Toy Story 3 The Game Review

Stick your favourite movie franchise into a video game and you end up with a title you play once then leave on the shelf due to how terrible it is. But pick up Toy Story 3 and you may have found a title that breaks free of the movie tie in curse.

Based on the hugely successful movie that is due for release in the UK next week, Toy Story 3 captures everything we have loved about the film series so far. However this game includes something that just sets it apart from any other movie game I have played.

Story

When Andy goes away to college the toys future is unclear. However when they end up at daycare the gang feel like finally they might be played with. They make friends with the new toys, but something just isn’t right with the cuddly Lotso and his gang. After being mauled by small children the gang decide to escape. Meanwhile Woody is with Dollie, a sweet little girl who just wants to play. But after meeting some new acquaintances he discovers Lotso runs the hellhole known as Sunnyside Daycare with an iron fist and the toys will be lucky to survive long under his rule. Its then up to Woody to spring all the loveable gang out of Sunnyside and get them back to Andy. The story really does justice to the original series. It captures everything we love about the previous films and can’t really be knocked. One of the features that really sells this game.

Gameplay

Platforming glory without the glitchy camera angles and confusing controls. It really does what others like Transformers couldn’t do by just keeping it simple. The thing is with this game simplicity works! The idea of switching between Buzz, Woody and Jessie is good, it works well. Every part of the gameplay is set up to give you a reality check. Quoting the film here ‘YOU ARE A TOY’ and you know that you are. Your reminded of it every second that you play which again makes the game work. The biggest part of this game is imagination, which is key to the whole franchise in a way. The levels where children are playing with their toys really capture the imagination of the children. But now comes the biggest part, the part that sells this game and could have been turned into a game without the main storyline is Toy Box Mode. Imagine a cross between LittleBigPlanet, Sim City and The Sims. Add in a combination of loveable characters, your entire childhood and controls that are so simple they bring you back to your childhood and you have Toy Box Mode. Everything is customisable to the point where its so inventive you can’t do it all. You complete missions, create your town, by new toys and features such as cars and racetracks. Then there’s the life contained inside your town. There’s bandits, robots, pixies and ghosts that will lay siege to your town, causing mischief by turning your residents into caterpillars, shooting your residents, robbing banks or holding up the stagecoach. Its just out of this world. For this reason I would recommend buying the game.

Graphics

Another outstanding attempt by Disney at next gen graphics. Its almost as if your watching the movie half the time. They really did this well. Every texture can be seen whether it be carpet or the cow pattern on Woody’s waistcoat. The characters really look like they just stepped out of the movie. The canyon graphics are fantastic in Toy Box Mode as is every single character. When you dress one townsperson up and Wall-E and the other as Merlin The Wizzard the detail put into it is amazing. Overall next gen graphics hit the Toy Story world in incredibly style, okay so its not Alan Wake but it doesn’t need to be! Its toys looking like toys and you can’t say any fairer than that from Toy Story 3.

Soundtrack/ Multiplayer

‘You got a friend in me, you got a friend in me, you got your troubles, I got them too, but together there’s nothing we can’t do’ sorry I’m sidetracking. Traditional Toy Story songs, fantastic background music, but no online? This is my only problem with the game. I would have loved to be able to pair up with some friends online and build up my dream town. However if you’ve got a friend and a spare controller you can Toy Box it up together without the use of offline. In story mode its the same situation. A player can drop in and out as they wish and it’s really enjoyable. I just really wish there was an online feature.

Overall

The curse is broken! Finally a movie game that boasts brilliance. I loved playing every minute of this game because its just so limitless with Toy Box Mode. I would recommend this game for children, teenagers and adults alike. The most creative game this year and a total must buy.

Good

• Graphics
• Toy Box Mode
• Story
• Soundtrack
• EVERYTHING

Bad

• No online feature