Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
Encyclopedia
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue is a platformer
based on Pixar
's computer animated movie Toy Story 2
and is the sequel to the first game
. It was released for the Nintendo 64
, PlayStation, Dreamcast, and Windows 95
/98
/ME
PC
in 1999
and 2000. A different version of the game was released for the Game Boy Color
. A sequel to the game was released 11 years later based on the third film
.
as he tries to locate and rescue Woody
after he is kidnapped by Al McWhiggin, the owner of Al's Toy Barn. He can execute a jump and a double jump, as well as two attacks: his wrist laser and his spin attack using his pop-out wing tips, both of which can be charged. In addition, there are 5 power-ups that can be unlocked to help Buzz complete certain tasks. Most of the voice cast from the film returned to voice their characters in the game with the exception of Wallace Shawn
who did not reprise the role as Rex (being voiced instead by Earl Boen
). The game starts out at Andy's house, as Al just kidnapped Woody. Buzz, Hamm, Rex, Slinky and Mr. Potato Head head to find and rescue Woody from Al, and enter the neighborhood, eventually moving to a construction yard and eventually Al's Toy Barn. They end up an airport, where Buzz has a final battle with Stinky Pete. Hamm and Rex are with you each level, and Slinky and Mr. Potato Head appear in multiple levels, to give you tips and bonuses. Other characters including Rocky Gibraltar, Bo Peep, Jessie and Bullseye will also need your assistance.
scene taken from the movie (except from the Nintendo 64 version—its low-capacity cartridge system meant that these movies were replaced with comic-strip type 'cutscenes'). In each level, there are five Pizza Planet tokens that the player must collect. The player must collect at least one token to unlock the subsequent level.
In the first level of every zone, Mr. Potato Head
is missing a body part that the player has to retrieve in order to unlock a specific power-up. The power-ups are the Cosmic Shield (Level 1), Disc Launcher (Level 4), Rocket Boots (Level 7), Grappling hook (Level 10), and Hover Boots (Level 13). Some Pizza Planet tokens can only be collected with the use of a power-up, while others are merely easier to collect when a power-up is unlocked. Returning to previous levels is required to obtain Pizza Planet tokens that couldn't be retrieved earlier without a certain power-up.
The tasks that Buzz needs to perform to gain a Pizza Planet token are:
These tasks get harder as the game progresses.
In the last level of every zone, the player has to fight a boss to proceed to the next level. A certain number of tokens is required in order to access these "boss levels." When the player completes a boss level, a bonus movie will be unlocked, which can be viewed at any time. In the last boss level, the player will face three mini-bosses from previous levels all at once: the Prospector (Airport Infiltration), the Gunslinger (Al's Penthouse) and the Blacksmith (Tarmac Trouble).
In total, the game contains 50 tokens.
based on 10 professional reviews, has rated the game a 8/10 for the N64 version, and 9.1/10 for the PS1 version. Most high points for the PlayStation is the fact the game contains FMV sequences, unlike the N64 version. Rotten Tomatoes
rates the N64 version with a 78% "fresh" rating, while the PS1 has a 83% rating.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
based on Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's computer animated movie Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American computer animated film directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon. It is the sequel to the 1995 film Toy Story, released by Walt Disney Pictures and the third film to be produced by Pixar...
and is the sequel to the first game
Toy Story (video game)
Toy Story is a video game for the Sega Genesis, the Super Nintendo, Game Boy and Windows 95 PCs, developed by Traveller's Tales and released by Disney Interactive. It is largely based on the movie of the same name. The Japanese version of the game was distributed by Capcom internationally. The game...
. It was released for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, PlayStation, Dreamcast, and Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
/98
Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
/ME
Windows Me
Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006....
PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
in 1999
1999 in video gaming
-Events:*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards*March – Game Over republished as “Game Over: Press Start to Continue”...
and 2000. A different version of the game was released for the Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
. A sequel to the game was released 11 years later based on the third film
Toy Story 3: The Video Game
Toy Story 3: The Video Game is a platform video game loosely based on the film Toy Story 3. It was published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Avalanche Software , Asobo Studio and n-Space...
.
