Recent Comments

Toy Story 3: The Video Game review

This month, you can welcome Toy Story 3, the first great sandbox game for younger gamers. The sandbox genre of games lets you choose and even create your own kind of adventure. It sets you free to do exactly what you want to do — your way.

TOY STORY 3: THE VIDEO GAME
Disney Interactive for PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, DS, PSP
Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older


Graphics: 8.7
Gameplay: 8.5
Sound: 9.0
Replay Value: 9.0
Overall Score: 8.7
Official Web Site
Pros:Toy Box mode is great; really imaginative; many hours of play.
Cons: Some camera-angle issues; super-thin instruction booklet; no online play.

STORY MODE

There are two ways to play Toy Story 3. First, you can play in story mode. That game follows the tale of Pixar’s new movie (which is probably the best movie of the summer). That portion, which follows the movie’s plot, is pretty brilliant itself.

In the movie, Andy is heading off to his first year in college. But he only wants to take Woody with him. When Andy’s mom accidentally places Woody in a box to be donated to a daycare center, the action-filled story begins.

That’s how it is in your game, too.

TOY BOX MODE

Then there’s the sandbox aspect called Toy Box mode. When you relive that exciting first scene from the movie, you’re transported to the Wild West to jump on a horse and leap onto a moving locomotive. You pass amazing rock formations under a big blue sky in a sprawling desert.

As Woody, you have to save the orphans from the clutches of Hamm The Piggy Bank, who has changed into his alter ego of the evil Dr. Porkchop. He shoots at you from a flying saucer.

Think of this level as a wild roller-coaster ride. For 10 minutes or so, you ride through canyons and caves, twist through crazy train tracks and then run on the tops of train cars. Save those orphans, bucko. They’re just blocky toy figures, but you feel they need you. The whole thing is exhilarating—and can be a little dark and scary in spots.

Actually, all this action occurs during your first tutorial level in which you learn how to use the controller. Bouncing balls are your ammunition against the aliens and Hamm. You probably won’t need it, but crash open a little box with a question mark on it and a see-through image of Woody moving forward appears, showing you what to do next.

MISSIONS AND MUCH MORE

After you finish the opening level, you’re dropped into a Western town where you get dozens of missions from various characters like Stinky Pete, who shows you how to mine for gold with an axe.

Finish another mission and you might get Bullseye the horse to ride on. Once you jump on, race for a bronze, silver or gold medal. I spent a half hour on this alone, trying to beat my time while following a burning red ring through dimly lit mines and up through vast mountains.

All the things that you win from missions go into your Toy Box. And that’s where Toy Story 3 gets really interesting. You win and purchase all sorts of gifts like hats and colors to paint the buildings of the town. With the money that you earn from completing missions, you can buy things such as a barbershop. In the barbershop, you can give townspeople the strangest, funniest haircuts.

But there’s so much more.

You travel through those mines and encounter creepy but funny ghosts. You find a car to race around in. You customize your town and its hilarious residents. And you get to really get to know some of the crazy characters who appear in only a minor way in the movie.

A FEW GLITCHES

There are a couple of glitches, however. If you fall during the race on Bullseye, you might get caught in a canyon. You can get out, but the camera angles down in the gully aren’t very helpful. What the camera really should do is pull back so you know where to go. It’s in these instances that you really need that box with a question mark that tells Woody which path to take. But it’s not there.

Also, since this is one of the first sandbox games for kids, you’d think the manual would be thicker and packed with info (like Super Mario Galaxy 2’s booklet). Instead, you get some measly pages that really aren’t detailed enough. Sure, the in-game tutorials are good. But why skimp on the print? It makes no sense.

Despite these things, Toy Story 3 is a landmark game. It’ll provide you with fun “to Infinity and beyond!”

85 Comments on Toy Story 3: The Video Game review

  1. How do you shoot the laser on the buzz video game level?

  2. Luzz bite year // November 5, 2010 at 7:24 pm // Reply

    I looove this game bit I can’t get past the secon camera

  3. toy story is awesome, i beat every ting but toybox mode in one hour

  4. five foot five guy // October 1, 2010 at 7:18 pm // Reply

    it`s kanna funny the way woody runs don`t you think so guys

  5. sounds cool but i dont have 50 bucks

  6. star wars kid // September 27, 2010 at 5:41 pm // Reply

    i’d give it 4 stars

  7. I have the game and its so cool.

  8. I love toy story

    • i just want toysstory3 becaurs i never have it. the movie is cool in 3d. but if i have the game on wiiit would make my life easy. i like woody&the hours they so funny?

