Certain objectives require the use of a special power-up that must first be unlocked in a certain level by retrieving one of Mr. Each level also has a number of coins placed throughout it, 50 of which can be collected and given to Hamm for a token. Each level has 5 Pizza Planet tokens, which are each collected by completing different objectives, such as fighting a mini-boss, solving a puzzle for getting a secret token, completing a timed challenge or winning a race against another character, or helping a character find 5 of a certain object which are hidden throughout a level. The main aim of the game is to collect Pizza Planet tokens which are located throughout stages. The player can pick up a laser power-up that gives Buzz a limited supply of powered up laser shots, as well as health-replenishing batteries and extra lives. Buzz is also able to extend his wings to perform a double jump, and can perform a foot stomp to activate switches. Buzz also has a spin attack, which can be charged up into a continuous spin. Buzz can attack enemies with a wrist laser, which can be charged up for additional power, and can also be aimed through a first-person viewpoint. The home console and computer version puts the player in control of Buzz Lightyear as he goes across fifteen levels (consisting of ten main levels and five boss levels) based on and inspired by locations from the film in order to rescue Woody.

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! has been re-released several times as a downloadable game for PlayStation consoles, including the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable in 2011, the PlayStation Vita in 2012, and the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2022. A different version, a side-scrolling platform game titled Toy Story 2, was also released for the Game Boy Color in 1999. The computer versions were released under the title Disney/Pixar's Action Game, Toy Story 2. It was released for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh in late 1999, while a Dreamcast version followed in 2000.

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! is a platform game based on Pixar's 1999 computer animated film Toy Story 2.

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