Movies like Toy Story and Small Soldiers were certainly the inspiration for this franchise, and I’m sure we’ve all had dreams (or perhaps nightmares) of our plastic toys coming to life. Bringing plastic army men to life and putting them into realistic wartime scenarios is what the Toy Soldiers franchise has always been about and this latest HD remaster and port to the Switch could just be the ideal way to play.
Toy Soldiers HD is a tower defense game that originally released on Xbox 360 in 2010 and has now been remastered and released on the Nintendo Switch. The game is set in a world where toys have come to life, and you take control of a toy soldier to defend your toy box from enemy attacks. The experience is split into two modes: Campaign and Survival. The Campaign mode consists of eight levels that are set in different locations, such as a bedroom, kitchen, and garden. Each level has a different layout and requires you to defend your toy box from waves of enemy toys.
The gameplay mechanics are simple but effective. You have a limited amount of money to spend on different types of turrets, which can be placed in strategic locations to fend off the enemy. There are different types of turrets available, such as machine guns, mortars, and anti-aircraft guns, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. You can also control a toy soldier, which can be moved around the battlefield to take out enemy toys manually. Survival mode is a more challenging mode that requires you to survive as long as possible against an endless wave of enemy toys. This mode is perfect for those who want a more challenging experience.
In addition to a strong single-player component, Toy Soldiers HD has a robust multiplayer offering that offers an improved and more challenging experience versus the shaky AI found in the single-player modes. Players are still tasked with defending their base from enemy attacks while simultaneously attacking their opponent’s base, only now you are going up against unpredictable humans. The game offers three different multiplayer modes: Versus, Survival, and Co-Op.
The multiplayer aspect of Toy Soldiers HD is where the game truly shines. The three different multiplayer modes provide a lot of variety and offer different challenges for players to overcome. Versus mode is particularly fun, with players trying to outsmart and outmaneuver their opponent while defending their own base. The first player to destroy their opponent’s base wins. Survival mode is a co-op mode where players work together to survive waves of enemy attacks. Co-Op mode is also played with a partner, but players must work together to complete objectives, such as defending a convoy or capturing a flag. The online multiplayer works well, with no noticeable lag or connectivity issues. The game also offers local multiplayer, allowing players to play together on the same console.
The gameplay is addictive and engaging, with a good balance of offense and defense. Players must use a combination of infantry, tanks, and artillery to defend their base and attack their opponent’s. The game offers a wide variety of units, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and players must strategically place them on the battlefield to maximize their effectiveness. Thanks to multiple difficulty settings and numerous modes of single and online play, Toy Soldiers HD offers plenty of replayability.
Toy Soldiers HD has been remastered with updated graphics, and the game looks as good as you’d expect for a 13-year old game ported to the Nintendo Switch. The graphics are bright and colorful, and the toy soldiers and enemy toys look great. The remastered version provides enhanced visuals compared to the original game with detailed and colorful environments, with a lot of attention to detail given to the various units and weapons. The game also runs smoothly on the Switch, with no noticeable lag or frame drops. The sound design is also top-notch, with a great soundtrack that fits the World War I theme perfectly and some reasonably realistic sound effects to mimic the battlefield atmosphere with each unit having its own unique sound when firing or moving.
Toy Soldiers HD is a fantastic tower defense game that is perfect for the Nintendo Switch. The gameplay mechanics are simple but effective, and the updated graphics and sound design make the game look and sound reasonably new. The game has a lot of replayability, and the multiplayer mode adds even more value to the game.
Overall, Toy Soldiers HD is an excellent game that offers engaging gameplay, impressive graphics, and a great soundtrack. The multiplayer aspect of the game is particularly enjoyable, with the different modes providing a lot of variety and challenges. If you’re a fan of tower defense games or looking for a fun multiplayer experience on the Nintendo Switch, Toy Soldiers HD is definitely worth checking out.
