Toy Soldiers: Cold War Review (XBLA)

Making a game with an obvious nostalgic element to it is always a risk; are there enough people in the target audience to be worthwhile? Toy Soldiers: Cold War asks that question of those who enjoyed playing with military-themed toys and action figures of the 1980s, and the answer may be irrelevant. The slick 80s theme will make a very strong pull at the hearts of those who grew up in that time, but it doesn’t matter for the simple fact that this game can stand up on its own merits. Building upon the original game’s theme of tower defense with toys based on historical wars, Cold War keeps the familiar formula of mowing down tons of enemy troops and vehicles while giving you new ways to do it and making smart improvements. Stages in Cold War are played from two views; an overhead mode where you build defenses to protect your toy box from waves of invaders, followed by shooting segments where you get to actually use the toys you laid down. These are usually played in a third person perspective, letting you take control of machine gun turrets, anti-tank weaponry, and whatever else you picked out to deal with the enemies. You’ll be switching between these views frequently, both to repair damage the enemy inflicted on your turrets and to upgrade to better versions so players are never kept in one ’mode’ for too long. That’s a good thing, since each stage lasts about fifteen to thirty minutes and might otherwise become monotonous. While the 80s presentation isn’t a crutch that Cold War relies on, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Most of the music sounds quite familiar to that era, and stages convincingly mix a child’s toy play-set (albeit one far fancier than most of us likely had) with random props of the time; it’s amusing to see missing parts of stages be filled in by things like an old 5.25” hard disk (the ones that were actually quite floppy!) or an early model cordless phone, and this sort of improvised play-area motif adds to the 80s charm. Various new mechanics build upon that theme. Some are just improvements of features from the original game, offering new vehicles with heavier firepower appropriate to this era; a helicopter with missiles and chain guns is notably more impressive than a World War I biplane. Other features are more distinct, such as the “Barrages” you can earn by doing particularly well at the controls of one turret.

Collectable Toys from the 1980′s

The 1980′s were a very interesting and varied time for toys. These toys are now becoming very collectible. Some of the buyers are just trying to recapture a favorite toy from their childhood.

Some of the items that people will pay a considerable amount for are items that were not produced for very long. There were many character toys done during the 80′s, many of which were quite odd and unusual. The first that comes to mind are Popples, those little creatures that roll into a ball! They sell almost the minute you list them on Ebay! I sold a little tiny 3″ one from the 1980′s for 14.99! There were a few different types, and they all are greatly prized. Don’t assume they have to b e mint or in the package. They don’t. Most people buying these items are in their 20′s and just want the item for the memory value…..not a financial investment.

Mon Chi Chi falls under this category of odd items. They are little monkey-like creatures that people collect. They were made in different fabrications. I had one that I sold made out of a real fur, it seemed. Chubbles, those toys that light up when the light changes….the ones with blue hoods and no logo are the first ones. Ewoks and anything related to that line of characters are rare.

Care Bears from any year are always wanted……the vintage ones no exception..the care bear cousins are also valued. While these are more available, they still sell. Strawberry Shortcake Toys are loved by almost every age. The original 80′s items are very sought after. Hardly any collectable has the cult following these enjoy. Whole websites are dedicated to these collections. I ran across a mini-house that had a highly prized pink blanket with it…just a little square of pink lace that most people had lost over the years. The Strawberry Shortcake items may be just a certain little tiny piece someone is looking for…..ALWAYS pay attention to any of these items you find. Complete or not.

Fisher Price Little People items….Farms, trains, airports, houses, etc….any and all parts and pieces are important. There are people who collect and buy those little people from the 80′s that are now considered a choking hazard. They have various facial features….beards, etc…different hats….there are many websites explaining the different characters! You may have the car, cow or cowboy someone is missing. WEEBLES Also HAVE A FOLLOWING.

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The 1980s