Toy Story 3: The Video Game

[WALL-E Dragon]

Here's a place to talk about the game, available for PC, PS3, X-Box 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PSP (wow, they covered everyone).  As you know movie games are almost always a cheap cash-in.  The WALL-E game suffered from this too, it was okay/sort of fun if you are a ultra-fan of the movie like I am, but for most gamers it was the pits.

I won't say Toy Story 3 is the best movie game ever (though many reviewers have called it that), because there have been some great 2D ones back in the SNES and Genesis days, plus I've only played like an hour of it.  But as far as 3D movie game tie-ins, from what I've experienced of the game so far, it is at least clear that Pixar fought tooth and nail to make sure they were involved with this at every level so that they put out a quality product.  It has the original voice cast, the actual recordings of the songs (not like the terrible version of POYSC that was in the WALL-E game), sounds and locations from the movie, etc.  It also does a decent job of showing scale in the story sections, with things like window ledges and shelves becoming platforms in Andy's room, etc.)

Toy Box mode is the feature that's being hyped up the most, and I'm sure many will love it.  It's basically a big sandbox style game (think GTA in that you can go anywhere and do lots of different things, without all the crime and vulgar stuff), with adventure game aspects and platformer type exploration.  I'm okay with it so far, not sure if it'll be the revolutionary mother of all movie games mode that they want us to think, but it's okay.  The game's mostly for kids though, without much of the charm and emotion that makes Pixar movies for all ages.  But that's okay, it's meant to be a game that's literally about playing with toys.  I couldn't recommend it to everyone, but I will say it's not a bad game, which for a 3D movie game means it's basically a first.

[WALL-E Dragon]

Actually I stand corrected about the voices, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen don't voice their characters, but there's absolutely zero noticeable difference in the sound-a-likes they got to play them.  The others like Jeff Garlin, Joan Cusak, etc. do seem to appear though.

While I'm posting, here's a review worth reading:

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3179815

The two most important inspirations seem to be:

Toy Box Mode Takes Open-World Cues From: Red Dead Redemption

Story Mode's Platforming is a Lot Like: Super Mario Galaxy

Story Mode especially has major Super Mario Galaxy like sections, complete with transitions to 2D in the Buzz Lightyear Video Game section and plenty of "hopping from asteroid to asteroid" type portions in some of the play time.

[RoboFan202]

Movies based on video games are notorious for sucking, but it seems like Lee Unkrich has faith that this will be a good game, so maybe...

Wait, Woody and Buzz aren't voiced by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in this game?  LAME!  Although they ARE busy men.

[Kingdomheartsora]

Toy Box mode is the feature that's being hyped up the most, and I'm sure many will love it.  It's basically a big sandbox style game (think GTA in that you can go anywhere and do lots of different things, without all the crime and vulgar stuff), with adventure game aspects and platformer type exploration. 

Wow! Replay value is it for all platforms(DS, PSP being the one's I'm interested in.) or is it limited to just the home versions?

[WALL-E Dragon]

Toy Box mode is the feature that's being hyped up the most, and I'm sure many will love it.  It's basically a big sandbox style game (think GTA in that you can go anywhere and do lots of different things, without all the crime and vulgar stuff), with adventure game aspects and platformer type exploration.  

Wow! Replay value is it for all platforms(DS, PSP being the one's I'm interested in.) or is it limited to just the home versions?

It's for everything, though I imagine the DS and PSP versions *might* be stripped down, I'm not sure.

Aha, wait, I've discovered the truth.  The DS version at least is a completely different game:

http://www.examiner.com/x-28759-Atlanta-Video-Game-News-Examiner~y2010m6d18-Review-Toy-Story-3-The-Video-Game-Nintendo-DS--Handheld-Infinity

There's no "trying to make it back to Andy's room" or anything like that in the Wii version, there are several set pieces from the story of the film, and, well, that's not even in the film.  So I would highly recommend* one of the console versions if possible.  The portables seem to be platforming, mini-games, and tower defense.  The console games are 3D platforming (Super Mario Galaxy style in many cases) and Toy Box mode (the open ended town section).

*And by highly recommend I mean over the handheld versions.  I haven't decided on my recommendation for the console version I am playing, though right now it is going well.

[Kiwi]

I just got this; I'm so excited to play it! Can someone please explain the Toy Box mode further, though? I mean, are you enabled to create your own storylines, etc.? How far of an extent of "free play" does it go?
Thanks

[Neil]

I might rent this out on the PS3, rather than buying it, just to see if it's worth it. But from how it looks so far, it should be fun

[WALL-E Dragon]

I just got this; I'm so excited to play it! Can someone please explain the Toy Box mode further, though? I mean, are you enabled to create your own storylines, etc.? How far of an extent of "free play" does it go?
Thanks

You can run around and do your own thing, but the only way to really have any "activities" other than running around, exploring, and using some of the stuff you buy (like the goo that shrinks and enlarges characters) is to do the little quests that pop up.  You also earn gold to unlock new things like a race track, if you just run around mining it or earn it from doing quests.  You can also dress up the NPC's and repaint the buildings to your liking.  It's more like Andy's already set the Wild West scene (because you're running around in Woody's town) and you can customize it and run around in it, moreso than you actually creating the scenario.  The most apt comparison is Grand Theft Auto, without the violence.  In those games you already have set areas, towns, and a storyline, but you can choose to ignore the story and just run around taking people's cars, beating people up, etc.  In Toy Box Mode it has a set town and story mode, but you can choose to ignore the story and just run around mining gold, collecting items, I think little army men with parachutes appear that you can take over and use, you can eventually go to the RC track, you can throw little Luxo style balls at townspeople for giggles, or you can dress them up in outfits you find and change the style of the buildings.

Personally I kind of prefer the regular mode where you play through the story, because I like a more linear platforming experience.  Plus that mode eventually gets you into some really clever levels like Bonnie's playtime (and trying to avoid drowning in coffee while you're chased by the evil witch Dolly).  Normal Mode is more inspired by Super Mario Galaxy type platforming, whereas Toy Box is inspired by Grand Theft Auto/Red Dead Redemption type games but made for children/families.