providing what little voicework appears in the game. At the same time, the voices are down-sampled to the point they sound squeaky (or, at least Buzz sound's squeaky). Despite the lack of vocals, Toy Story 3 still manages to convey a basic version of the film's plot. Players who haven't seen the film may feel a little lost, though I really can't see someone playing the game without seeing the movie. They set up level objectives, but not much else. Thankfully, the film sets up a number of great locations for levels, such as the day care playroom. These translate into a number of really fun play areas. There's a good sense of scale throughout and areas really fit the mood of the same areas in the movie.
Gameplay: Much of Toy Story 3: The Videogame is based around collecting Pixar Balls and unlocking items for DGamer, Disney Interactive's online social networking platform. Although the game features a lengthy single-player Story Mode, most of your time is spent collecting balls and seeing what new items and titles you can unlock for your DGamer avatar. The focus on collecting items is a good one. I'm a bit of a completionist, so it drove my "Unlock Everything" mentality nuts. It also provides a great incentive for younger players. Even if they are having a tough time with a particular level, there's always some reward to unlock. Thankfully, these incentives aren't overdone. Rewards come often, but are handed out at just the right pace to still seem meaningful. "Real world" locales are split up by Play Time sections, which depict how the toys see the world when they are played. For example, the game starts with the film's train heist introduction. Playtime segments are some of the game's more creative areas. Rather than stick to the game's core platforming elements, they induce different genres like a basic first-person shooter, a basic tower defense game or a really neat railed-platforming section based around touchscreen motions. The only major problem stemming from the two play styles is lack of transition. Most of the real world gameplay sticks to the traditional D-pad/ face button setup, while Play Time almost always requires use of the stylus. There's a very short transition between the two modes, though it never felt like I had enough time to read what I was supposed to do, grab the stylus and reposition my hands in preparation for whatever Play Time was about to throw at me.
Difficulty: Toy Story 3: The Videogame is great about handing out rewards, but isn't a pushover - at least for seasoned players. I was able to knock through the entire game on round trip flights between Houston and Orlando with little problem. Deaths were uncommon in early levels, but became more common at the halfway point. Some were a result of poor camera angles, others simply poor judgment. The only really tricky part was the final level. Without spoiling the plot, expect lots of timer-based traps. Playtime areas aren't easy, but are still challenging. Most rely on simple timing and getting the touch-based motions just right. Buzz's shooter areas are a bit tricky, only because you're using the stylus to shoot and D-pad to navigate. The setup isn't bad, but the camera angles are sometimes off. Even though Buzz is diving down, the angle makes it look like he's going up.
Game Mechanics: Toy Story 3: The Videogame is a 2D platformer in 3D clothes. While running through hallways or on floors, you have freedom to travel wherever you want like a normal 3D platformer. However, nearly all of the really hardcore platforming areas are limited to 2D movement. The camera isn't horrible when in 3D, but the 2D limits eliminate most jumping problems found in 3D platformers. You can still misjudge a jump, but it's rarely due to a bad camera angle. One of the very few times I had issues with jumps involved Buzz's glide ability. As Buzz and Woody progress through the game, they earn new abilities, offering new ways to navigate levels. All abilities are accompanied by an on-screen icon, so there's never a question about where and when you're supposed to perform an action. However, even with on-screen help, it's sometimes hard to judge how long Buzz's glide will last. After a few falls, you'll eventually develop a feel for how it works, but even then it feels "off." What's neat about Play Time sections is how well they are integrated into the overall game. For example, when Buzz launches off a car ramp to reach an air vent, his flight becomes a space shooter. It's a clever idea and works incredibly well. These sections are also available outside Story Mode. Better yet, any balls collected in replays will go towards you overall total. Toy Story 3 is an outright fun game. It knows its audience and does everything it can to deliver the sort of experience they'd expect out of a game. There's always something new to uncover, which should keep players hooked long after they complete Story Mode.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Game Vortex's Review of Transformers: War for Cybertron - Autobots on DS Game Vortex's Review of Transformers: War for Cybertron - Decepticons on DS
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