From story to game

GAME OF THE WEEK: Toy Story 3.3 cert, Disney Interactive, Xbox 360 (also PS3, DS, PSP, Wii). ****

Toy Story 3is not yet in cinemas here, but already the game has hit the shelves. Makers Disney have said they don't want this game just to y be a repeat of the film. So is it more than just a movie tie-in? It certainly adds a bit more than your average spin-off.

Instead of relying solely on the film's plot for material, Toy Story 3brings a new mode called Toy Box to the game, creating an open world where players are free to roam, carrying out missions as they go.

Players take on the roles of familiar characters – Woody, Buzz, or Jessie – and become the sheriff of their very own town.

As a Wild West town, it has its challenges. Cows that escape, citizens to help out– all in a day’s work. There are plenty of pesky bandits to deal with, too; they can be dispatched in a variety of ways, including literally kicking them out of town.

As a growing town, it requires some construction. Completing quests earns you coins, which can then be used to buy buildings such as prisons, to house the local outlaws you don’t drop-kick from the city limits.

The level of customisation in the town is impressive, and it’s a testament to the thought that has gone into Toy Box mode that it is more engaging than regular story mode. And there’s liberal use of goo, which should please even the oldest of children.

While story mode mirrors the movie plot, Toy Box mode is far more fun and involving. Quests are simple – collecting cowbells, for example – but perfect for the age group it’s aimed at.

The animation is impressive, too. The characters move like they do in the film, with Woody’s flailing limbs recreated perfectly as he bounds through the Toy Box town.

The one niggle is the absence of some of the movie's voice actors, but overall Toy Story 3is worth a look, for children both big and small.