Gameplay and Plot
The player controls Buzz LightyearBuzz Lightyear
Buzz Lightyear is a character and the main deuteragonist of the Toy Story franchise. Buzz is a space ranger action figure and the co-leader of Andy's Room. He has also appeared in the movie Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and the television series spin-off Buzz Lightyear of...
as he tries to locate and rescue Woody
Sheriff Woody
Sheriff Woody Pride, or simply Woody, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Toy Story franchise . He is voiced by Tom Hanks in the films, and by Jim Hanks in most other media.-Toy Story:...
after he is kidnapped by Al McWhiggin, the owner of Al's Toy Barn. He can execute a jump and a double jump, as well as two attacks: his wrist laser and his spin attack using his pop-out wing tips, both of which can be charged. In addition, there are 5 power-ups that can be unlocked to help Buzz complete certain tasks. Most of the voice cast from the film returned to voice their characters in the game with the exception of Wallace Shawn
Wallace Shawn
Wallace Michael Shawn , sometimes credited as Wally Shawn, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, author, voice artist, and intellectual. His best-known film roles include Wally Shawn in My Dinner with Andre , Vizzini in The Princess Bride , and debate teacher Mr...
who did not reprise the role as Rex (being voiced instead by Earl Boen
Earl Boen
Earl Boen is an American actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known as criminal psychologist Dr. Peter Silberman in the Terminator series...
). The game starts out at Andy's house, as Al just kidnapped Woody. Buzz, Hamm, Rex, Slinky and Mr. Potato Head head to find and rescue Woody from Al, and enter the neighborhood, eventually moving to a construction yard and eventually Al's Toy Barn. They end up an airport, where Buzz has a final battle with Stinky Pete. Hamm and Rex are with you each level, and Slinky and Mr. Potato Head appear in multiple levels, to give you tips and bonuses. Other characters including Rocky Gibraltar, Bo Peep, Jessie and Bullseye will also need your assistance.
Levels
There are fifteen levels in the game. The levels are grouped into five zones (3 levels per zone). Only the first level is available at first, but the player can unlock more levels by collecting Pizza Planet tokens. Each level starts with a FMVFull motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
scene taken from the movie (except from the Nintendo 64 version—its low-capacity cartridge system meant that these movies were replaced with comic-strip type 'cutscenes'). In each level, there are five Pizza Planet tokens that the player must collect. The player must collect at least one token to unlock the subsequent level.
In the first level of every zone, Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head! is an American toy consisting of a plastic model of a potato which can be decorated with a variety of plastic parts that can attach to the main body. These parts usually include ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose, and a mouth. The toy was invented and developed by George Lerner in...
is missing a body part that the player has to retrieve in order to unlock a specific power-up. The power-ups are the Cosmic Shield (Level 1), Disc Launcher (Level 4), Rocket Boots (Level 7), Grappling hook (Level 10), and Hover Boots (Level 13). Some Pizza Planet tokens can only be collected with the use of a power-up, while others are merely easier to collect when a power-up is unlocked. Returning to previous levels is required to obtain Pizza Planet tokens that couldn't be retrieved earlier without a certain power-up.
The tasks that Buzz needs to perform to gain a Pizza Planet token are:
- Collecting 50 coins for Hamm;
- Finding five lost items (i.e. Bo Peep's sheep);
- Competing in a race against another character (i.e. RC car) or a time trial event;
- Solving a "puzzle" located somewhere in the level (i.e. mixing primary paint colors to create secondary colors);
- Defeating a mini boss.
These tasks get harder as the game progresses.
In the last level of every zone, the player has to fight a boss to proceed to the next level. A certain number of tokens is required in order to access these "boss levels." When the player completes a boss level, a bonus movie will be unlocked, which can be viewed at any time. In the last boss level, the player will face three mini-bosses from previous levels all at once: the Prospector (Airport Infiltration), the Gunslinger (Al's Penthouse) and the Blacksmith (Tarmac Trouble).