  9. i cant beat the junckyard

  10. how do you get the goo in toy box mode?

  11. BoyScoutMax // August 7, 2010 at 8:55 pm // Reply

    I beat it too!

  12. BoyScoutMax // August 7, 2010 at 8:55 pm // Reply

    I have this game! I LOVE IT!!! •_•

  13. i cant get past it wont let me heat up the crysal

  14. i cant get past buzz vidoe game in story. it wont let me heat up the crystle

  15. is the game for psp a good buy or a waste of money?

  16. toybox mode rocks // July 28, 2010 at 2:25 pm // Reply

    i have it but i am on the last level and i need help!!!!!! it is when the muffins try to eat you!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. potato head jr // July 26, 2010 at 10:22 am // Reply

    if they make a fourth it prouboubly wont be to good

  18. I have seen all three movies, and I have the game and it is amazing. I don’t care if others don’t like it, if your a toy story fan it’s definitly a buy! IBut I can’t figure out how to beat the buzz video game level when the huge meteor is in front of you and you jump away. 10/10 overall!!!!!

  19. There is online play for Xbox so don’t listen to cons.

  20. I have it and it doesn’t matter how “cool” you are. This is not a little kid game. It his extremely fun and addicting. Here’s what i think. Graphics:10/10 Multiplayer:8/10 (you can only do up to 2 players) Gameplay:10/10 Sound Effects: 10/10 Total: 9.5/10 (only because of 1-2 players.
    You have to understand for graphics it is toys and stuff so it isn’t real life.

  21. and what does that mean

  22. Movie=asome!!!

    • always awsome // August 5, 2010 at 9:02 am // Reply

      not so perfect they didnt even show sid as an older i mean way older than he was in the first movie

  23. it looks so fun

  24. Good game, but the Wii’s Toybox Mode doesn’t have as much customization.

  25. The movie is pretty good

  26. brighteyes // July 6, 2010 at 1:38 am // Reply

    I love this game! but i’m stuck in the garbage level and i’m about ready to throw the controller through the wall.

  27. the movie is asome

  28. woody and buzz // July 3, 2010 at 1:55 pm // Reply

    that game roks

  29. toy story 3 // July 2, 2010 at 4:56 pm // Reply

    the movie is really good but the game sounds really great so i really want it

  30. Toy Story 3= BEST MOVIE AND GAME EVER!

  31. it the number one game

  32. shrempster // June 28, 2010 at 8:46 pm // Reply

    i saw you can shoot people with lasers so that explains the e10 rating

  33. which is better toy box mode or story?

  34. meeeeeeeeeee // June 26, 2010 at 12:05 pm // Reply

    i like drop kicking the townspeople 🙂

  35. meeeeeeeeeee // June 26, 2010 at 12:03 pm // Reply

    its really hard to get up into spaceport. but once you get the idea it easy

  36. smartscout // June 25, 2010 at 9:08 pm // Reply

    it’s rated e10 & e

  37. ride like the wind bullseye // June 25, 2010 at 5:13 pm // Reply

    I wan’t to see the movie and I wan’t the game

  38. when i went to best buy to get a ps3 i got to play it and it is awesome

  39. I dont have it but all my friends tell me its good and they have good tast I hate toy story 1/2 but the third sounds asome dude is the E-10 a bad call or should it be E i think E.

  40. i want that game

  41. buzz lightyear // June 24, 2010 at 1:04 pm // Reply

    how do you defeat evil dr. porkchop in toy box mode for xbox360

  42. is it hard

  43. lotso huggin bear // June 24, 2010 at 11:26 am // Reply

    i want it i want it bad it looks so asome

  44. falcon 5.0 // June 24, 2010 at 9:45 am // Reply

    I have it it stinks.

  45. five foot three guy // June 24, 2010 at 8:37 am // Reply

    to be honest but i`m surprised toy story is rated ages 10 and older,instead of rated e

  46. it is a very fun game i have it

  47. i liked lego indiana jones and star wars and i want toy story 3

  48. I just saw TOY Story 3 and it was awesome

  49. i want it i want it

  50. wow I think the toy story series just broke a 2 film curses 1. That sequels or trilogies are not any good than the original 2.that games based off of movies are awful.

Leave a Reply to meeeeeeeeeee Cancel reply

Please don't use your real name.