Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

"Is the galaxy saved on Dreamcast?"

Based on the semi-popular cartoon series by Pixar, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command was an excellent game on the Playstation (which I also reviewed when I rented it months ago), but will it win on Sega’s 128-bit wonder or a simple hand-me-down port?

Graphics – 9/10

The game engine flows very smoothly. Buzz Lightyear benefits from enhanced cell shading and the models and textures seem to be quite detailed, more than those of the Playstation version. Explosions, laser blasts, tractor beams and shield effects are quite nice and rarely slow down the game engine. The cut scenes are near DVD quality; from the intro, to the scenes shown in-between levels. Also, of note is that in the Dreamcast version, draw distance can be adjusted, which can make the framerate move even faster.

Sound – 9/10

A wide variety of voice actors are used both in the cut scenes and in the game. All are quite good, especially the ones that play XR, Buzz Lightyear and some of the evil bad guys. Laser blasts and explosions come in loud and clear. The music is also quite good, sounding a little like Star Trek and Star Wars music with a cartoon kick.

Gameplay – 9/10

You are given a quick preview by your commander as to who the enemy is. Then, you see an FMV cutscene relating to that enemy then the level starts. The gameplay is a most fascinating blend of genres. You have to pursue a boss through an enemy-infested level to a ‘getaway spot’. Buzz starts out with only his standard-issue laser and can only walk and run. During the level, when enemies are destroyed, they leave Galactic Credits, or GACS, behind. Picking these up will allow Buzz to collect all kinds of power-ups such as machine lasers, mine throwers, bazookas and even more. It will allow use of teleporters, rockets, and rocket boards, which can let you fly through a level. You can also pick up stranded LGMs (Little Green Men) while traversing a level for an extra medal. At the end, if you beat the boss to the ‘getaway spot’, fellow Space Ranger Nova will weaken the bosses’ shield and total health by at least half for you. If the boss gets to the end before you, that leaves Buzz 15 seconds to reach the ‘getaway spot’ or the level ends. All Bosses have at least one shield, while others have two. The shield is color-coded with the weapon that works against it. After defeating the boss, an FMV cutscene will play and you will earn medals depending on your performance in the level. Half-medals are awarded for collecting all the LGMs and whole medals are awarded for defeating the boss, collecting a certain large amount of galactic credits and keeping them at the end of the level and the time it took you. After beating a boss, you can replay a level in Time Trial mode, where you fly though a level before time runs out or XR Mode, where you fly through the level under an allotted time while searching for and collecting the robots’ scattered parts. Medals are earned for beating those, and the medals are used for unlocking later levels. In short, Developer Traveler’s Tales has done an excellent job for this game. The Dreamcast version seems to control better, with the trigger buttons serving as the sidestep function perfectly. Unfortunately, this version features no multiplayer of any kind. There are, however, 15 levels for single player.

Miscellaneous –

Game saves on the VMU only take up 2 blocks. The game, developed by Traveler’s Tales and published by Activision, also supports the Jump Pack, Arcade Stick, and the VGA Box. Rated E, it is also available on the Sony Playstation.

Overall – 9/10

Like its Playstation little brother (?), the game is also quite good on Dreamcast. The game has great graphics, good voice acting and sound effects, and a solid plus unique gameplay engine. Highly recommended.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/29/01, Updated 09/29/01