Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (video game)

Last updated

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
BuzzLightyearofStarCommandVideoGameCover.png
Developer(s) Traveller's Tales
Publisher(s) Activision
Composer(s) Keith Leary (Game Audio Ltd.)
Series Toy Story
Platform(s) PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Windows
ReleaseDreamcast
  • NA: October 4, 2000 [1]
  • EU: February 9, 2001 [2]
PlayStation
  • NA: October 11, 2000 [3]
  • EU: February 2, 2001 [4]
Windows
  • EU: November 10, 2000 [5]
Game Boy Color
  • NA: November 17, 2000 [6]
  • EU: February 9, 2001 [7]
Genre(s) Platform, shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command is a platform/shooter video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Disney Interactive and Activision in 2000. It is based on the animated series of the same name, a spin-off of the Toy Story franchise. It was released for Dreamcast, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Game Boy Color. A version for the Nintendo 64 was planned but was later cancelled for unknown reasons. [8]

Contents

The PlayStation version was re-released digitally on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on December 19, 2023. [9]

Gameplay

Buzz Lightyear fighting the second villain of the game, Gravitina, who has a colored shield which indicates which weapon will be effective against them (Windows version). BuzzLightyearofStarCommandLevel2screenshot.png
Buzz Lightyear fighting the second villain of the game, Gravitina, who has a colored shield which indicates which weapon will be effective against them (Windows version).

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command is an action shooter platform video game played from a third-person perspective. The game takes place on various fictional planets. The player controls Buzz Lightyear, who must race a villain to the end of each level, where a battle then occurs between the two. During the race, the player must defend against various enemies who try to stop Buzz. Throughout each level, the player can collect coins and use them to purchase weapon upgrades, shields, as well as vehicles, such as a hoverboard, a jet bike, and a jet pack. The player can also pay for level shortcuts, such as teleportation machines and boost pads, which launches Buzz further into the level. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

At a certain point in each level, Buzz can summon his partner Booster, who stomps the ground to kill all nearby enemies. If the main villain reaches the end of the level before Buzz, then the player has 15 seconds to reach the end before the villain escapes. If the player beats the villain to the end of the level, then Buzz's partner Mira briefly arrives to drain some of the villain's health, making the battle easier for the player. The player's final battle is with Evil Emperor Zurg. Medals are required to advance to later levels, and can be earned by collecting Little Green Men scattered around levels and collecting enough money to pass its mark. After winning a level, the player can then replay it through two game modes, which also award medals if won. In one game mode, the player goes through the level to retrieve pieces of Buzz's robotic partner, XR; the other game mode is a time challenge, in which the player must reach the level's finish line in time. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

The home console and Windows versions of the game have 14 levels and include clips from the television series, [10] [12] [16] [15] while the Game Boy Color version features 12 levels. [17] The Game Boy Color version is an action game viewed from a top-down perspective, and also includes the same vehicles as the other versions. [18]

Reception

The Dreamcast and PlayStation versions received "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic, [22] [21] and were criticized for the camera perspective, [16] [23] [32] with GamePro writing that it "swoops around like a roller coaster gone mad". [11] Some reviewers criticized the inclusion of clips from the television series, stating that they had little relevance to the game's story and levels. [16] [12] Some critics also believed that Buzz's dialogue was lacking the character's bravado and wit from the Toy Story films, [16] [25] and others stated that the game would appeal primarily to younger children. [10] [12]

Kristian Brogger of Game Informer reviewed the PlayStation version and was critical of its graphics and gameplay. [26] Adam Cleveland of IGN praised the PlayStation version for its graphics and the inclusion of Bobcat Goldthwait as a voice actor, but he criticized the "forgettable" music. Cleveland called the racing portions "downright pointless" and considered the game's genre difficult to pinpoint "because it tries to paste itself together with elements from other games". Cleveland also questioned why each boss enemy cannot be harmed until the end of the race, and stated that he was not very satisfied with the game. [13] Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine considered the game a "muddy mix of platformer, shooter and arcade racer" that "doesn't quite work", largely due to the controls, particularly the lack of a lock-on aiming feature. The magazine also considered the levels to be uninspired. [32]

Reviewing the Dreamcast version, Jon Thompson of AllGame found the game's concept to be repetitive, but stated that the sound and music were good. [10] In comparison to the PlayStation version, Electronic Gaming Monthly believed that the Dreamcast version was graphically superior, especially its frame rate, [23] while Miguel Lopez of GameSpot believed that the PlayStation version had a superior frame rate. [12] GamePro also praised the PlayStation version's frame rate, and its cartoon-style graphics, but was critical of enemies that respawn "very quickly". [11] Tom Bramwell of Eurogamer mentioned graphical issues with the Dreamcast version and stated that its only redeeming feature was its array of power-ups. [25]

