Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (video game)

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Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Developer(s)Traveller's Tales
Publisher(s)Activision
Composer(s)Keith Leary (Game Audio Ltd.)
SeriesToy Story
Platform(s)PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Windows
ReleaseDreamcast
PlayStation
Windows
Game Boy Color
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]

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

Plot[edit]

The game opens with Buzz Lightyear responding to a 911 call on Jo-Ad, the home planet of his teammate Booster Munchapper. He pursues a henchman of Torque Armada, and defeats him. Lightyear then travels to the volcanic planet Flamar to apprehend a woman called Gravitina, who has the ability to control gravity. Following her defeat, Buzz heads to the planet Canis Lunis to confront Nos-4-A2, a robotic vampire. After destroying his power generators, Buzz defeats Nos-4-A2, and flies to the jungle planet Karn to stop Marl, another intergalactic criminal. After defeating Marl, Lightyear heads to the bustling metropolis of Trade World to confront the Fixer, an evil mechanic. Following a pursuit throughout the city, Lightyear defeats the Fixer, before returning to Jo-Ad to pursue and confront Torque. Lightyear is successful, and returns to Karn to face Skreel, an avian-styled alien. Following her defeat, Buzz heads to an icy planet to confront a large plasma-powered monster. After subduing the monster, Buzz heads to the underwater planet Bathyos to apprehend Blackfin, an evil fish. Following Blackfin's demise, Buzz returns to Flamar to confront his former colleague-turned-foe Warp Darkmatter. Following a chase through the volcanic planet's surface, Buzz manages to defeat Warp. Returning to Trade World, he pursues XL, the evil brother of his robotic teammate XR, throughout the planet's skyline, before defeating him.

On Canis Lunis, Ty Parsec, one of Buzz Lightyear's teammates, succumbs to a curse placed upon him by Nos-4-A2, and transforms into Wire-Wolf, a robotic werewolf. Buzz arrives on the planet, and after fighting through Zurg's henchmen, confronts the Wirewolf. Upon defeating him, Wirewolf transforms back into Ty, and Star Command find the coordinates to Zurg's home planet. Buzz arrives there, and pursues Zurg to his throne room whilst fending off his henchmen. Following a battle where Buzz destroys Zurg's throne whilst fighting his henchmen, Buzz emerges victorious, and the galaxy is saved.

Gameplay[edit]

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[edit]

The Dreamcast and PlayStation versions received "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic,[32][31] and were criticized for the camera perspective,[16][19][28] 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][21] 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.[23] 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.[28]

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,[19] 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.[21]

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]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur Dreamcast". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "EBWorld.com - Dreamcast". October 19, 2000. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur PSone". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "EBWorld.com - PlayStation". October 19, 2000. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. 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. ^ "Les Aventures de Buzz L'Eclair sur Gameboy". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "pocket.ign.com: Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". January 7, 2001. Archived from the original on January 7, 2001. 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. ^ a b c d e f Jon Thompson. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Buzz Lightyear of Star Command instruction manual. PlayStation. Activision. 2000. pp. 8–15.
  15. ^ a b c Traveller's Tales (2000). Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Activision/Disney Interactive.
  16. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. January 2001. Archived from the original on January 29, 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  20. ^ "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. January 2001.
  21. ^ a b c Bramwell, Tom (March 13, 2001). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  22. ^ "REVIEW for Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (DC)". GameFan. October 18, 2000.
  23. ^ a b 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Lopez, Miguel. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Review (Dreamcast)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  26. ^ Dry, Frank (June 2001). "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". Hyper. No. 92. p. 80. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". Nintendo Power. Vol. 138. November 2000. p. 132.
  28. ^ a b c 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.
  29. ^ "Disney/Pixar Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  30. ^ "Disney/Pixar Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for Dreamcast Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  32. ^ a b "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. 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.

External links[edit]

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