Toy Story 2

Game: Toy Story 2

Platform: Dreamcast

Studio: Activision

Rating: 5/10

Toy Story 2 was a gorgeous movie. And the game, well, it tries. TS2 follows in a long line of action/adventure games like Mario and Sonic. Buzz Lightyear takes over the spot for Mario as he hops, jumps, and soars throughout, trying to save his buddy, Woody.

Look:

It looks good. Not movie good, but pretty sweet. There are problems with glitches within the backgrounds and during the zoom mode. For the most part, it looks like the film. I love that when you are in zoom mode and staring at the sky, you can see Buzzs reflection in his helmets shield. Not a bad touch. Does it add to the game? No, but it shows the nice details involved.

Feel:

There isnt much to explain when it comes to the controller. A button to shoot, one to jump, and so on. Nothing too complex.

Then there is the movement. Yikes. Buzz is pretty sensitive. Maybe if you had a joystick this thing would work better, but with the generic Dreamcast controller, itll drive you crazy as you jump onto a box only to slip right off because you overshot with the control. Nothing gets more annoying than jumping onto the same box twenty times just to keep slipping off. Its a simple thing made way too hard. There were a few times I wanted to blast the game into space. I kept my head. It might not be the same for you. Beware.

Hear:

The voices come from the movie and their real-life counterparts, but bringing in those voice cuts limits the things you hear them say. Still, it sure is better than hearing some other cat doing Buzzs voice.

Finally:

Like Mario, this game has tons of hidden objects, secrets to be uncovered, and things to collect. Its fifteen levels of occasional fun and occasional frustration. The stages are gigantic, leaving a lot to be accomplished. The game will impress the kiddies, but might not be as exciting for the older gamers. The biggest problem is the controls and nasty camera angles. If you can get past that and just enjoy the look and competition of winning, then it just might be worth the price of a rental and late fees.

+bboy