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Video Game of the Week – Toy Story 3
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Video games which are based on blockbuster movie franchises usually have two major shortcomings: they so closely follow the movie that you feel like you've seen everything already; and the action sequences run out of ideas, thrown off by a story line that works for a two-hour movie but can't sustain multiple gaming experiences.
Thankfully, Toy Story 3, the video game based on the upcoming Pixar movie, falls into neither of these traps, staying true to the beloved main characters while providing hours of varied entertainment.
The introduction to the game faithfully follows the main story from the movie: the toys' owner, Andy, is preparing to leave for college and it's time to find a new home for Buzz, Woody and the rest of the gang. When they eventually end up in a room full of untamed tots, pandemonium breaks out as they try and stay together and make sure that "no toy gets left behind."
From there the video game takes on a life of its own, as the main characters run, ride and fly their way through a variety of action scenes and obstacles. Players can switch toys at any time, helping Buzz leap between crumbling asteroids one minute, or chasing down a train with Woody and his trusty steed, Bullseye, the next.
However, what really distinguishes Toy Story 3 the video game from Toy Story 3 the movie is Toy Box Mode. Here, you can let your imagination run wild, sending your chosen toy off on multiple missions and completely customizing your own individual toy world. Players can earn stars and prizes, unlocking yet more characters, tools and adventures in this completely open-world environment.
Although some of the action sequences and controls may be a little difficult for very young children to master, there are plenty of hints and cheats to help them along the way. For older kids (and that includes more than a few adults), the non-stop action and surprises will keep them coming back for more. For once, a video game based on a blockbuster movie will not disappoint!
Toy Story 3 is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB. Check out their video game ratings and content descriptors at ESRB.org
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios Platforms: Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP Genre: Action RRP: $49.99 (Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3); $29.99 (DVD-ROM, DS, PSP) Release Date: June 15, 2010 ESRB Rating: "E" for Everyone
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