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  • $15.00
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Toy Soldiers (Xbox 360)

common sense media says

Teen war strategy game with deceptively realistic violence.

parents & educators say
See all 5 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that despite it's kid-friendly-sounding title, Toy Soldiers is an incredibly violent, surprisingly realistic war game. It should be noted that even though the soldiers in the game are meant to be toys (they shed no blood and fall into pieces when destroyed), they are not the all-green, obviously plastic army men like the ones in Toy Story. These are modeled after old-fashioned collectible toy soldiers that are realistically colored and detailed.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: It's war. The only message is to destroy the enemy before they destroy you. Oh, and that soldiers like to smoke.
Positive role models: These toy soldiers are only doing what they were built to do, but as soulless killing machines in a story-free game with no room for character development, they certainly can't be considered good role models.
Ease of play: The controls work relatively smoothly, but expect a very high challenge level. Bosses are pretty darn difficult, even on "Casual" difficulty.
Violence: The presentation of the combatants as toys lessens the effect somewhat, but this is still a very violent war game. Loud, chaotic warfare takes place in every corner of the screen. Gunshots, explosions, and loud cries are almost constant. Enemies are blown to bits, plastic limbs and/or gears and springs are sent flying. Enemies cough and collapse in clouds of mustard gas, or scream and burn under flamethrower attacks. The one thing you'll see none of though, is blood.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: No one is seen smoking or drinking, but there are several written references on screen. Rum is specifically mentioned in several short asides about WWI soldiers. And a pack of cigarettes can be "earned" as a bonus item that appears in a trophy case. There, the cigarettes are referred to as "a soldier's most precious commodity."
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More on Toy Soldiers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the true history of World War I. That particular war is not as commonly used as a setting for video games (or movies or TV, for that matter) as WWII or other wars that followed it. This game brings up a perfect chance to introduce the topic.
  • Families can also talk about violence in video games. Does violence bother you if there's no blood? Does lack of blood make a game less violent? Or is there no real difference? Are there any ways in which a game without blood can actually be more violent than one that does feature animated blood?

What's the story?

What's the story?
TOY SOLDIERS is a real-time WWI combat game set on a tabletop. Two armies of realistic-looking military toys will advance upon one another, each attempting to take over the other's toy box. Players use large machine guns, mortars, howitzers, chemical weapon gases, flamethrowers, and bombs to destroy oncoming enemies that may be on foot, horseback, in jeeps or tanks. In the solo campaign mode, giant boss vehicles sometimes lumber toward your base, dropping tons of troops as they go.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Toy Soldiers may be chaotic and violent, but it is also really, really good. The visuals are nothing short of gorgeous, and the antique-y look that overlays the whole game makes this real-time strategy game feel very special and unique. In a way, it seems like the whole "toy" aspect was only layered onto the game to make it look amazingly cool (which it does). If the game were made as a "realistic" WWI strategy game, it would still be a great example of the genre. But the unique settings and look of the game do add a whole lot.

It can be very challenging, but in a way that makes you want to keep trying over and over, deploying new strategies each time your base gets overrun. For the $15 price tag, Toy Soldiers is a particularly great buy -- but only for players who would be old enough to handle a "real" war game.

Online interaction: Like most Xbox Live Arcade games, online multiplayer allows for un-moderated voice chat.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Xbox 360
Available online
Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Developer: Microsoft
Released on: March 2, 2010
Price: 15.00
ESRB Rating: T for Alcohol and Tobacco References, Violence
Screenshots
This review was written by Christopher Healy
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

zachanimal
teen, 14 years old
8
 
Great game for kids and adults
I bought this the day it came out i beat it in about four or five days i liked it its like a Strategy Tower defense game and my 8 year old brother plays it.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (4)
SMG5052
kid, 13 years old
9
 
A great strategy defense game
A fun addicting game that focuses on WWI battles, with toy gore (sprockets,screws plastic limbs etc). You can control the defensive units to do more damge or leave it to the NPCs (non player character). This game also makes you have to think to win, especially during boss battles. This also shows what rations soilders used in the great war. They sound repulsive, trust me.I would let my child play this, but i dont have a child, cuz im 12. But you might, let them play this.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
MovieReviewGuy
teen, 14 years old
13
 
Good for 13+
Great arcade game for the X-Box 360; can be downloaded off the XBox Live Arcade for a small price. It is violent, but nothing graphic is shown; after all, they are only toy soldiers. The backgrounds are cool and the concept of using battery-operated remote-control helicopters and planes is very cool. So is the idea of protecting your own toybox; it's really a great game, not too violent, and great for ages 13+
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VaultBoy
adult
12
 
A good introduction to the ways of war.
Toy Soldiers is an addictive strategy game, that might just teach your kids a bit about WWI. -Violence: This game is set during world war I. There is enough violence to do justice to the horrors of trench warfare without being overwhelming. -Alcohool and Tobacco references are negligible.
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SmallSoldier90
kid, 13 years old
11
 
great game but can kids play it?
I loved this game from easy controls to graphics and it's just fun.Only thing that bothers me is the fact they have cigares (Hope I spelled it right) in this game.Isn't that a drug or something.Another thing is death is in this game.Now all of you guys might be thinking "They are toys whats the big deal?".Here's the big deal.....IT IS STILL VIOLENT!Blood or no Blood it still can scare kids when seeing guys getting burned alive or coaking to death by clorine gas.Mustard gas can't get seen.so should kids get to play this game or not I wonder.......
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