Gameplay:
Little Big Planet isn't a game that can be categorized with nearly any other game on the market. Being one of the first games to ever integrate user-created content into core gameplay is something that makes this marvelous accomplishment by Media Molecule deserving of appraisal. Although a platformer at heart, Little Big Planet is a game that includes a full-scale single-player campaign with unlocks all folded neatly into a massive community of custom user-created levels, thousands of players and brilliantly designed character and level creation tools.
The story of Little Big Planet is a simple one but can stand on its own. Starting out, you begin as a little sackboy who goes on a mission to save Little Big Planet from havoc. Each level can take anywhere from 5-25 minutes and every level is unique in its own way. The story-mode can take anywhere from between 4-6 hours depending on how slow or fast a player is, and there are dozens of different levels spread through just under 10 chapters. The most surprising thing is that each level has plenty of items to unlock which can take days to finish. The items you can unlock range from clothing for your character to equip to items and objects that can be taken advantage of in the level creator tool.
Controls:
The feel of a game and more specifically a platformer is something that goes noticed. Every platformer title has its own unique feel and Little Big Planet is no different. Little Big Planet has very simple controls boiling down to moving, jumping and grabbing. However, due to the ingenuity of the design, there are nearly countless ways to utilize these controls. There are times where a player will have to jump from vine to vine like Tarzan in a rainforest and other times where there are difficult episodes of platform jumping involved. To accompany that are the incredibly responsive controls which help make the gameplay an easy to learn yet very special experience.
Graphics:
One of the things that stands out about Little Big Planet the most is the artistic graphical design. In a nutshell, Little Big Planet is about small people made out of different fabrics going through obstacles in a tiny world. The art direction is phenomenal and really sets the tone for the game as a whole. One of the first levels has you jumping over mushrooms and leaping from tree stumps in a tiny garden. The overall design of the visuals is simply breathtaking and helps a player become immersed in the environments of the game.
Sound:
Audio is always an important factor for a game and Little Big Planet has a marvelous soundtrack as well as sound effects. Depending on the material a player is running on, it is easy to become convinced that the little sackboy is really running on such a material. Wood, felt, ice and steel are just a few examples of materials in the game that all have a unique sound and feel. Working together with the sound effects are some brilliantly orchestrated soundtracks ranging from the upbeat Garden Theme to the Wilderness Theme which all help make the experience engaging and immersing.
Replay Value:
The thing that stands out the most from Little Big Planet is the game's unique way of creating a fun environment with nearly infinite replay value. The story-mode alone takes roughly 5 hours to complete but requires about 20 hours or more to achieve all of the desired unlocks. On top of this is the game's unique character customization and level creator mechanics. As someone plays through the game there are hundreds of unlocks for the little sackboy that range from a spacesuit to ninja gear. More importantly, the level creator is impressively dynamic and has just about any tool one could imagine. Some of the most impressive user-created levels include a level similar to that of the classic Asteroid game to a level themed after the popular Japanese game show, Ninja Warrior. The sky is the limit when it comes to level creation and the dozens of tools and materials help create an environment where anything is possible.
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Rating:
Story: 8.0
Gameplay: 9.0
Graphics: 9.5
Controls: 9.0
Sound: 10.0
Replay Value: 9.5
Overall: 9.5
Own, Rent, Avoid:
Own: The level creator and community tools make this a must-have for any Playstation 3 owner and a reason for anyone who doesn't own one to buy one.
Last Thoughts:
Little Big Planet is a game that stands out from the ordinary and does an impressive job of creating a friendly and unique world that is committed to entertaining the player.
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Written By
Jonathan
Leack
11/05/2008
