Toy Story 3 Complete Edition is a solid remaster and by far the best way to play this creative, strangely innovative 3D platformer and forerunner to Disney Infinity.
Just like the games in Toy Story: Retro Roundup! Toy Story 3 is loosely based on the film of the same name. However, unlike Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, the best part of the game is the mode that has almost nothing to do with the source material.
Let me explain. Toy Story 3 Complete Edition is really two games smooshed together. Initially, Avalanche Software pitched Disney two versions of the game: a straight 3D platformer that retells the movie’s events, and a free-roaming game where you build your own town using toys from the movie. In an odd move, Disney greenlit both.
Adventure mode takes you through eight stages loosely based on the movie, hitting the film’s major beats while expanding on scenes in interesting ways and delving into what is happening when the movie focuses on other characters. As you play through the Buzz Lightyear game that Rex is desperately trying to complete, run from the dreaded Espresso Witch as Woody, and have you play through the ending of the movie when Andy and Bonnie are playing, but from the toys’ perspective.
For the most part, it’s a good time. There are some great little moments, like the Dump level where you switch between Buzz, Woody, and Jesse, using their different abilities to save Andy’s other toys from being incinerated, and sneaking around the day care centre while freeing Potatohead and Slinky from captivity while avoiding detection from a rest Buzz, whose movements you can detect by switching to him like you would in the other levels where he’s still playable. However, it’s all over way too fast. You can easily rock your way through it in a few hours.
Also, since this is supposed to be the Complete Edition, it would have been great if it had included the additional levels from the PSP version. Though I know that may have been beyond the scope of this fairly straight port of the 360/ PS3 version of the game.
What would usually be the main crux of a movie game feels like an afterthought compared to Toy Box mode, which transports players to Woody’s Roundup!, the world of the fictional series Woody starred in in Toy Story 2.
Toy Box is where the game really comes into its own. You play as Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Zurg (previously PS3 exclusive) to help Mayor Ham slowly rebuild a small western town by adding new shops and amenities while helping the returning townsfolk. The twist is that as the game progresses, it becomes increasingly more out there with every new building, as the general store is soon accompanied by a haunted house full of ghosts, Woody ditches Bullseye for a slick convertible, a legally distinct Hot Wheels track is installed, and at one point aliens invade, because this isn’t Red Dead Redemption; it’s Toy Story. It’s a game about a kid playing with his toys, with each new Toy opening up new mini-games and sections of the map.
It’s surprisingly addictive and scratches a similar itch to something like Animal Crossing, though the missions and minigames add a little more variety. There’s less wood chopping and pastoralism, and more saving the Mayor from bandits.
If you’re interested in game development or how ideas from one game often evolve in later projects, Toy Story 3 is a great little case study. Since Toy Box mode very much feels like the blueprint for Disney Infinity, the Toys to Life series that followed Toy Story 3, it’s not a great leap from unlocking new levels and areas when you buy new toys in-game to scanning real-life figures and unlocking new stuff in the same way in Infinity. Al’s Toy Barn to Toys R Us, if you will.
The presentation was always a strong point in Toy Story 3, and even in 2010, it looked great. It’s clear copious care and love went into ensuring the look and feel, and in particular, its characters, felt authentic. So it was no surprise when I found out Avalanche worked closely with Pixar to develop the game.
The Complete Edition is no different and looks absolutely ace on modern hardware, running at 4K60 on PS5, with upgraded textures and that higher resolution doing most of the heavy lifting. Still, it looks crisp, loads quickly, and runs well; exactly what you want from a modern port.
The voice acting is also decent; Jim Hanks puts in another fine turn as Woody, with most of the movie’s cast reprising their roles in the game. Hamm’s voice actor, John Ratzenberger, deserves extra praise, since he holds the game together as narrator, main quest giver, and occasional antagonist in both modes.
VERDICT
Toy Story 3 is generally regarded as one of the best Disney games. Adventure mode is a fun companion piece to the movie. However, Toy Box mode is where the game really shines: a cosy, charming, and occasionally hilarious townbuilder with plenty to see, do, and unlock.
Although Toy Story 3 Complete Edition isn’t really complete (it’s a port of one of three versions of the game, though it does include all the DLC for the PS3/360 version), it’s still a great time for fans of 3D platformers, Toy Story fans, and folks like myself who sit in the middle of that rather wide Venn diagram.
It’s also a cracking deal for gamers that prefer physical media since it comes bundled with the equally compelling Toy Story Retro Roundup! If you get it on disc. It may not be perfect by any metric, but it’s still easy to recommend.