LittleBigPlanet (PS3)

...At the heart of it, LittleBigPlanet is a simple platforming game. Get from one end to the other without dying. But to leave it at that is giving the game way too little credit. For the game is so much more than that, and what it is I think is brilliant.

The platforming takes a welcome step back to 2D platforming, letting you sidescroll through fantastic and imaginative worlds to reach the end of the level, but that's just the start. ...
...giving it an extra depth, literally! This gives it all the simpleness of a 2D game, but with the flexability to add more by creating multi-layered levels. As you hop through the levels you will collect score bubbles to get the highest score possible while trying to find them all. Each level is full of platforming and puzzles which will challenge you to think to continue, involving jumping, pulling, dangle, switching, running, dodging and more through ... more

I stumbled upon a preview of this game many moons ago, and was immediately drawn in by the charm of the game, I challenge you to resist it, and hyped it up to myself beyond belief, and any one should know that if you do this with a game, you'll end up disappointed. Many moons later I finally got my hands on the game and to my suprise, it filled all my expectations, and more! This is LittleBigPlanet, and you've never seen anything like it.

Gameplay and Controls

At the heart of it, LittleBigPlanet is a simple platforming game. Get from one end to the other without dying. But to leave it at that is giving the game way too little credit. For the game is so much more than that, and what it is I think is brilliant.

The platforming takes a welcome step back to 2D platforming, letting you sidescroll through fantastic and imaginative worlds to reach the end of the level, but that's just the start. On top of this it adds three planes of platforming, giving it an extra depth, literally! This gives it all the simpleness of a 2D game, but with the flexability to add more by creating multi-layered levels. As you hop through the levels you will collect score bubbles to get the highest score possible while trying to find them all. Each level is full of platforming and puzzles which will challenge you to think to continue, involving jumping, pulling, dangle, switching, running, dodging and more through genius obstacles and locations ranging from a creepy wedding, a mexican desert, the african savannah and even an english themed level! The levels are all brilliantly designed to keep you entertained. The best thing about the platforming is the realistic physics. You can pull blocks around, and they'll fall off things like you will expect. Branches can be held down from trees, but will fly back up if you let go, and switches and motors keeps the world around you moving and changeable.

The controls are simple, with simple direction movements, as well as jump and grabbing controls, all explained in a tutorial at the start. The closest thing to a fault in this game is that the jumping isn't quite accurate sometimes, though you soon get used to it.

This part of the game is charming and fun enough on it's own but there is more than this to keep you charmed. For once you meet your character, you'll be in love.

Sackboy

Sackboy is the loveable character which you'll control through the game. He (or she) starts off a cute brown, cuddly character made out of, guess what, a sack, with a big grin on his face, but he doesn't stay this way forever, because every little big of him is down to you.

To start off, you can change his face with a simple tap of a bottom, from a slight smile, to a frown, to a heart melting upset face, to a crazy, tounge stuck out, grin. You can then control every part of your Sackboy's body. You can wave his arms around however you like, nod his head, and even wiggle his hips! And so this gives such a simple character such range you'll become so attached to your very own Sackboy.

And if that's not enough then how about customising your character? As you progress through the levels you'll find clothes and costumes for your Sackboy, some in obvious places, while others hidden away for only the best to find! You can give your character different eyes, and faces, or deck him out in a whole wardrobe of costumes and clothes (including one of my favourites, a fetching cape, or perhaps you'd prefer some rock star glasses, or a glittery wig, or maybe even dress him up as a sack eating plant, or even a zebra.) There's also a range of materials to choose from. Bored of the brown of your sack? How about a nice green, or stripey, or spotty, or maybe pink and starry, or striped like a zebra or leafy like a plant, or perhaps a skeleton material! Basically, your character will become unique, with it's own costume and personality which is easy to chop and change as you unlock costumes. I couldn't help but fall in love with the guy I had created, running around in a wig, a tailcoat and glasses, looking more at home in a rock band than running around Mexico.

Customisation is a big part of this game and so if you like the idea of making changes to the world you're part of, then you'll love the next bit as much as I did.

Stickers, Your Pod and Creating

Another part of the game I enjoyed are the stickers. Once again, as you progress through levels you'll find hidden stickers. And a touch of genius, rather than keep them just to look at in a different mode, they are drawn right into the game. On any level you take part in you can stick down stickers anywhere just for the fun of it, changing the scenery as you like, or even sticking them on your Sackboy, or perhaps someone elses if you like!

You can also customise your pod. Your pod is the main portal of the game which you fly around the Little Big Planet before choosing levels or modes and you can also throw down stickers here to make it look just how you like. During my first play at a friends I happily threw down a duck onto the floor of her pod which is still there to this day.

It's also possible to make your own stickers using Playstation Eye. You can take your own photos and stick them in the game for the fun of it. This is sold seperately but may be worth taking a look if you like stickers.

