Toy Story
Reviewed by Ty Brewer
Published by Disney Interactive

Age Group: Age 4 to 8 Type: Arcade Price: $40

PC version requires:
486-66 8 MB RAM, 10M 2x CD-ROM, Windows 95,3.x , Window, 320x200, 640x480x256, joystick

Mac version requires:
Version not available.

Description:

Disney is doing a great job of marketing their assets by integrating popular Disney movie characters in computer games. In this case, Disney has created a game around the Toy Story characters set in the Toy Story world. Woody is the main character, but you'll meet all the cast, including Buzz Lightyear, Hamm the pig, Mr. Potato Head (tm), and others. Disney created several games around the Toy Story theme, including some playable over the internet. As part of the Power Play series of games, this game focuses on arcade action jumping in the traditional side-scrolling platform type game.

The game enjoys a look straight from the movie - level begins with a sequence straight from the move (no, there is no motion video, just stills with text dialog). After setting the stage, Etch-A-Sketch comes out to tell you your mission objectives for this level.

You should pay close attention to your objectives, as they are complicated, and necessary to complete the level. For example, on level two, you must get 5 toys and yourself to th proper destination. The first time I played this level, I started moving toys to - wait, was that RC in the toy box or under the bed, did Hamm go in the bed or under the bed, or was it the toy box? It was confusing and I was unable to complete the level on my first couple of tries. Next time, I read the directions carefully and made it with 3 seconds to spare.

He's Out of Control!

Did you ever play Super Mario 3 for days at a time, then go back and play Super Mario 1? If you did then you know just how unresponsive Super Mario 1 really was, at least compared to Super Mario 3. In this game, you control Woody, a tall, clumsy, lanky cowboy. Well, picture this tall and uncoordinated cowboy with boots trying to jump around the house and you get an adequate picture of what it's like to control this character. His steps are so long it's difficult to judge whether he's going to step off the edge of a platform or not. He's so tall and occupies so much screen space, you will always feel vulnerable to the next flying airplane. Basic movement with Woody is difficult, at best. The controls seem unresponsive. Worse, his jump is deceptive. You may jump high enough for his boots to clear a platform, but he won't land on it - the jumping barriers defy any reasonable assumptions. Woody also comes with a pull-string you can use to lasso objects. Using this with any success is difficult and also a bit random - the lasso may not even be visibly near a hook, but it catches.

Not a Blockbuster

This game is not totally without merit. The puzzles add some minor entertainment to the tired "scrolling jumping platform" genre. Still, the gameplay is nothing special. Younger children attracted to the Toy Story movie will be turned off by the difficult controls; older children will lose interest when they discover this game offers nothing new. Without the Toy Story theme and characters, the game would never have reached store shelves.

Don't Read the Box

In what is becoming a modus-operandi, Disney has labelled this game as a "486-66" game. No, this is not even close. I know that it was never tested on a 486-66 because if they did, they would have told the marketing people to tell the advertising people to label the box differently. If you have a 486 of ANY speed, avoid this product. I know of at least one parent who gave this title to his children on Christmans and was unable to play the game. He was able to return the game to the retailer (thankfully), but many retailers would not have been so friendly. Disney, if you are listening, don't mislabel your products. Sure, you can get the game to run in a very small window on the desktop, but then it's too small to play. Even in the small window, the speed is unbearable on a 486-66.

Mutant Toys

The game is average - not something you would expect from Disney. In short, if you enjoy side scrolling platform games that retread the same themes and goals as Mario World or Sonic the Hedgehog (ut without the excellent control or game performance), this game is for you.

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