List of Levels
In the game are 15 levels available:- Level 1: Andy's House (Boss: Tin Robot) (Mr. Potato Head: Ear)
- Level 2: Andy's Neighborhood (Boss: Zurg Kite)
- Level 3: Bombs Away! (Boss Stage: Bombs Away Airplane) (3 tokens needed)
- Level 4: Construction Yard (Boss: Jackhammer) (Mr. Potato Head: Eye)
- Level 5: Alleys and Gullies (Boss: Clown Top)
- Level 6: Slime Time (Boss Stage: Slimy Trash can Monster) (10 tokens needed)
- Level 7: Al's Toy Barn (Boss: Toy Dinosaur) (Mr. Potato Head: Arm)
- Level 8: Al's Space Land (Boss: Buzz Lightyear Buggy)
- Level 9: Toy Barn Encounter (Boss Stage: Giant Laser Bot with cages carrying pods with regular enemies) (18 tokens needed)
- Level 10: Elevator Hop (Boss: Spider Gunro) (Mr. Potato Head: Foot)
- Level 11: Al's Penthouse (Boss: Gunslinger)
- Level 12: The Evil Emperor Zurg (Boss Stage: Emperor Zurg) (28 tokens needed)
- Level 13: Airport Infiltration (Boss: Stinky Pete) (Mr. Potato Head: Mouth)
- Level 14: Tarmac Trouble (Boss: Blacksmith)
- Level 15: Prospector Showdown (Boss Stage: Stinky Pete, Gunslinger, Blacksmith) (40 tokens needed)
In total, the game contains 50 tokens.
Main Characters
- Buzz LightyearBuzz LightyearBuzz Lightyear is a character and the main deuteragonist of the Toy Story franchise. Buzz is a space ranger action figure and the co-leader of Andy's Room. He has also appeared in the movie Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and the television series spin-off Buzz Lightyear of...
- The main character in the game and the only playable character. Buzz has many abilities, such as a jump, double-jump, as well as two attacks: his wrist laser and his spin attack using his pop-out wings, both of which can be charged. In addition, there are 5 power-ups that can be unlocked to help Buzz complete certain tasks. Buzz is voiced by his original actor, Tim AllenTim AllenTim Allen is an American comedian, actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer, known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement...
in this game. - WoodySheriff WoodySheriff Woody Pride, or simply Woody, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Toy Story franchise . He is voiced by Tom Hanks in the films, and by Jim Hanks in most other media.-Toy Story:...
- Woody is a collectable, rare, cowboy doll, who is also Buzz's best friend. Woody got kidnapped by Al before the game even started, so he has a very minor role in this game. He only appears in the last level, where you see him with Jessie before you fight the Prospector. Woody is voiced by Tom HanksTom HanksThomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
in this game. - Rex - Rex appears in every single level of the game, since he gives you tips and where to find Pizza Planet tokens. Unlike the film, Rex is voiced by Earl BoenEarl BoenEarl Boen is an American actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known as criminal psychologist Dr. Peter Silberman in the Terminator series...
in the game. - Hamm - Like Rex, Hamm appears in every level, where he tells you to give him 50 coins, in which he'll trade you a Pizza Planet token. Like the movies, Hamm is voiced by John RatzenbergerJohn RatzenbergerJohn Deszo Ratzenberger is an American actor, voice actor, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his role as Cliff Clavin in Cheers.-Early life:...
in this game. - Mr. Potato Head - Mr. Potato Head appears in most levels of the game. You have to find his body parts (example: eyes, ears, mouth), in which he'll give you a special power-up. Mr. Potato Head is voiced by Don RicklesDon RicklesDonald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
in the game. - Slinky Dog - Slinky appears in 3 levels. He'll give you a timed challenge, in which you complete it, he'll give you a Pizza Planet token. Like the movie, Slinky's voiced by Jim VarneyJim VarneyJames Albert "Jim" Varney, Jr. was an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, writer, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his role as Ernest P...
in this game. - Prospector - The main antagonist of the game and the film. Prospector appears in two levels, both as a boss. He gets defeated by Buzz at the Final Showdown, being the main boss of this level. He is voiced by Kelsey GrammerKelsey GrammerAllen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
.
Minor Characters
- Jessie (Toy Story)Jessie (Toy Story)Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl is a fictional character who is the main tritagonist of the films Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. At Christmas in 1999, the Wall Street Journal called Jessie toys among the hottest of the season...
- Jessie appears in only 2 levels in the game. She first appears in Al's Penthouse, asking you to find all of her critters for a Pizza Planet token. She then appears at the final level of the game, standing at Al's luggage along with Woody. Jessie is voiced by Joan CusackJoan CusackJoan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
. - Little Tikes - The Little Tikes are little, round, tikes who appear in 3 levels. There is usually a Tike that needs you to find the other ones.
- RC car - RC appears in the first two levels of the game. He gives you a challenge to beat him in a race so you could get a Pizza Planet token.
- Bo Peep - Bo Peep only appears in the 1st level of the game. She asks you to find her 5 lost sheep for a Pizza Planet token. Like the films, she is voiced by Annie PottsAnnie PottsAnne Hampton "Annie" Potts is an American film and television actress. She is known for her roles in the 1980s popular films such as Ghostbusters , Pretty in Pink , Jumpin' Jack Flash , Who's Harry Crumb? and Ghostbusters II . Potts is also known as a voice-actress...
