Bring Me to Life

Army men are small, unpainted plastic soldiers with no points of articulation. They were originally sold in the 1930s, and playing with them was almost seen as a right of passage for boys growing up in the ’50s and ’60s. They were prominently featured in Toy Story in 1995, and this ultimately gave rise to 3DO’s Army Men video game series. Over 20 Army Men games were released from 1998 to 2002, and Sergeant Hawk (Sarge, for short) has appeared in more games than everyone else on this list combined. The courageous soldier commands an elite squad of misfits, but he often has to act as a one-man-army. A bottomless magazine, a dry sense of humor, and an unexpected love connection help drive Sarge forward through unspeakable horrors of war and an unnecessary number of sequels.

Toy Pop is a top-down multi-directional shooter that was released by Namco way back in 1986. The game focuses on the exploits of a male doll named Pino and a female doll named Acha who fight back against toy soldiers, wind-up cars, and a myriad of other hostile toys en route to rescuing their kidnapped friend from an evil wizard. The game is light on story, but Toy Pop is one of the earliest examples of a game that employed a “living toys” theme. Outside of a small cameo in Project X-Zone 2, Pino and Acha have been virtually abandoned. That would normally work against them, but the fact that they are largely forgotten is oddly appropriate for a list like this. The real world is filled with toys who are abandoned, and Pino and Acha are reminders that different generations are drawn to different things.

Sometimes referred to as Gimmick or Mr. Gimmick, Yumetarō is a small plush toy that was given to a young girl by her father. The girl immediately favored Yumetarō over her other toys, and this had unintended consequences. The other toys felt abandoned and unloved in the wake of Yumetarō’s arrival, so they decided to kidnap the girl while she was sleeping before whisking her away to another dimension. Needless to say, the plan defied logic. In any case, Yumetarō wasted no time in following the other toys into the alternate dimension in order to rescue his owner. Gimmick! is one of the best NES game that was never released in America, so many people reading this may be unfamiliar with Yumetarō and his heroic actions. I hope his appearance on this list will help increase his popularity.

Yarny is a tiny character made from a single thread of yarn that slowly unravels as he explores the world around him. By using the unraveled yarn strategically, Yarny can make bridges, swing from items, and create makeshift trampolines to bounce on. He can even hitch a ride on a flying kite! Yarny is able to solve complicated puzzles, but if he ventures too far he will potentially be unraveled down to a basic wire frame. Fortunately, he can obtain yarn balls to fortify his yarn supply along the way. At its core, Unravel is a heartfelt story that slowly reveals a family’s forgotten memories to the player. The manner in which Yarny unravels represents how people change as they move away from what they love. The tale is told without words, but it’s surprisingly poignant and Yarny is the bond that holds the story together.

At the onset of Ni no Kuni, a young boy named Oliver loses his mother in a tragic accident. After the distraught boy withdraws to his room, his tears somehow cause a plush doll to spring to life. The doll had been a gift from his mother, but Drippy was actually the proclaimed “Lord High Lord of the Fairies” who had apparently been transformed into a doll after failing to defeat an evil wizard. After regaining his original form, Drippy convinces Oliver to accompany him to another world to defeat the wizard once and for all. Defined by a thick Welsh accent and an unusual lantern affixed to his nose, Drippy is a fairy with no counterpart. He helps in battle by restoring health and magic, and he is renowned as a comedian. Drippy acts as a much-needed source of comic relief, and he always has snarky remarks at the ready.

When an evil puppet king invades a peaceful puppet town turns the helpless toys into dastardly minions, Headdy sets out to restore order. The aptly-named hero can throw his detachable head or use it to pull himself onto other platforms. Headdy also has the uncanny ability to swap heads in order to obtain special abilities. He’ll smash through objects with a hammer head, suck in enemies with a vacuum head, and fly around with a handy helicopter head. These various heads are primarily used to attack enemies, but they’re also useful for solving puzzles. Dynamite Headdy stays true to its puppet theme and the story unfolds like a puppet show. Unfortunately, Headdy is pursued by a jealous puppet who wants to be the star of the show. If anything, Headdy is deserving of an even brighter spotlight.

A late-generation PlayStation 3 game that was met with little fanfare, Puppeteer is one of the most charming games that Sony has ever released. It’s presented like an elaborate puppet show, and the audience can even be heard cheering and laughing in accordance to what’s taking place on screen. The game follows the perilous journey of a boy named Kutaro – who is turned into a puppet and promptly decapitated in the opening act. During his adventure, Kutaro obtains various replacement heads until he can recover his own. It would be easy to draw comparisons to Dynamite Headdy, but the 100+ heads that Kutaro uses are largely cosmetic and the abilities they grant are usually innocuous. When he’s not busy trying on new heads, the unconventional hero can slice up the scenery around him with a pair of magical scissors.

A warrior from the Star Road who is sent by a higher authority to restore peace in the Mushroom Kingdom, Geno is able to provide Mario and his friends with sage advice on matters they may not understand. His actual name is ♡♪!?, but he adopts the name Geno in honor of a doll that he inhabits after descending from his celestial home. Although he had the choice of inhabiting dolls in the likeness of Mario or Bowser, he chose Geno instead because he apparently looked the strongest. The doll serves as a conduit that allows him to release powerful energy blasts, but he openly worries about the ownership of his borrowed body and promises to return it when he is able to do so. Geno’s vast knowledge informs his confidence and supports a defiant heroism, but his strong sense of duty and responsibility remains his most distinct trait.

Like most franchises that the Sega Saturn gave birth to, Clockwork Knight doesn’t get a lot of attention. Sir Tongara de Pepperouchau III is seldom mentioned at all, but that may have something to do with his ridiculous name. Clockwork Knight is strong with Toy Story vibes, and the premise revolves around a house of toys who are woken by a fairy princess every night at midnight. After the princess is kidnapped by an unknown force, Pepper takes it upon himself to battle onslaughts of rivals in order to rescue her. Unfortunately for the wind-up toy soldier, Pepper is as clumsy as he is heroic. He’s a bit of a laughing stock, but this doesn’t slow his determination. Whether he’s battling snakes that are made from wooden blocks or riding on the back of his ever-faithful donkey-for-a-steed, Pepper’s life is filled with excitement.

Also known as “Sackthings” or “Sackpeople,” Sackboys are charming creatures made out of fabric and stuffing. They’re stitches are clearly visible and large zippers run down their chests, but their imperfections make them all the more endearing. Although small in stature, Sackboys are among the most emotive characters in gaming. Their ability to convey a wide range of expressions makes it easy to relate to them even though they’re only a few inches tall. One of the more unique aspects about Sackboys (and Sackgirls) is how customizable they are. Players have a plethora of clothing items, fashion accessories, and props at their disposal, and they can even choose an initial material to use as a skin! Downloadable costumes based on holiday themes and other video games make Sackboys relevant in all situations.