So, what is LittleBigPlanet? LBP is a PlayStation 3 exclusive, platformer video game. Is there anything that makes it stand out from all other platformers like Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Crash Bandicoot or Donkey Kong? Yep, and in fact, it's quite a lot. LittleBigPlanet actually lets you create anything you can think of (as long as it can be made using the tools that you are given) and offers tons of customization, puzzles, fun and replay value for every gamer who plays it - at the price of some frustration. It has a lengthy singlpayer campaign and allows you to play the creations of other gamers from all over the world in online multiplayer. But let's go back a few steps and cover the gameplay.
So in LBP you control a sack person. This is literally, as its name suggests, a person made out of a sack. The controls you're given are easy to learn and not overly complicated, but allow you to do quite a lot of things. You can walk, jump and grab things - those functions are the main you'll need throughout your adventures in the world of LBP. But there's also the Popit Menu, a mini-menu that is the most important tool you can use. It allows you to customize your character with all sorts of items that can be unlocked through completing story levels, stamp stickers and decorate the environment with other objects, as well as pretty much everything you need to create a level when in Create mode.
The singleplayer campaign of LittleBigPlanet gives you 25 very cleverly designed levels (which, although singleplayer, can be played in offline or online co-op with up to four players at once) and many entertaining challenges. Each level contains puzzles, challenging sequences, sometimes a little bit of platformer humour, tons of unlockables and some memorable events. Also, the levels are set in different environments based on areas from all over the world, with different environments, themes and music, plus some levels introduce new gameplay mechanics. In other words, if you're the sort of person that wants to finish everything with the best times, beat record scores, collect all points, get all trophies, unlock everything and complete games 100%... then there's certainly more than enough of that for you in the singlpayer alone.
Although the story levels are awesome and feature some really interesting level design like in no other game I've ever played, the multiplayer is where the most fun is. Everyone who has LittleBigPlanet can create their own levels using the stuff they've unlocked. Since the release of the game, this extensive feature has brought over four million community levels (as of June 2011), the majority featuring very creative ideas and amazing level design. I've played many roller coaster levels, some vacation levels, a bomb survival level… even one in which you have to run on platforms floating on the surface of water, while avoiding giant sharks that are launched at you from underneath like missiles. The things I've seen - all created by gamers - are fantastic and they are proof of the great creation tools that LBP offers.
But the creation isn't the best part of the multiplayer. The very best of the multiplayer is that you can actually do EVERYTHING in the game with a group of maximum four players. You can play all story levels and challenges with friends, you can make levels with friends, and you can play community levels with friends or just hang out at your "pod" with friends. Or strangers, if you want to, because LittleBigPlanet has a very large online community, so it's always easy to find someone else playing the same level as you. Once you find a level that looks fun, you can join groups of people who are playing it together online at the same time. And it's all very fast and convenient, as you can pop-in and pop-out of the party any time you like.
The Good:
+ Adorable characters, environments and art style
+ Creation tools allow players to let their wild imaginations run free
+ Loads of unlockables in every single one of the story levels
+ Many ways to customize your playable sack person
+ Immensely innovative level design featuring all sorts of mechanics
+ Huge and thriving online community
+ Clean interface, mostly short loading times & few technical problems
+ You can listen to your own music when playing the game
+ Everything can be done with friends
+ Although it's aimed at kids, it appeals to most audiences
+ Everything is just so damn fun!
The Bad:
- Some of the last story levels can become very frustrating
- Very occasional bugs and some glitches (mainly online)
- Even when the connection is good, there's some lag during multiplayer
- Some of the soundtrack is awesome, but most is fairly average
- Camera meets some difficulties when in multiplayer
- Although the tools are great, you're always limited to platform-based levels
- If you don't have PSN, you're missing out on probably around a third of all the fun
- The controls are infamous among many gamers who tried it, so they obviously don't work for everyone
Overall, LittleBigPlanet is a highly entertaining platformer that offers lots of unlockables and hours of fun to all who pick it up. The game is packed with features and everything is customizable in some way. There is a massive online community and quite a lot to do when playing with others. In the end, the verdict is: LBP is a world full of variety, cute visuals, amazing level design, customizable features, and it's worth the full price of a new release, because it offers so much - especially if your PS3 is connected to the internet and/or you have someone to play it with on the same console.
OVERALL RATING – 8.5/10 (Great)
NEW GS RATING – 8/10