The release of the film Toy Story 3 was a big moment for many of us who had grown up with the series. With the film featuring a college-aged Andy on the verge of saying goodbye to his childhood, I was in a similar situation myself. As someone who had recently started college, seeing a new Toy Story movie after so long—and going with my parents, no less—was such a unique feeling. The series had been a part of all of our lives for so long, and being able to see a conclusion to the original story was something special. So, rather than going to our local theater as we always did, we drove roughly an hour away to one of the "fancier" ones and grabbed our tickets for the 3D showing. When all was said and done, I think the three of us walked away with mixed feelings, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't ready for it to end.
Related: Toy Story: Retro Roundup Review
Shortly before the film's release on June 18th, the Toy Story 3 video game hit shelves on June 15th. Originally, I had no interest in the game despite loving past entries, but after seeing the movie, I felt it was the perfect way to "continue" with the Toy Story franchise. Since I didn't have a car at the time, I asked my dad to drive me to the nearest store to pick it up. Once I got home, I popped the disc into my Xbox 360 and began my new summer obsession.
While I enjoyed the game for what it was, I'll admit it didn't land for me in the same way Toy Story 2 did. The main campaign was decent, and while I enjoyed the title's main selling point—the Toy Box Mode—I didn't have anyone to play it with. Despite sinking quite a bit of time into the game, I walked away feeling as if I had missed out on something special simply because I was playing alone. Because of this, Toy Story 3 was always a game I wanted to revisit if the opportunity ever presented itself, and surprisingly, it finally has!
Nearly 16 years after its initial release, Toy Story 3 is back on modern hardware as Toy Story 3 Complete Edition. Ahead of its release, publisher Atari and developer Digital Eclipse gave me the chance to play both it and Toy Story: Retro Roundup! It has been a wild ride, to say the least, but Toy Story 3 Complete Edition was the title I was most curious about. Since the original released, a lot has changed in my life, including getting married to a die-hard Disney and Pixar fan! So rather than going it alone once again, I finally got the chance to experience the game to its fullest and walked away with a fresh perspective. While it is still enjoyable solo, there is no denying that Toy Story 3 is a game designed for family and friends, inviting people of all ages to come together and play like a kid again. That is what makes Toy Story 3 so special, and it feels great to experience it once more on modern hardware.
The Main Story Mode:
While Toy Story 3 features a "main" story mode, it isn't the focus of the title—not even in the slightest. Consisting of only eight levels, it acts more as a glorified tutorial complete with a handful of challenges to overcome and collectibles to obtain.
Beginning at Andy's house, the main story introduces Woody, Buzz, and Jessie as playable characters and showcases their unique abilities. Woody can swing from designated points with his pull string, Buzz can toss others up high, and Jessie can land on pinpoint platforms. With the ability to swap between all three characters with the push of a button, the main stages ask you to use their skills to navigate the mostly linear levels and reach the main goal. Other actions include slamming into objects, pounding on the ground, and throwing Pixar Balls at objects or enemies to stun them. In the platforming department, each character can double jump and pull themselves up onto ledges, with climbing sections incorporated from time to time as well—something that was especially popular in games during the era it originally released. While nothing here is groundbreaking, the game controls remarkably well and serves as a solid platformer.
Moving past Andy's house, the game includes unique stages, such as a recreation of the Buzz Lightyear video game featured at the beginning of Toy Story 2. When the movie released, what was on display was technically impossible for video games, but the Toy Story 3 game was able to bring that concept to life. Of course, two console generations later, we are capable of much more, but as Complete Edition is a remaster rather than a full remake, everything has been left mostly as it was. That said, this stage is still a "dream come true" for many fans and includes stage-specific mechanics as well. Buzz has his jetpack, and, of course, he can fire his laser. We also can't forget the secret passage referenced in the guidebook Rex discovered—it is all here! Moments like these are purely aimed at fans, but even those unfamiliar with the source material can still have a great time.
As for the rest of the main story, the stages can be a bit hit-or-miss. Some are extremely short, while others feel as though they go on a bit too long thanks to the busywork needed to complete them. Thankfully, it doesn't take long to reach the final stage, but those looking for every collectible will need to dive back in and scour each level. Plenty of items are easily missed if you progress too quickly, so most players can count on replaying at least a level or two. When all is said and done, however, players are free to move on to the core experience, which is honestly the main reason to play Toy Story 3.
Toy Box Mode:
Toy Box Mode is a literal virtual toy box, letting you and one other player take on an open world where you are free to explore and play as you wish. With drop-in/drop-out co-op, players can once again choose between Woody, Buzz, or Jessie to work together to accomplish goals and build up a small Western town. Initial options are limited, but by mining for gold and helping townspeople in need, you can stop by the Al’s Toy Barn kiosk to purchase new buildings, customization packs, and more.
