Plastic Fantastic- Toy Soldiers Review

DesertEagle’s Take: In the early 2000’s I was a perpetual pushover for 3DO’s Army Men console franchise. I naively purchased each successive game in the series, hopeful that the developer would craft a diversion that blended intense warfare with a robust dose of wholesome charm. Over the years, each entry failed to evoke the enjoyment generated by a set of simple, plastic soldiers, and I became convinced that no one would ever do the little green guys justice.

While the protagonists in Signal Studios recent release- Toy Soldiers, hail from the Great War rather the World War II era, this selection never impedes the title from becoming one of the greatest recreations of bedroom battlefields. In fact, the game’s selection of period is remarkably savvy, as it circumvents the current deluge of war games set in the 1940’s. Those worrying that the weaponry of the early 20th century is dreadfully antiquated and lacking the verve of a more contemporary arsenal may be surprised by Toy Soldier’s bombast. From domineering artillery to vile clouds of mustard gas, each ordnance packs quite a satisfying wallop. 

Nearly as inspired as Toy Soldiers’ setting in the game’s core mechanic which skillfully fuses a tower-defense elements with a healthy dose of Beachhead’s invader-repelling confrontations. Gamers place a variety of turrets in predetermined locations in an effort to exterminate consecutive waves of hostiles. Determining each unit’s placement requires a bit of strategic deliberation, as each fallen foe rewards the player with currency that can be used to augment the player’s existing arsenal. Unlike the majority of TD titles, Toy Soldiers allows players to man any tower- gunning, shelling, sniping or gassing adversaries in a gratifying manner. This small variation completely changes Toy Soldiers’ dynamic, giving the musty genre a much-needed shot of adrenaline.

Fortunately, taking control of each defensive structure offers more than just an opportunity to exercise a restless trigger finger on assaulting antagonists. While the game’s does an admirable job at protecting your base, it’s no match for a zealous humanoid. Periodically, players can also control allied armor or airplanes, giving gamers a few gratifying moments to hit opponents with some old-fashioned shock and awe. Smartly, Toy Soldiers makes you struggle for success in each stage, especially when players confront giant, mechanical, troop-spewing bosses.

Although Toy Soldiers‘ $15 price may be intimidating, aficionados of titles which adeptly blend strategy with action will find more than enough gratification to justify the cost. While I would have liked to have seen a cooperative component in the game, the amount of polish, and originality offered by Signal Studios creation means that I’ll be returning to these minute militias with frequency.
 

TideGear’s Take: Despite being a fairly new concept, the tower-defense genre has become over-saturated, leaving the quality entries to tread water in hopes of being noticed. While the setting and aesthetic of Toy Soldiers may not be an integral part of the gameplay, it’s well-implemented and should capture the attention of many of the right people. Those who are roped in by what they see, will be rewarded with clever game mechanics under the surface.