Publisher: 3DO
Developer: 3DO
Release Date: 2/28/1999
Date Played: 1/20/2019
Region: USA
Time Played: 14 minutes
What’d you think?: It doesn’t take a particularly keen eye to find symbolism in mass-produced cheap plastic toy soldiers. Arguments will be made from all positions that the symbolism is sympathetic to whatever view on war the speaker holds. The video game franchise based on this genre of toy (all sorts of companies manufacture toy soldiers and 3DO didn’t officially tie in with any of them) embraces an enthusiastically pro-war position. Old Movietone newsreel-style cutscenes announce the objectives, evoking the more socially palatable WW2, while the missions just send you into the desert to blow up weapons depots run by the Tan Army, evoking more contemporary American war adventures. At least the first mission did because I took a few hits and died really quickly into it (apparently because you’re supposed to roll, rather than go prone, to avoid getting shot), getting an immediate game over in a game ostensibly for kids. Wild bullshit abound.
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWBjzLPyjIc
