video game reviews

July 12, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

video game review

‘TOY STORY 3’

Grade: B

System: for Sony PlayStation 3, also for Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation Portable

Publisher: Disney Interactive

Age rating: 10 and older

“Toy Story 3” ($49.99) does a smart thing: It rolls two games into one.

First, it has the expected adventure roughly following the events of the new Pixar movie, with Sheriff Woody, Jessie the cowgirl and Buzz Lightyear the space ranger heading out on a number of levels, starting with their owner’s home and moving on to Sunnyside Daycare and points beyond.

The three characters control similarly but have unique features — Woody uses his lasso to snag objects, Jessie is small enough to balance on narrow platforms, and Buzz is strong enough to throw his friends long distances (and gets to use his laser and jetpack on one level).

The film-derived levels are pretty solid, and the visuals throughout capture the look and feel of the “Toy Story” films, from the characters themselves to the way they’re animated.

But the game’s real value lies in its Toy Box mode. Here, players can take control of any member of the trio and act as sheriff for the toys’ Wild West town.

The Toy Box captures the essential appeal of open-world games such as the recent “Red Dead Redemption” — not the violence or adult subject matter, but the anything-goes freedom that characterizes the genre at its best.

It’s full of things to do — townsfolk and toys need errands run and problems solved, and the money earned from fulfilling their requests can be used to purchase new buildings for the town, a horse and other vehicles, even new townspeople. The PS3 game includes the option to purchase and play as Buzz’s nemesis Emperor Zurg, a feature not present in the other versions.

But players don’t have to stick to running errands. Activities such as races and other challenges abound, and a second player can always join in — either to work with the first or head off and do their own thing.

Players are free to paint each building in town however they like, and to dress the inhabitants as they please.

—Justin Hoeger, McClatchy-Tribune