The tower defence genre can be a daunting one to those unfamiliar with a slow methodical style of game. Fortunately, Toy Soldiers from Signal Studios offers a more accessible entry to the genre, merging real time strategy with an action game, together creating an experience for more challenging and fun than either can be on their own.
Using the First World War as a backdrop, Toy Soldiers plays out across 24 campaign levels. As you might expect, players take control of either British or German troops and try to overcome the opposing side’s forces. With that tone, the game is quite serious, but rather than putting you in control of a soldier that you expect to survive the battle, the game plays up its strategic side. The towers being defended in each level are forts for the toy soldiers of the title, in reality shiny red toy boxes, and the toy soldiers are exactly that. Lampshades and shelves fill the background, mechanical vehicles (a variety of tanks and planes) operate on clockwork winders and instead of bloodshed soldiers explode into plastic chunks when hit. Combined with impressive effects and polish, the game recreates childhood dreams of marching little plastic soldiers to their death, while also capturing the reality of a tactical pastime (and, of course, players of Risk.)
While at its heart Toy Soldiers is a tower defence game, defending your tower with different turrets (machine guns, anti-aircraft artiller), it interjects the strategy of building/upgrading with an action mode similar to that of Nintendo’s Battalion series in which players are given the ability to take control of each turret as well as an array of vehicles to keep enemies from reaching their tower. This mode is crucial to the later levels and harder difficulties, which will prove a challenge for even the most veteran tower defence players. This mode keeps the action fast paced while still maintaining the tactical element so important to similar games, and even when gunning the enemy down, you will be forced to exit this mode to upgrade or build some more turrets.
While careless turret selection (or perhaps a zealous over-indulgence in more action-based play) will result in frustration for some players, Toy Soldiers offers a “skip level” option in which players having died a sufficient number of times will be offered the option to surrender and advance to the next level without earning achievements. Those wanting a challenge won’t find themselves wanting to use the option but it’s a welcome addition for those new to the genre or those just wanting to see the next level.
Complementing the single-player campaign is an impressive online multiplayer mode in which players attempt to storm their opponent’s toy box. It’s a drastic change from the main game, expecting gamers to play offensively while still maintaining their defensive edge, and players will no doubt take a couple of beatings before being able to incorporate both elements seamlessly. Various game types and leaderboards will keep players busy after the main game, and for those with slow internet connections (or just not in the mood for online play), there is also an unlockable survival mode which pits players against a never ending stream of enemies.
From a purely tower defence perspective, Toy Soldiers might not seem to offer anything new but its action orientated additions and nostalgia-infused history makes it a unique experience. It may not perfectly recreate those childhood war games that it aspires to, but it comes real close. and provides a great virtual alternative.
Zombie Rating: B+
Toy Soldiers is available to download now on XBox Live Arcade.
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