But, saving the best to last, the best customisation comes in the form of the level creator, one of the best I've ever seen. Using the outstanding physics from the game you can create your very own levels, in the exact same editor the creators of the story mode used.

The best thing about this mode is how it's easy to pick up. You are forced to go through a set of tutorials before you can get most of the tools to make a good level, but I'm happy it did, as it meant I was able to start creating something worthwhile almost immediately. The amount of tools here is outstanding and it's great to see what other people have created already. Once you've made a level you can upload it and let people share it, and you can play other people's levels.

It's hard to explain the vastness of the level create. You can make objects any shape you can be bothered to make, change its size easily, and even save it so you can use it again in the future. They have thought of everything in this mode, and you can do almost anything with the levels, with other people creating things as complex as games of Tetris, levels which play brilliant music, or even a calculator. There are basically loads of combinations of objects, materials and switches to help you make whatever you want.

Multiplayer

In all of the modes you can also have up to three people helping you go through the levels, or even helping you create your own together. This makes the game even more fun as you help each other through the game. Some of the built in levels have secret areas which require more than one player to solve a problem, but it's usually worth it as you'll reap the rewards in the form of more customisation tools.

Online

As I've already mentioned you can access levels online as well as uploading your own. There are plenty to play through, and you can also be rewarded for completing these levels too by allowing you to access parts of the level that creator has marked for you to win. You can also play through levels online though I've not done that myself.

There is also downloadable content for you to find and buy on the Playstation Network.

This is also one of the games on the PS3 that enables you to collect trophies, small acheivements for completing parts of the game, which can add an extra layer of fun.

The fact I've spent almost 1000 words explaining and rating the gameplay you should understand how wonderful it is. The ideas are simple to explain. Puzzle-platforming with customisation and an extensive create mode. But the depth of all of this is outstanding. And with the level create mode, and the online levels this game should last you a long time.

Graphics and Presentation

While I've told you how charming the game is, I've not quite told you why, and this rests in the visual and audio charm of the game. From the image of the Sackboy to the worlds that are created for you, or the ones you can create, this game oozes style and charm.

This is backed up by a brilliant soundtrack which compliments the feel of the game perfectly. Each song is chosen well for the level, which you have access to in the create mode, as well as lots of other sound options to customise the music and sounds that play in your own levels.

Being on the Playstation 3 the graphics are of course top notch which back up the style of the game with sometimes stunning visuals through out the different environments that are presented.

Summary

Play. Create. Share. That's the slogan of this game, and I think it summarises it perfectly. You can play, but you can create, and most important you can share amongst friends, or the Little Big Planet community.

Many people have been put off on the game as it doesn't fit into the style they usually play, but I push you to at least try it with an open mind before you dismiss it as you could be missing out on this game. The style may not be for everyone but the gameplay is, and it's certainly not just a game for children. The platforming is fun and charming, the creating adds depth and fun, even if you just mess around with it, with the great physics, and the online modes just perfect it to give it longevity.

At the low price you can now get this at (At the time of writing Amazon has it for just over £17) I would recommend it to everyone to at least try, and I bet most of you will love it as much as I do. It's the closest to perfect I've seen in a game. It does exactly what it wanted with almost nothing negative to say about it! And I always complain about things...

Extra Thoughts

I wrote this review a while ago and thought I'd update it with more thoughts now I've had even longer with the game.

I've played the levels given now over and over again now, and have enjoyed them greatly, trying to get 100% completition, which really adds to the game, trying to find all the secrets, and almost impossibly, trying to do all the levels without dying! So even the main story mode is addictive.

A feature I've got to grips with more are the online features. One of which allows you to play through any level with another person, either one of your friends with a PS3, or even strangers! This adds a great community to the game, as well as helping you to finish two player areas of levels. It's harder to find enough people for the four player areas, but they're supposed to be harder anyway... The levels online have also astounded me. The user created levels can be filled with lots of rubbish, but there are plenty of gems out there, all beautifully created, from under water levels, to invading space aliens, all done with the in game create mode.

Speaking of which I've finally got to grips with making complete levels. There are times when it makes me frustrated but thats usually when I've done something stupid! It's great fun to use and really is what gives this game life. Either use it to make your own levels, or just have fun! Or just enjoy the results of other people's levels. That's what this is all about.

Another thing I've looked into is the PSN store for the game. Here lies mainly addition costumes and content you can buy for your little sackboy, though there are often seasonal items here for free! One of the best things in the store is the Metal Gear Solid level pack. It consists of 5 levels, and a bonus level for around £5, and are once again well crafted, and perfect whether you're a fan of Metal Gear Solid or not. The price may seem a little much, but you get the levels, as well as more unlockable stickers, clothes and create materials, and even more trophies!

So yes, a couple of months on, I'm still in love with this game! 

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