Toy Story 3 (Game) (PS3)

For the longest time, big-name feature films would often receive a tie-in video game released on major platforms alongside their theatrical run, either adapting the film based on older scripts or telling an original story related to it; while this model hasn't entirely disappeared, the proliferation of mobile gaming has changed this approach for the most part. The Toy Story franchise is no stranger to such tie-in media, with Toy Story 3 being the last of its kind under the original model. However, the Toy Story 3 game takes a different approach that still remains unique to it, featuring both the expected Story Mode and a highly-lauded Toy Box Mode that served as a precursor to the short-lived toys-to-life game Disney Infinity. While I have had experience with the PS3 version of this game, which is old enough to still have an expired free ticket offer inside, it wasn't a hands-on one, until I decided to look at the game myself while revisiting the series in anticipation of Toy Story 5. Surprisingly, the game actually holds up pretty well on its own, with the Toy Box Mode in particular still living up to the hype even 16 years later.

The game features two possible experiences, one of which is a Story Mode typical of licensed games of the time. This game’s Story Mode is presented as Andy’s toys recapping the events of the film to Bonnie’s toys using a game board to mark progress. The game’s retelling of the film is not exactly 1:1, with some events told through dialogue as a bridge between levels and large chunks of the plot otherwise outright omitted. It is, however, still an entertaining presentation that works well within the development constraints of such a title.

The Story Mode is presented as an objective-based 3D platformer, with numerous hidden collectibles throughout each level that add a bit of replay value. Each level features a combination of Buzz, Woody and/or Jesse as playable characters, each of whom has a special skill and can be swapped between at any moment. While it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, this Mode is surprisingly enjoyable for what it is and the penultimate level, Trash Thrash, is actually pretty tense due to the threat of failure occurring in real time. There is also a drop-in/drop-out co-op mechanic that can make one of the more difficult objectives a lot easier, but dropping in requires restarting the level along with resetting progress. Some of the collectibles are harder to get to than others, with some based on progression in the level, though thankfully you can quit the level after collecting one and it will still count towards your collection.

Notably, one level in this Mode is based on the Buzz Lightyear video game prominently featured in Toy Story 2, allowing fans who first saw it in 1999 to feel like they finally played it even if it’s not a 1:1 recreation of the one in the film.

The Buzz Lightyear game (or a version of it) is finally playable!

 

The real meat of the game, however, is in the Toy Box Mode. The basic gameplay is similar to the Story Mode, but instead takes place within a more open environment in which you can use various items to complete objectives as well as purchase toys to expand your town and unlock new areas. Each area also has a number of Prize Capsules hidden within them, encouraging exploration and rewarding the player with new cosmetics for the townspeople. This gameplay loop is surprisingly addicting, even for an adult player; I even found myself playing for nearly two hours at a time, and I might have played even longer if my muscles didn’t start hurting after a while.

Exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version is the ability to play as Zurg, as seen in Toy Story 2. Unlocking him requires simply going through normal gameplay, buying enough items and completing enough objectives to see him pop up in the Toy Store. Once you buy Zurg, you have to go to a machine that appears in the Ranch area to transform into him. Zurg has a more limited moveset compared to the other playable characters, but carries infinite ammo to compensate. While playing as him, he also has special vehicle cosmetics and a pair of exclusive missions that can be endlessly replayed. Overall, Zurg is a fun addition to the Toy Box Mode that, while sadly still locked behind the PS3 version, makes it worth seeking out said version to experience.

You can play as Zurg!

While obviously not to the same standard as the feature film it is based on, the in-game graphics hold up quite well and manage to get as close an approximation to the film as next-gen consoles at the time would allow. There is a great attention to detail in making the game feel like the world of Toy Story, down to appropriately scaling environments to the perspective of toys as much as possible without compromising gameplay. There is, however, a bit of texture loading, most noticeably with the main game board screen taking a few moments to fully render in. Additionally, while the Toy Box Mode does a good job at trying to conceal loading as much as possible with a cleverly-designed tunnel system, there are still brief loading screens between locations even within those tunnels, with at least one at all times and up to two or even three at a time if you’ve been playing and customizing long enough.

In immersing the player in the Toy Story world, the game uses actual music from the first three films, as well as a handful of returning voice actors from them mixed with convincing sound-alikes. Most noticeably, one might expect Stinky Pete in the Toy Box Mode to sound like Kelsey Grammer, but then the voice direction makes more sense when you realize he is based on his counterpart from the in-universe Woody’s Roundup series. You will, however, end up hearing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman a lot within some screens, including the main menu. Also worth mentioning is that the game does have subtitles, but they are absent in Story Mode cutscenes with no way to toggle them on.

In the time between writing and posting this review, Atari announced a re-release of this game for modern platforms on October 15th, as Toy Story 3 Complete Edition, which even includes the PS3-exclusive Zurg content. While I intent to still keep my PS3 copy of the game, this reissue has long been sorely needed, especially for those who never got to experience the Zurg content, and is something I am looking forward to.

Physical editions also include Toy Story Retro Roundup!,
which features four other Toy Story games and the A
Bugs Life game. (Whether Toy Story 3 or Retro Roundup!
is the added bonus depends on your perspective.)

Movie tie-in games have a reputation for often being inferior to the source material, but Toy Story 3 is a solid example of a game that bucks this trend, thanks largely to its robust and mildly addicting Toy Box Mode. Even fans not interested in the Story Mode will find it worth their while for this reason, especially the PS3 version or the upcoming Complete Edition for the ability to play as Zurg.