. - Green Army Men - The Green Army Men only comes in the 2nd level. Sarge asks you to find his missing soldiers. Like the films, they are voiced by R. Lee ErmeyR. Lee ErmeyRonald Lee Ermey is a retired United States Marine Corps drill instructor and actor.Ermey has often played the roles of authority figures, such as his breakout performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, Mayor Tilman in the Alan Parker film Mississippi Burning, Bill Bowerman in...
. - Bullseye - Bullseye only appears in 1 level of the game. He tells you to find 5 horseshoes before the time runs out for a Pizza Planet token.
- Gunslinger - The Gunslinger is a character who only appears in the game, and is possibly one of Prospector's henchmen. He appears in 2 levels as a boss.
- Blacksmith - The Blacksmith is a character who only appears in the game, and is possibly one of Prospector's henchmen. He appears in 2 levels as a boss.
- Bo Peep's Sheep - The sheep only comes in the 1st level. You have to find 5 of them and return them to Bo Peep.
- Emperor Zurg - Buzz Lightyear's archenemy. He appears in level 12 in the game as a boss. Also, a "Zurg Kite" is shown as a boss on level 2.
- Aliens - The Aliens appear in the Al's Space Land level, being scattered around the toy store. You have to find 5 of them and bring them to the Mothership. They are voiced by Jeff PidgeonJeff PidgeonJeff Pidgeon is an American voice actor, writer and animator at Pixar Animation Studios.He has worked behind the scenes on films such as Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc. and WALL-E, as well as many US TV shows...
. - Rocky Gibraltar - Rocky appears in 1 level where he gives you a timed challenge to find 5 barbells before time runs out.
- Electronic Plane - The first boss that is not a mini-boss. The plane appears in level 3 where he flies around Andy's yard.
- Tin Robot - The first mini-boss of the game. Tin Robot is a robot located in the attic of Andy's house. Once you defeat him, his head and a couple of other body parts shrinks and explodes off his body.
- Jackhammer Boss - The Jackhammer Boss appears in the Construction Site level. He is in the top of the construction site and you cannot defeat him with your laser, so you get the Disk Launcher, which Mr. Potato Head gives you.
- Mother Duck - A duck who only appears in 1 level. She lost 5 of her baby ducks so you have to find them and bring them back to her.
- Buggy Buzz - The deluded Buzz that is in the film appears in this game, however, he is in a dune buggy and is in the space area of Al's Toy Barn. He only appears in that level, even though his role was much more major in the movie.
- Space Encounter Robot - A large robot that was one of Zurg's minions, but it got bigger for some reason. Each of it's tentacles has a couple of Zurg's minions. The Space Encounter Robot is the third boss that is not a mini-boss.
- Clown Top - The boss in the level Allies and Gullies. He is at the top of the highest building, being one of the hardest bosses to get to. He is a spinny top with a clown face on it.
- Slime Monster - The second boss that is not a mini-boss. The Slime Monster is made out of slime, hence the name, and comes out of a trash can. The more you hit it, the more it grows.
- Chickens - A family of chickens who lives in Al's Toy Barn. Mother Chicken has 5 lost baby chicks and Father Chicken gives you a timed challenge to form a chain reaction to jump to the top of a gumball machine, where the Pizza Planet token is.
- Dinosaur Boss - A boss that appears in Al's Toy Barn. It is a blue and green dinosaur that is in a shaft on top of a few boxes. The Dinosaur boss location is surrounded by slime.
- Mice - A family of mice who appear in the Elevator Hop level. Mother Mouse lost her baby mice and Father Mouse gives you a timed challenge to slide down the elevator shaft in time.
- Spider Gunro - A spider boss that shoots cannons who appears in the Elevator Hop level.
- Zipline Saucer - A flying saucer that asks you to ride a zipline, where you quickly jump to another zipline at the red spot of the line. If you win it gives you a Pizza Planet token.
Reception
Reception for the game has been positive. MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
based on 10 professional reviews, has rated the game a 8/10 for the N64 version, and 9.1/10 for the PS1 version. Most high points for the PlayStation is the fact the game contains FMV sequences, unlike the N64 version. Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
rates the N64 version with a 78% "fresh" rating, while the PS1 has a 83% rating.