Michael J. Steinhart of PC Magazine praised the Windows version for its "crisp graphics and smooth, absorbing action". [33] IGN's Marc Nix criticized the Game Boy Color version for its graphics and poor weapon arsenal. Nix was disappointed by the inability to perform hoverboard tricks as in the home game console versions, and was critical of the controls, writing that Buzz moves too heavily. Nix noted that it was possible for the player to pass up the villain being chased, resulting in the player having to wait at the end of the course for the villain to arrive in order to apprehend them, as they cannot be stopped prior to the end of the course; Nix considered this concept "pretty silly". [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tony Hawks Pro Skater</i> 1999 video game

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, released as Tony Hawk's Skateboarding in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, is a 1999 skateboarding video game developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. It was released for the PlayStation on September 29, 1999 and was later ported to the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, and N-Gage.

<i>Phantasy Star Online</i> 2000 video game

Phantasy Star Online is an online role-playing game (RPG) developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega in 2000 for the Dreamcast. It was the first online RPG for game consoles; players adventure with up to three others over the internet to complete quests, collect items and fight enemies in real-time action RPG combat. The story is unrelated to previous games in the Phantasy Star series.

<i>Donald Duck: Goin Quackers</i> 2000 video game

Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers is a platform video game developed and published by Ubi Soft for various consoles and Windows-based personal computers. A different game with the same title was first released for the Game Boy Color, as well as on Game Boy Advance, the latter being given the title Donald Duck Advance.

<i>Star Wars: Demolition</i> 2000 video game

Star Wars: Demolition is a vehicular combat game set in the Star Wars universe created by Luxoflux and LucasArts using the Vigilante 8 game engine. The premise of the game is that the Galactic Empire have banned Jabba the Hutt's podraces, so Jabba creates a more life-threatening vehicular combat contest.

<i>Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles</i> 2000 video game

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is an action Star Wars video game set during the time frame of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The game was first released for the PlayStation, and afterwards for the Dreamcast and the Game Boy Advance.

<i>Puzzle Bobble 4</i> 1997 video game

Puzzle Bobble 4 is the third sequel to the video game Puzzle Bobble and is the final appearance of the series on the PlayStation and the only appearance of the series on the Dreamcast.

<i>Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour</i> 2000 video game

Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour, sometimes mislabeled as Disney MT Racing or Walt Disney World: Magical Racing Quest, is a 2000 go-kart racing video game based on attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort. Players compete in races on tracks inspired by attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to acquire missing parts for the park's fireworks machine, which was accidentally destroyed by Chip 'n' Dale while they were gathering acorns. The game was developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos Interactive. The Game Boy Color and Dreamcast versions were developed by Prolific Publishing.

<i>South Park: Chefs Luv Shack</i> 1999 game show-style party video game

South Park: Chef's Luv Shack is a 2D game show-style party video game and is a sequel to the 1998 video game South Park, itself based on the American animated sitcom of the same name. Developed by Acclaim Studios Austin and published by Acclaim Entertainment, it was released in 1999 for the Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Its gameplay involves playing minigames and the ability to play against other players in a challenge for the most points. It also involves trivia questions about South Park and other topics.

<i>Rugrats in Paris: The Movie</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie is a video game based on the 2000 animated movie of the same name. The game follows the adventures of the Rugrats in a European theme park. A console version of the game was released in 2000, for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and a handheld version for Game Boy Color. A version for Microsoft Windows was later released in 2001. The console version's gameplay is similar to Rugrats: Studio Tour, but Paris’ attractions sometimes have minigames too. The handheld gameplay is a side-scrolling platformer. The Windows version's gameplay is an adventure game in which the player must find Chuckie's Wawa Bear.

<i>Chicken Run</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Chicken Run is a platform-stealth based 3-D platform video game based on the 2000 film of the same name. The game is a loose parody of the famous film The Great Escape. The Game Boy Color version is a 2D isometric puzzle-solving game. The game's plot is about chickens escaping from a farm from their evil owners and fighting for freedom.

<i>Disneys 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue</i> 2000 video game

Disney's 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue is a platform video game developed by Toys for Bob and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Dreamcast and Game Boy Color. It is loosely based on the live-action Disney movie 102 Dalmatians.

