Toy Soldiers: Cold War
Toy Soldiers: Cold War
Developer(s)Signal Studios
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Platform(s)Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Windows Phone
Microsoft Windows
ReleaseXbox 360
August 17, 2011[1]
Evil Empire and Napalm
April 25, 2012
Windows
October 26, 2012
Genre(s)Action, strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Toy Soldiers: Cold War is an action strategy video game, developed by Signal Studios. It is the sequel to Toy Soldiers. Toy Soldiers: Cold War features 1980s-era military technology, and is based around the idea of military aggression escalating between the USA and the USSR. Toy Soldiers: Cold War features a blend of third-person action and strategy, similar to the original Toy Soldiers, but with added features and gameplay mechanics.

Gameplay

In Toy Soldiers: Cold War players control their army using real time strategy and can selectively play as individual units.

Toy Soldiers: Cold War features similar gameplay to the original game, with players trying to repel a Soviet invasion across a diorama towards a toybox in a child's bedroom. Compared to the original game which featured generic World War I battlefields, diorama settings range from jungles and deserts to real world locations such as the streets of Paris and the Great Pyramids.

The game features boss levels with certain large enemies, such as the Antonov winged tank, the Typhoon-class submarine and the final boss, the Russian project R.I.S.E and a number of changes and additions to the gameplay. For example, while players are still able to control vehicles such as tanks or helicopter gunships on the battlefield, time using these vehicles is limited by a battery charge which can be replenished either by collecting floating battery icons or returning the vehicle to its recharge stand. In addition, killstreaks are rewarded with special one-time attacks called "Barrages", which include being given the ability to call an airstrike or control an invincible Rambo-inspired commando for a limited time.

Reception

Pre-release

The announcement of Toy Soldiers: Cold War was made on March 9, 2011, as a lead up to its first public showing at the 2011 PAX East convention in Boston, Massachusetts.[19] Jordan Devore of Destructoid said, "Way to set the bar high, Signal Studios."[20] and Stephen Totilo of Kotaku's reaction was that, "It looks like a fantastic upgrade."[21]

Toy Soldiers: Cold War made another showing at the 2011 E3 Convention to a positive reception. Along with its inclusion into the Xbox Live 2011 Summer of Arcade promotion,[22] Toy Soldiers: Cold War playable demos were hosted on the show floor. For the event, Signal Studios developed and released a new trailer for the game while also being featured in the Summer of Arcade promotional video.[23][24] Talking about the barrage types, Arthur Gies of IGN said, "the show-stealer was The Commando. The Commando is, simply put, John Rambo, a John Rambo that carries a machine gun in one hand and a bazooka in the other, a John Rambo who screams things like "You wanted a war!"[25]

Early reviews were generally positive ahead of release.[3][4][10][12][14][15][16] Eurogamer said that while it was a definite improvement over its predecessor, "it can't survive more than a few days of intense play".[6]

Post-release

Toy Soldiers: Cold War was released on Xbox Live on August 17, 2011, and received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2]

GamePro said, "If you buy just one tower defense game this year, well, knock yourself out. But if you want a really good action game with some tower defense, some great scoring challenges, some wonderful multiplayer support, some great graphics, and a wonderful sense of humor, you can't go wrong with Toy Soldiers: Cold War."[8] Destructoid called it "a very well-rounded and big package of content that goes beyond what other games in this price-range tend to offer."[4] GameRevolution said, "Even if you're not particularly a fan of tower defense games like me, simply controlling your units, getting combos, and using the special barrage weapons will win you over."[9]

411Mania gave it a score of nine out of ten, saying, "Overall, Toy Soldiers Cold War is definitely worth your time. From hilarious one liners, to great music reminiscent of the 80's, Signal Studios hit one out of the park here. I can honestly say this game is the most fun I've had with an XBLA title in quite some time. Easily the best of what I have played from Microsoft's Summer of Arcade."[26] The Escapist gave it four stars out of five, saying, "The game hits on a lot of levels; it's challenging, full of charm, and genuinely fun. I just wish it wasn't over quite so soon."[17] The Digital Fix gave it eight out of ten, saying, "Toy Soldiers Cold War is a definite improvement on its predecessor and good value for your points on XBLA and whatever minor issues it has along the way are very easily overlooked. Boasting unique gameplay, an excellent premise and one cracking sense of humour it is definitely one of the highlights of this year's Summer of Arcade on XBL. Recommended."[27]

"Toy Soldier[s]: Cold War immediately tapped into my inner child with its colorful and explosive action and is sure to dazzle real-time strategists, model makers and lovers of vintage weapons in the family." – The Washington Times[28]

"Toy Soldiers: Cold War mixes just the right amount of humor, strategy and player control to prove fairly addictive." – Time[18]

During the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Toy Soldiers: Cold War for "Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year".[29]

As of year-end 2011 sales of the Xbox 360 version exceeded 248,575 units.[30]

References

  1. ↑ Signal Studios [@Signal_Studios] (June 28, 2011). "Excited to finally say that Toy Soldiers: Cold War releases on August 17th!" (Tweet). Retrieved July 2, 2011 – via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 "Toy Soldiers: Cold War for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Winterhalter, Ryan (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Tan, Maurice (August 15, 2011). "Review: Toy Soldiers: Cold War". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Tan, Maurice (April 30, 2012). "Review: Toy Soldiers: Cold War – Evil Empire & Napalm DLC". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Whitehead, Dan (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Miller, Matt (August 17, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Chick, Tom (August 16, 2011). "Review: Toy Soldiers: Cold War (XBLA)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Reboucas, Eduardo (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Calvert, Justin (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Toy Soldiers: Cold War". GameTrailers. Viacom. August 17, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Gesualdi, Vito (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Shoemaker, Brad (August 17, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". Giant Bomb. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Eykemans, Peter (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  15. 1 2 Mitchell, Richard (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War review: Back in the USSR". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Lewis, Cameron (August 15, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Butts, Steve (August 30, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review". The Escapist. Gamurs. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Narcisse, Evan (August 17, 2011). "Going Commando: 'Toy Soldiers: Cold War' Review". Time. Time USA, LLC. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ Gilbert, Ben (March 9, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War revealed, coming to PAX East". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on March 13, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ Devore, Jordan (March 10, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War is shaping up nicely". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  21. ↑ Totilo, Stephen (March 12, 2011). "Toy Soldiers: Cold War Adds Co-Op And... Is That Rambo?". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  22. ↑ Hinkle, David (June 6, 2011). "Xbox Live Summer of Arcade 2011 kicks off July 20". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  23. ↑ "SignalStudiosGames". YouTube. Google. Archived from the original on 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  24. ↑ XboxViewTV (June 9, 2011). "Xbox Live Arcade – E3 2011: Summer of Arcade Montage | OFFICIAL | HD". YouTube. Goole. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  25. ↑ Gies, Arthur (June 9, 2011). "E3: 2011: Toy Soldiers: Cold War – Turning Back the Clock". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  26. ↑ Vote, Todd (August 17, 2011). "Toy Soldiers Cold War (XBLA) Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  27. ↑ Phillips, Andrew (September 10, 2011). "Toy Soldiers Cold War". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  28. ↑ Szadkowski, Joseph (August 16, 2011). "Zadzooks: Toy Soldiers: Cold War review (Xbox Live Arcade)". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  29. ↑ "2012 Awards Category Details Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  30. ↑ Langley, Ryan (January 20, 2012). "Xbox Live Arcade by the numbers - the 2011 year in review". Game Developer. Informa. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
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