Game Review: Toy Story Drop (Mobile – Free to Play)

With the release of Toy Story 4, it’s almost expected that we would get some tie-in games. Gone are the days of big budget releases hoping to earn a buck through association, though. Instead it’s the free to play market that looks and sees some easy money by taking a well worn idea and slapping a new skin over it.

So what great new idea does Toy Story Drop introduce? As the name suggests it is a ‘match-3’ game. Admittedly these types used to flood the market but since creators realised they actually had to put some work into those, they’ve kind of dried up. Now instead it’s all ‘idle’ this or ‘io’ that. So Toy Story Drop is in a strong position to actually get attention purely by not being those.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that it is exactly like every match-3 game ever but with a Toy Story skin. We’ve seen it, we’ve played it and we’ve ignored the horrendously overpriced in-app purchases. It’s as basic as they come but…and it’s a big but…it’s not a bad game. In fact it’s one of the best match-3 games out there right now.

Why? Simply because of variety and a total lack of ads. Eschewing the new formula of ad spam over in-app purchases, Toy Story Drop instead goes to the old way of doing things. No ads, the occasional pop up offering you a ‘great deal’, premium currency and timers.

It says a lot about the state of the free to play market that these elements are almost welcome when compared to what we have to put up with now.

So as we said, it’s a match-3 game with a Toy Story skin. Levels have a wide range of objectives from clearing a certain colour, to popping all the bubble wrap, to using an etch-a-sketch and more. Variety is there even if it still amounts to matching 3 or more colours. Bonus items are dished out when certain patterns are created and/or multiple matches are made. This are very useful as they can often clear huge swathes of the board helping you eliminate the odd pesky one left over.

Levels are laid out on an ‘interactive’ map where you can tap certain items for ‘Easter eggs’ and every so often you’ll reach a story based objective. Here you’ll get some character interactions before having to complete a specific task that is normally quite challenging. Which brings us up Toy Story Drops biggest issue…the challenge.

It’s important to recognise that that the game is for children. Its age rating is for years 4+. With that in mind, the sudden steep difficulty curves are incredibly questionable. True to free to play form, Toy Story Drop seems to recognise that you’re ‘doing too well’ so comes down hard. Suddenly, the randomised level will be way harder and you’ll find yourself restarting over and over again. At least until you run out lives. Then you’ll either wait out a timer or stump up some coins to get another one.

The game does give you coins but they come in small amounts. You’ll be able to refill your lives a few times but after that? Time to wait or reach into your pocket…or your parents pockets. Of course these range from £1.99 for a pitiful amount of coins (240) to £99.99 for the most horrendously priced offer ever seen in free to play gaming. Bold claim?

So what do you get for a penny short of £100? A finite amount of coins (9,850), a finite amount of boosts items (6 of each – 36 in total) and wait for it, 3 hours worth of infinite lives. It might as well have a message that comes up after you’ve paid for it saying ‘thanks, suckers’.

Not only are the prices egregious but their are so many options. Almost like it’s designed to confuse its player base, which in case you’ve forgotten, is young children. You know, the ones most likely to be seeing Toy Story 4.

Setting that aside, something that is not easy to do, Toy Story Drop is a decent match-3 game. With variety in levels, a nice looking Toy Story skin and a varying degree of challenge for the older player.