Buy Disney Infinity 2.0: Toy Box Starter Pack

The Disney Infinity: Toy Box Starter Pack is an alternative starter set for Disney Infinity 2.0. It comes with Stitch from "Lilo and Stitch" and Merida from "Brave," in addition to the game, the figurine base, and two power discs. It's a bit lighter on content than the Marvel Heroes pack that the game originally launched with, but it's also about $15 cheaper. It has everything you need to play the game, and the core game is the same as in our earlier review of the main Marvel Heroes adventure. The core gameplay is identical between both versions of the playset, and the only major difference between the two is which figures are included.

The Toy Box Starter Pack comes with the two aforementioned characters, and they're both good choices. Merida mainly uses her bow to attack while Stitch has laser pistols and a cartoony brawling style. They actually resemble Hawkeye and Rocket Raccoon from the Marvel set, although with some notable differences.  Merida and Stitch are some of the weaker entries because they have less variety and fewer capabilities when compared to the other characters in the lineup.  

In addition, we had the chance to try out some other 2.0 characters, most of which are Disney exclusives. This includes characters like Angelina Jolie's version of Maleficent, classic heroes like Donald Duck, and the Marvel/Disney characters from the new "Big Hero 6." Baymax from "Big Hero 6" is sure to be a favorite, but I was also rather surprised by Maleficent, who's remarkably fun to play and has a lot of variety.

One of my complaints in the Disney Infinity 2.0 review was that there is a clear delineation between characters who are fun and those who are limited, and unfortunately, that still applies here. Tinkerbell's ability to fly does a lot to make the game fun. The imbalance feels a bit unreasonable, though. Without a core adventure to play through, it's unlikely kids will feel as stymied by the character limitations. So far, the collection only contains a few additional characters, but more are coming down the line. It's hard to fault their choices. Aside from the unproven Baymax and Hiro from "Big Hero Six," each is a classic character that hasn't been represented yet in the Infinity universe. Even as an adult, I have to admit there's something pretty charming about having an angry Donald Duck fuming on my desk.

The two power discs that the game comes with are Brave Forest Siege and Stitch's Tropical Rescue. Brave Forest Siege has you wandering through a forest to rescue Merida's brothers while you fight off enchanted wooden carvings. Stitch's Tropical Rescue is more of a tower defense-style game where you fight off evil robots with Stitch's natural abilities and some traps. Neither game is particularly deep and complex, but Stitch's Tropical Rescue is the standout of the two. The Merida game is pretty dull and involves a lot of boring wandering. Many of the Toy Box levels I found online were more engaging. The Tropical Rescue levels are a tad more fun to play and make better use of the character. Neither will have any particularly long-lasting value, but they're a nice break from the basic Toy Box gameplay.

If there's one big flaw of the Toy Box Starter Pack compared to the more expensive Marvel Heroes pack, it lacks a full-featured adventure mode. While it contains the base Disney Infinity Toy Box gameplay, it doesn't have any fully featured adventures like the main set or the Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man sets. This makes it a harder sell for a single purchase. For $15 more, you get an additional figurine and the adventure mode, which is frankly a lot more value for your buck. If your child has no interest in Marvel Super Heroes but still wants Disney Infinity 2.0, the Toy Box Starter Pack is a better option, but otherwise, there's no reason to go for it over the full-featured Marvel offering.

In the end, that basically sums up the Disney Infinity: Toy Box Starter Pack. It's a lower-priced alternative for those who aren't interested in the Marvel aspect of Disney Infinity 2.0. It's a poor buy if you're purchasing for a child who's excited about Disney Infinity 2.0, but it's not a bad choice for a Disney-loving child who is merely upgrading to the new version. The content is also all available on its own, so there is no fear of a Stitch or Merida-loving kid missing out on a favorite character. All of the same praise and complaints, about the original game apply to this add-on pack.

Score: 7.5/10