Toy Story Retro Roundup Review

Review by Ben, Retro Gaming Goods.

The Toy Story saga in terms of video games is Frankenstein's child. There's both beauty and beasties lurking in these 6 games (10 with all the versions).

To be direct about the collection Atari have put together a really good nostalgic package. Especially if you played these as a child you'll have a blast on the most part.

Toy Story on SNES and Mega Drive: beautiful but brutal

Staying as direct as possible, Disney at this time were arguably more nefarious than any villain they ever put into one of their own stories. Toy Story on the SNES and Mega Drive (Genesis) is a beautiful looking game, with phenomenal ideas but a pain-inducing ride back to a time of Blockbuster and video store rental companies. You see, much like the infamous Lion King it was designed to be harder than a box of diamonds encased in a secret bunker inside a military base.

Yes it's that frustratingly hard, however to its credit the rewind feature on this game is brilliant and allows you to backtrack around 20 seconds to correct your mistakes and trust me you'll need it.

The best games in Toy Story Retro Roundup

With all that being said the other games here on display are much more of a joy. No, not you Game Boy games… But Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and A Bug's Life are all fantastic platformers. Toy Story Racer is fun enough too but it's my least played title here. Honestly Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue is a fantastic game. One that I didn't play as a kid and how I missed out, it was an absolute joy to play and keep playing.

Sound, visuals and the Toy History extras

Surprisingly the sound and visuals are really faithful to the original versions. Try Toy Story on both SNES and Mega Drive and you'll instantly hear much the SNES's sound chip (APU) really did make a difference.

Couple this with some really good interactive features in the Toy History area and you'll have a wonderful time going back to your childhood. Even better, show your Toy Story loving kids the pain we went through. Show them the 3D boxes for each game if you don't still own them, the video featurettes and some promo art from the launches. This is really well put together.

Rewind, cheats and Practice Mode

Lastly if it is too hard, or you're struggling with a particular part then you have access to Rex's Cheat codes and Practice Modes that not only shows you what to do but also lets you jump in at any time to play.

What's in Toy Story Retro Roundup?

• 6 games: Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Toy Story Racer, A Bug's Life
• Toy Story is on Genesis, SNES and Game Boy
• Toy Story 2 is on GBC
• Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue is on PS1
• Star Command, Racer and A Bug's Life are on PS1 and GBC
• Rewind, save states and cheats
• Practice mode lets you watch a playthrough and take over at any point
• Upscaled graphics
• About 1 hour of development videos
• Right stick click opens the extras menu and is the only way to quit a game

Prices and the Toy Story double pack

• TS3 Complete Edition is $24.99
• Retro Roundup is $29.99
• The digital bundle is $39.99
• The two-game physical edition is $39.99

Verdict: is Toy Story Retro Roundup worth it?

If you're looking for a nostalgic trip down to Al's Toybarn or to Pizza Planet then this is definitely worth a trip. It's not just a Disney cash grab, it's a truly delightful trip down memory lane.

Toy Story: Retro Roundup: 7.5/10

ALSO REVIEWED

Toy Story 3 Complete Edition: 8.5/10

The other half of the double pack, and the Toybox Mode that became the bedrock for Disney Infinity.

Read the Toy Story 3 review

Written by Ben

Gaming for 34 years, earning every minute by running. Follow along for more reviews, retro finds and Run to Game updates.

Instagram: @retro_gaming_goods