|
|
|
Written by Larry Marcum
|
|
Wednesday, November 12 2008 15:19 |
 Over the past few months, the hype surrounding LittleBigPlanet grew to insane levels. Media outlets everywhere were touting the genius innovation surrounding the precious little Sackboy, and early hands-on previews couldn’t deliver enough praise for Sony’s newest mascot. Heck, even I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face when I got my first look at the game.
Well folks, I’m here to tell you that the originality of LittleBigPlanet may be a bit overstated. After all, this is simply a 2-D platformer in a physics-based environment. If you’ve ever succumb to the world of Flash games, you’ve likely stumbled onto a few physics-based toys. This notion is, by no means, brand new, and the resounding applause for Media Molecule’s newest title may not be entirely deserved.
But while LittleBigPlanet may not be as unique and innovative as we once thought, the game is still unbelievably fun. Don’t let the boundless levels of “cute” deter you; it would be hard for anyone, no matter their age, to have a woeful experience with this adventure. If you like video games, and you own a PlayStation 3, there is no excuse to miss out on this fantastic game.
An endless world, full of possibilities, lies after the jump. It’s OK if you enjoy yourself. Really.
When you first start up the game, you’ll be best served by diving into the main story mode. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to move through over twenty “Point-A to Point-B” levels, as well as a multitude of mini-game and race levels that can be unlocked throughout the game. If your sole ambition is to plow through the main quest, you can do so in relatively quick fashion. It will only take you around five hours to complete all these levels, but you’d be selling yourself short if you raced to the end.
Even though there isn’t exactly a plethora of story levels, there is infinite replay value in this mode. Every level is literally littered with extras. Prize bubbles containing everything from costumes and stickers to objects and materials (which can be used in the level creator) are scattered throughout each environment, and there is absolutely no way you’ll be able to find all of them in a single trip through the game. You’ll frequently happen upon a “trigger” that will unlock a bounty of prize bubbles, but this trigger can only be activated by placing a specific sticker on a blank piece of wood. A lot of these trigger stickers won’t be acquired until later in the game, so if you want to collect everything, you’ll have to revisit each of these levels.
The real treat throughout the story levels is the ingenuity Media Molecule has demonstrated. Progressing through each level will require you to maneuver through the environment using only three basic controls: X to jump, R1 to grab, and the Left Thumbstick to move. Using only these three inputs, you’ll be forced to meander your way through a myriad of obstacles and puzzles. The best part about all this is the fact that you’ll essentially never encounter the same obstacle twice. The developers have done an amazing job creating unique experiences in each and every level in the game. If you ever stop to savor the world in which Sackboy exists, you’ll frequently find yourself asking, “How the heck did they come up with that?” If that’s not a ringing endorsement for Media Molecule’s prowess, I don’t know what is.
 Although the core story mode in LittleBigPlanet offers plenty of treats, it’s the level creator that has garnered the most enthusiasm from the gaming public. When Media Molecule was busy promoting their blockbuster title, there was one phrase that embodied the creation mode: “Everything you see in the game, you can create yourself.” They were not exaggerating. If anything, they were underselling the possibilities offered by a full-fledged level editor. While it’s true that you can recreate anything from the main story levels, the real nuggets of “wow” have come in the form of original creations.
Like any community-driven game mode, the vast majority of the levels floating in the ether are absolutely horrid. On the other hand, there are some real gems out there, too. Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to see how popular any given level is by checking out how many players have “hearted” the creation. Throw in the 5-star rating system and the description tags, and it quickly becomes clear whether you’re looking at a diamond in the rough or a real snore-fest.
Of course, you can create your own levels and publish them so the public can play your newest project. Actualizing an idea from scratch can be a bit daunting at first, and you’ll likely find yourself spending multiple hours tweaking individual concepts and iterating upon each of your theories. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of objects and materials that can be used to craft your unique level, and each object can be used in a great number of different circumstances. Eventually, aided by the in-game tutorials, the process becomes much smoother, and the process of throwing together a level becomes much easier. In the end, you’ll likely surprise yourself with the finished product.
The biggest issue with the user levels is their organization. Let’s say you’ve read about this really cool level in LittleBigPlanet, and you want to go play it. You start up the game and search for the level’s title. Instead of showing you the levels with that exact title, you’re presented with every level that contains any of the keywords for which you searched, whether that be in its title, description, or tag words. And even when you do stumble upon a level you like, it’s extremely difficult to find it at a later date. The overall organization of the user levels is absolutely horrible. If searching for the exact title of the level you want won’t make it easier to find it, then the whole system likely needs a complete overhaul.
Of course, none of LittleBigPlanet must be a completely solitary experience. Every level in the game, whether created by Media Molecule or Joe Shmoe, can be played with your buddies by your side. This, my friends, is where LittleBigPlanet truly shines. The brilliance of a physics-based world revolves around the fact that your experience can be different every time you turn on the game. Unexpected events and exciting tugs-of-war are common occurrences in Sackboy’s world.
The real joy here is the game’s spontaneity. I can’t tell you how many times my co-op partner unexpectedly fell into a bed of burning coals, which, in turn, led to a burst of laughter. The enjoyment that can be had is all a product of your friends. If you don’t mind laughing at yourself, the multiplayer experience will always be memorable and entertaining. Even the most monotonous of user-created levels instantly transforms into a wild amusement park when you’re playing with someone else.
LittleBigPlanet isn’t all roses and sunshine, though. Although the controls are stupidly simple, there are frequent moments when they will frustrate you. The jumping mechanic is one that has infuriated many gamers since the title’s release. The biggest issue is a lack of precision. There are a few moments in the main story levels that require Sackboy to execute some very precise jumps, and the lack of control often results on multiple do-overs. While playing through the world of LittleBigPlanet more than once is hardly a painful punishment, getting stuck on a single section of a single level can be extremely upsetting. And if you’re not the most skilled manipulator of the joysticks, these moments will occur more than you’ll like.
The other big control issue lies in Sackboy’s movement along the Z-axis. While there are a few levels later in the game that take full advantage of the Z-axis, there are more than a few moments in which this movement will cause some frustration. It’s not a rare occurrence to miss a prize bubble or miss a jump because your Sackboy character wasn’t moving in the correct plane. You’ll eventually get used to this motion, but you really shouldn’t have to. A simple game mechanic like Z-axis movement should not be touch-and-go until you get the hang of it, and you’ll likely have many “what’s the deal” moments before it feels natural.
Did I mention the soundtrack in LittleBigPlanet is amazing? No? Well, it is. Each level has its own unique piece of background audio, and each aural inclusion seems to mesh perfectly with its given game environment. There’s really not much else to say here; the music in LittleBigPlanet is fantastic.
If you’ve had the tiniest inkling to try out LittleBigPlanet, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. The amount of random fun that can be had is on par with going to the theme park as a child. Sackboy’s cute little smirk will keep you smiling for hours on end, and the included motivation to replay each level will keep you coming back for more. If Sackboy were real, I’d want him as a pet. I’d even give him his own room, filled with explosives and windmills, so he’d feel at home. You can play LittleBigPlanet in 15-minute chunks, or for 3 or 4 hours at a time. Either way, you need to play this game. It may not be the system seller that Sony had hoped, but it’s definitely a title that shouldn’t be missed by any gamer.
Final Score: A-
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