New buildings often offer additional customization options for townspeople, while the buildings themselves can be outfitted with different colors, trim, and cosmetic objects to help spice up the world. Using places like the hat shop lets you change hair or give hats to the townsfolk, while facilities like the jail have more practical "gameplay" uses. With bandits showing up to rob the bank from time to time, players need somewhere to store them, and the jail is used for exactly that—to lock them away. Of course, you can also blast them to smithereens with a laser gun, but you are actually rewarded for locking them up.
Past the initial town, other areas unlock over time that have larger impacts on the overall world. Unlocking Sid’s haunted mansion introduces gargoyles and ghosts to the environment, and completing the haunted mansion stage itself grants you the lightning rod to shock things. This is used to free townspeople who have been turned to stone, but it can also suck up ghosts to throw them and stop monsters made of rock. Moving past this, Zurg’s area provides the previously mentioned blaster and opens the town up to invasions by Zurg’s robot army. These areas also transform the environment itself, turning the entire world into a spooky version of itself or opening up a beautiful, starry night sky. Thankfully, it can be swapped back to the default daytime setting at any time by hitting a switch—a feature that extends across the entirety of Toy Box Mode. Almost everything is customizable, and changes can be reverted quite easily.
When it comes to missions, there is a wide variety to tackle alongside dozens of in-game gold star "achievements" to earn. From simple goals like ramming into a cactus to more demanding ones like completing an entire set of objectives, there are plenty to collect, and getting them all is no small feat. The townspeople themselves, including iconic Toy Story characters, also provide multiple challenges, with some being easier than others. Wheezy might want a simple picture of Stinky Pete to start with, but eventually, you’ll need to customize buildings in a specific way and line up specific characters within your shot. Other goals are completely different, however, with platforming challenges, hidden items, and random events occupying your time. You never truly know what to expect when you first start playing in Toy Box Mode, and even after a good dozen hours, you can still be in for a surprise or two. This isn’t even taking into account the racing challenges, which differ depending on whether you are in a car or riding a mount like Bullseye.
As mentioned before, Toy Box Mode is all about play, and there are plenty of ways to do so. You can make up your own games, fight with your friends, or use modifiers like the goop to shrink objects and characters. Or maybe you just want to take a ride in a car and crash through everything in your path. In a completely random turn of events, I crashed into a townsperson and sent him flying; my car hit a building and flipped, and as it flew backward, it hit the same villager in midair before he landed, launching him through the window of a nearby building. Both my wife and I burst out laughing, knowing it was a moment we’d never be able to replicate. It was just a stroke of dumb luck for the villager, combined with being in the right place at the right time with perfect execution. These unexpected moments are what make Toy Box Mode so special and what keep you coming back time and time again.
That said, I can’t help but wonder how I would’ve felt about this game when I was a kid. I spent so many hours playing Toy Story 2, just having fun in Andy’s house. There wasn’t a lot to do there, but I still enjoyed it, playing as Buzz like any child would with a toy. If I had owned Toy Story 3—which truly would have allowed me to play in a full sandbox—how much time would I have sunk into it? That’s not something I will ever know for sure, but I can say this: I truly believe Toy Story 3 is a perfect game for families, and I can easily see myself playing it with my own family one day.
Should you play it?
Toy Story 3 Complete Edition is still the same fun game it was all those years ago. While the main story mode is serviceable and works well as a tutorial, it really isn't anything to write home about. It offers a fun platforming challenge with some unique ideas from time to time, but it isn't something I’d return to over and over again. That is what Toy Box Mode is for.
One thing I have to note, however, is that my experience with Toy Box Mode wasn't perfect in this remaster. As a pre-release title, I did encounter a graphical glitch when playing co-op mode. Strange shadows appeared across the ground, and the lighting itself seemed to be controlled by the second player. This only seemed to happen when using Buzz as player one, and everything was perfectly fine when using Woody, but the issue would return when getting into cars. I reported what I had encountered to the developers, but with the game being this close to release, it is hard to say if it will be fixed before launch. Thankfully, it didn't ruin my experience, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn't an issue.
Putting that aside, Toy Box Mode is addicting and simply a blast to play. Again, this is the main reason to even consider purchasing Toy Story 3 Complete Edition, as it is a perfect game to play with family and friends. Even solo, the mode can be very entertaining, with plenty of challenges to complete and put your skills to the test, but it is far more enjoyable with someone else coming along for the ride. I missed out on co-op the first time around, but it was a great feeling finally getting to experience it for myself. With generous spawn points, the game allows players of all skill levels to join in, and if you’re playing with younger kids who struggle through the more challenging parts, you can thankfully progress through to the end on your own. It still might not be a walk in the park, but those with platforming experience shouldn’t struggle too much.
Overall, Toy Story 3 Complete Edition is a fun reminder of what it means to be a kid again. With its fresh coat of paint, signature Toy Box mode, and countless ways to play, it is a game that is perfect for the whole family.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
Available On: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5,
Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
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