<i>F-1 World Grand Prix</i> 1998 video game

F-1 World Grand Prix, developed by Paradigm Entertainment, is a Formula One racing game/sim first released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game console and to later platforms including the Sega Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, Sony PlayStation, and Game Boy Color. The Nintendo 64 version is based on the 1997 Formula One season, featuring each of the 17 circuits from the season and all 22 drivers, with the exceptions of Jacques Villeneuve and the MasterCard Lola team.

<i>Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue</i> 1999 video game

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! is a platform game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Activision and Disney Interactive. Based on Disney/Pixar's 1999 computer animated film Toy Story 2, It was released for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh in late 1999, while a Dreamcast version followed in 2000. The computer versions were released under the title Disney/Pixar's Action Game, Toy Story 2. A different version, a side-scrolling platform game titled Toy Story 2, was also released for the Game Boy Color in 1999.

<i>Wild Metal Country</i> 1999 video game

Wild Metal Country is an action video game developed by DMA Design. The game was published by Gremlin Interactive and released for Microsoft Windows in May 1999. A Dreamcast port, known as Wild Metal, was released in February 2000 by Rockstar Games, which later also re-released the Windows version.

<i>Disneys Dinosaur</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Disney's Dinosaur is a 2000 video game published by Ubi Soft, and functions as a tie-in to the Disney film of the same name.

<i>Spider-Man</i> (2000 video game) 2000 video game

Spider-Man is a 2000 action-adventure game based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision for the PlayStation. The game was later ported by different developers to various systems, including the Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64 that same year, as well as the Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows in 2001.

<i>Toy Story</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise created by Pixar

Toy Story is an American media franchise owned by The Walt Disney Company. It centers on toys that, unknown to humans, are secretly living, sentient creatures. It began in 1995 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, which focuses on a diverse group of toys featuring a classic cowboy doll named Sheriff Woody and a modern spaceman action figure named Buzz Lightyear.

<i>Disneys Aladdin in Nasiras Revenge</i> 2000 video game

Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge is a platform game based on the Aladdin franchise which was developed for the PlayStation and PC by Argonaut Games and distributed by Disney Interactive in 2000. In the game, Aladdin, Abu and Jasmine fight against Jafar's sister Nasira who wants to bring him back to life. Nasira's Revenge received generally average reviews.

<i>Wacky Races</i> (2000 video game) 2000 video game

Wacky Races is a racing video game developed by Appaloosa Interactive for PC and PlayStation and by Velez & Dubail for the Game Boy Color. It was published by Infogrames in 2000. An enhanced version of the game, called Wacky Races: Starring Dastardly and Muttley, was released for Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 in the same year.

<i>Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado</i> 2000 video game

Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado is an adventure video game developed by Revolution Software. An adaptation of the film The Road to El Dorado, it was released on Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows and PlayStation.

References

  1. ↑ "EBWorld.com - Dreamcast". October 19, 2000. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur Dreamcast". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "EBWorld.com - PlayStation". October 19, 2000. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur PSone". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur PC". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "pocket.ign.com: Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". January 7, 2001. Archived from the original on January 7, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur Gameboy". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ Restoring the Magic (August 30, 2021). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Video Game Trailer | 1080p AI Upscale". YouTube . Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ Adam Michel (December 13, 2023). "PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for December: Grand Theft Auto V, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Metal: Hellsinger and more". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jon Thompson. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Human Tornado (November 2, 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Review for PlayStation". GamePro . Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Miguel Lopez (October 18, 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (PS)". GameSpot . Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Adam Cleveland (October 12, 2000). "Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (PS)". IGN. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command instruction manual. PlayStation. Activision. 2000. pp. 8–15.
  15. 1 2 3 Traveller's Tales (2000). Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Activision/Disney Interactive.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Marc Nix (October 17, 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". IGN . Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 Marc Nix (December 1, 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (GBC)". IGN. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  18. ↑ Deci, T.J. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command - Overview". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Disney/Pixar Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for Dreamcast". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Disney/Pixar Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for PlayStation". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for Dreamcast Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . January 2001. Archived from the original on January 29, 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. January 2001.
  25. 1 2 3 Bramwell, Tom (March 13, 2001). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  26. 1 2 Kristian Brogger (December 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (PS)". Game Informer . No. 92. p. 111. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  27. ↑ "REVIEW for Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". GameFan . October 18, 2000.
  28. ↑ Joe Dodson (November 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Review (DC)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  29. ↑ Lopez, Miguel. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Review (Dreamcast)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  30. ↑ Dry, Frank (June 2001). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". Hyper . No. 92. p. 80. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". Nintendo Power . Vol. 138. November 2000. p. 132.
  32. 1 2 3 Gary Steinman (December 2000). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . Archived from the original on January 27, 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  33. ↑ Steinhart, Michael J. (January 2, 2001). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Action Game". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.