Media Molecule, the developer behind LittleBigPlanet, has created something special. I cannot recall another time when spectators were actively perturbed and vocal about something happening to the main character of a game I was demonstrating. Out of relative obscurity, Media Molecule has stormed onto the scene by delivering a title that is not only unique but also an exclusive to the PlayStation 3. This is a novelty that has not gone unnoticed by Sony, as LittleBigPlanet has been heavily promoted and its art sprinkled throughout ads for the system itself – a smart move.
Interest in LittleBigPlanet has been high for quite some time. I wouldn’t have expected a title that focused on platforming and puzzle solving, void of gunplay and fisticuffs, to have made such an impact pre- and post-launch. Mario has never plonked on so few heads. The surprise surpassed not in the excitement in the build-up but in the execution, in its success and all of the possibilities such success entails.
There is plenty of action, to be sure. Skewed physics allow the adorable Sockboy – or Sockgirl – to hop about on platforms moved by springs and weights to reach heights and levers while avoiding electricity, fire, gas, and the random plodding enemy. The goal being to gather as many score bubbles as possible, to best local and global competition, as well as to unlock new items. Those objects unlocked, be they decorations are stickers, can then be used to customize your character, the provided levels, or in the creation of custom levels. If connected to the Internet, not only can you view your standing within a completed stage but also share in the community by offering up and trying out created levels, then rating and commenting on your experiences. Favorite levels and authors can be hearted for easy access in the future, and tags (e.g., brilliant, annoying, short, etc.) are provided to allow for quick descriptions of your experience and to also find similarly labeled stages.
Integration is a key aspect of LittleBigPlanet, and the developers did a great job in condensing a lot of information in as few screens as possible. A humorous and lengthy tutorial is given in the beginning, narrated by Stephen Fry, which does a great job in explaining the game mechanics and creation tools. The means to customize and create are found in a single menu, the Popit, which has several categories that allow for the placing of the game’s various articles – be it a sticker of a photograph you took or a background item made of wood to act as a backdrop. Just as the tools are intertwined, so are the off- and online elements. The ability to access news, level reviews and ratings, and option to play a level solo or online is all done in the same menu system within your pod.
The pod is a flying, customizable cardboard box that you call home. The makeshift rocket ship allows you to select between a world and two moons to fly to. The celestial bodies consist of the main world (LittleBigPlanet), your moon, and an information moon - as the game’s tagline goes: play, create, and share. The planet of play is the game’s namesake where continents offer hubs of themed levels. The subways of the US, the savanna in Africa, and a wedding in Latin America are just a few of the themes. Branching paths open up once a stage is complete, with optional challenge stages being unlocked by finding special keys within the levels. The Info Moon is where your information is displayed, including the levels and creators you have hearted as favorites, pictures by and of you, and friend information. The other moon, My Moon, is where your created levels are accessed.
Provided levels are plentiful, and several highly replayable, but the real meat is in the downloads. The box lists an Internet connection as required and even if you can manage an install without one I would still say it’s highly recommended. Although I played it offline after a few hours in and still found it to be great fun, the access to custom content is going to add innumerable hours of game time. There are some levels that aren’t that great, of course, but I was happy to see so many that were quite accomplished, given the short amount of time the game has been out, the complexity of the levels, and the time necessary to accumulate and tweak objects. Many levels are based off of other videogames, with a classy Dead Space tribute and a fantastic “Marrio World” level that seemed oddly familiar. Some of these levels are being pulled due to copyright infringement, but some companies are allowing the properties to be used; a wise move as these elaborate homages actually encourage play of the other titles.
Other levels are completely original and fairly impressive. One stage is a long race from a massive shark while another has you pilot a tank. An in-game link also allows for free and priced Sockboy items to be downloaded, including custom items from Street Fighter, God of War, and Metal Gear Solid. The gorgeous graphics and lively, if somewhat repetitious at times, music go great with the distilled platforming and smoldering presence of all things gaming – it can often be pleasantly overwhelming.
A few hang-ups do nag throughout, unfortunately. The forcing of level reviews – the out-of-five score, not tag descriptions – makes sense, since many might not bother to, but isn’t optimal. There were some levels that I died early in and felt like I was unfairly judging when opting out of trying again and had to give a score. The navigable planes – fore, middle, and background – also provide problems both in creation and in playing.
Creators do not always factor in or realize what plane they are working on. It is when the planes are ignored or forgotten that awkward moments arise, allowing for you to just skip difficult portions or bottlenecking you with no place to go. While playing, the game will often automatically have you jump to the necessary plane, but I frequently jumped off of platforms by accidentally hitting the wrong direction on the analog pad while leaping. The directional pad is used to give facial expressions – happy, sad, anxious and mad – and is astoundingly effective at portraying your mood to teammates while playing, but the lack of the directional pad in navigating makes it quite easy to slip on the analog stick due to the ease of stick rotation. The controls in general can be troublesome: pressure-sensitive jumps and sluggish movement play havoc with springs and physics combine with accidental plane changing for some really frustrating moments. I hope the controls are addressed in a future update, as only very minor tweaks are needed.
Despite the frustrating moments, LittleBigPlanet is still a joy. When the controls click with the level design, Sockboys and girls fling about, grabbing, swinging, and bouncing their way around entrancing environments with striking fluidity. The emotions expressed by the costumes, faces, and actions of the characters, smacking and flinging each other about, add a sense of joviality unseen in most games; it’s just good fun. Creators also have a robust editor at their hands, with all sorts of objects (cars, columns, trees, clouds), textures (wood, stone, sponge), strength, and sounds (including trigger ranges and length of play) that hold limitless possibilities for the tenacious designer.
Overall: 9/10
LittleBigPlanet reminds me of the original Rayman: beautiful graphics that feature lush backgrounds and cute characters in a game that isn’t afraid to ramp up the difficulty. Don’t be fooled about the looks, the game can be a beast. With plenty of provided levels, there is a good amount of play right off the bat; however, to get the most out of LittleBigPlanet, a persistent Internet connection is recommended. Not since Project Gotham Racing have I seen the online element so well and thoroughly implemented into the entire design. The controls can be fussy, and not all levels are winners, especially when dealing with created levels, but the canvas provided by the creator tools has already resulted in some fantastic levels and I cannot wait to see what is to come. Even if the controls are left untouched, LittleBigPlanet is still a winner, through and through, and offers a unique opportunity for aspiring designers and those looking for a wild romp on their PlayStation 3.
