The Army Men video game series
アーミーメン ビデオゲームシリーズ
HQ: “First Lieutenant Chester Roberts1, please review this U.S. Army-inspired video game series about plastic army men for us.”
Me: “Copy that, HQ. Roberts out.”
Hello. We’re talking about the Army Men video game series, originally developed by The 3DO Company and then by Global Star Software (later 2K Games). It is based on various conflicts between four kinds of plastic army men, distinguished by their color: the Green, the Tan, the Blue, and the Grey. Two other factions, the Red and the Orange, and a much smaller army, the Black faction, also contribute to the story.
We know the list will be exhaustive, but we’re covering the 3DO Company era. In the games, you fight against the Tan Republic, the enemy group of the video game series, similar to the Republican Party2. The Green Nation, the heroic group of the video game series, is very similar to the Democratic Party3. None of the games in the series have a Japanese release.
The first order of business is Army Men, released in the spring of 1998 for the Windows PC and Game Boy Color. Regarded as a classic by fans, this is one of the few games to display Sarge and his squad as pawns in a bigger battle. Two features that make this game almost unique in the series are its storytelling (Black-White spoofs of old-time, World War II-style newsreels) and the fact that it often depicts a frontline or other fighting that doesn’t involve the main characters.
Army Men II was released in early 1999 for the Windows PC and late 2000 for the Game Boy Color. The player returns to the role of Sergeant Hawk (aka “Sarge”), the main protagonist from the previous game, races the Tan Forces to a portal and enters, finding himself in a kitchen. The game begins with a massive tan force, including Plastro himself, chasing him through the portal. Major Mylar betrays Plastro, the Tan commander and the series’ main antagonist, destroys the portal as he enters it, and takes control of the Tan army and territories.
Army Men: Toys in Space, known in Europe as Army Men in Space, was released in late 1999 exclusively for the Windows PC. It is the only game in the series to feature Tina Tomorrow and the Space Aliens. In the “Reality Check” stage, the players can see a 3DO console, Reebok-inspired high-top sneakers, and various 3DO games. I never owned a 3DO console or an Atari Jaguar myself.
Army Men: Air Tactics was released in early 2000 exclusively for the Windows PC. The player character is Captain William Blade of the Green Airborne Cavalry. The game is a top-down flight sim that places the player in a number of different helicopters. Captain Blade’s main responsibility is to act as aerial support for Sarge Hawk and his men. The game introduces abilities such as lifting and transporting heavy objects to other locations, landing on the ground to load/unload soldiers, and unique airborne combat not seen in other games. In addition, the game contains a number of mini games, such as playing air hockey versus a Tan helicopter, as well as a number of static games.
Army Men: Sarge’s Heroes was released between 1999 and 2000 for the Nintendo 64, Windows PC, Sega Dreamcast, and PlayStation. Mortal Kombat’s then-owner Midway Games (now closed) handled the Dreamcast port, GT Interactive (today Atari Inc.), the game’s publisher, ported the game for the PC for the North American Market, and Saffire (now closed), the game’s developer, also ported the game for the Dreamcast. The game introduces Colonel Grimm, the Green Forces’ leader, and Victoria “Vikki” Grimm, the colonel’s daughter, Sarge’s love interest, and the series’ first female protagonist.
Army Men: World War (Army Men: Operation Meltdown in Europe), released in the spring of 2000, includes 12 missions themed after World War II, plus a Boot Camp tutorial. Unlike the previous games in the series, the player does not take the role of Sergeant Hawk. Players take command of an entire infantry squad, although the game also lets the player control an individual squad member who can run, crawl, and dive. The infantry squad is armed with guns and grenades. Guns include things like machine guns, flamethrowers, bazookas, and sniper rifles. Even vehicles like tanks and jeeps can be put to use. An occasional napalm or air strike can also be called in to destroy the enemy forces. Players should keep as many squad members alive as squads can carry over to future missions.
Army Men: Sarge’s Heroes 2 was released between late 2000 and early 2001 for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2. The game is the direct sequel to Army Men: Sarge’s Heroes, and it starts where its predecessor left off. It is announced that the capture of Field Marshal Tannenberg will end the war. Since General Plastro has disappeared, it is suggested that he has become a victim of plastrification and been trapped in the real world. The game introduces Bridgette Bleu, a spy for the Blue Nation (and the series’ second female protagonist). She has developed a serum that reverses plastrification. The player’s job as Sarge and sometimes Vikki is to destroy the serum, eliminate Tan soldiers, and capture Plastro and Tannenberg (and as Sarge sometimes has to rescue Vikki as she has a knack for getting into trouble). The game goes between Sarge’s “realistic” world and the real world, where Sarge is the size of a typical plastic Army Man soldier. It features many interactive effects, such as breakable wine bottles, bustable soda cans, and music that spikes in intensity when enemies attack. Unlike the previous game, which was darker in tone, this game has more of a lighthearted storyline.
The 3DO Company, the video game series’ developer and original IP owner, went bankrupt in 2003 due to poor sales of its games, and the company’s former employees were laid off without pay. Take-Two Interactive, the video game holding company known for the Grand Theft Auto series, has taken over the Army Men IP and trademarks.
Me: “First Lieutenant Roberts here. Mission complete.”
HQ: “Good work, Roberts. Don’t forget to add the “Subscribe” button on this Substack newsletter so people can revist their childhood. HQ out.”
The author is not a member of the United States Army (it’s a retro gaming and anime blog, roll with it!). This is also the author’s given name. For those living in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, it’s “Leftenant”.
In the case of Canada, the Tory Party, or in the case of Brazil, Partido Liberal “Liberal Party”.
In the case of Canada, the Liberal Party, or in the case of the UK, the Labour Party, or in the case of Brazil, Partido dos Trabalhadores “Workers’ Party”.