When a popular movie is released, a video game is sure to follow. A movie-licensed video game is pretty much a dirty swearword in the world of video games. Recently, there have been a few games that have beaten the low expectations set by other games precedence in the same category. However, it feels like it has been ages since there was a movie game that transcended the low expectations and became a game worthy to stand on its own two feet. Toy Story 3 does just that.
To be fair, Toy Story 3 is essentially two games packaged as one. There is the open sandbox world called “Toy Box” and the more traditional platformer complete with all those trimmings of timed jumps and linear progression. While Toy Box mode is likely to get more attention, the standard platforming is a compelling experience on its own. The levels might seem like a standard collection of platform levels, but execution is wonderful. The first Buzz Lightyear mission was packed full of interesting elements, like scaling a corkscrew maze and jumping on floating chunks of asteroid. Aside from the controls that don’t always feel exact, there really aren’t any complaints over how the game plays.
The Toy Box mode is the real star of the show. It is essentially an introduction to the world of sandbox games for younger gamers who have faced a parental barrier of “M” rated titles like Grand Theft Auto. What Avalanche Studios did here is nothing short of remarkable because it offers nearly the same freedom as other, more mature open-world games and makes it appropriate for all ages. The Toy Box starts off a small plot of land and continually expands thanks to missions inspired by massively multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft. The Toy Box starts out small and continues to expand at a manageable pace until the entire world is filled with life. Buildings and people are customizable and easy to perform so the world can take on a personalized look and feel.
The Rundown
Admittedly, this game isn’t going to light a fire underneath an older gamer. This is a game aimed for kids and families. What Toy Story 3 does so well is bring quality to a movie licensed game that anyone can appreciate. Kids usually have a high tolerance for games, but with Toy Story 3 there won’t be anyone rolling their eyes because this is a finely made game. This is one of the few times a direct movie tie-in game has not only surpassed the low expectations, but set a new high-water mark.
