When I first saw this video introducing an obscure game called LittleBigPlanet, my brain imploded. I lost all cognitive thought as I stared at what appeared to be a video demonstrating a game that was literally a blank digital canvas where gamers could go crazy and create whatever their devious little minds could conjure. And not only that, but you could share your levels by posting them, free of charge, on the game's servers so that your creation, your very own level, can be played by the masses.
Of course, after seeing the trailer, I was "lost in the moment" and too far gone to realize exactly what that would mean:
Tools for Creative Freedom + Audience + Being Anonymous =
It's not exactly the Eiffel Tower...
Moving on.
LittleBigPlanet for the Playstation 3, like Seinfeld and this very site, has no premise. It's pretty much about nothing. It's a video game with no plot or story elements. You run, you jump, you grab on to physics-enabled objects and you collect tidbits like stickers, textures, and the object/machines that you encounter on your adventure to use in the levels you create.
And that's what makes it so great!
LittleBigPlanet has taken video games back to their bare roots. I'm talking the simple run and jump mechanics of the first Super Mario Brothers game that most of us have enjoyed as kids. There's no button combinations to do special moves, there's no complex riddles or puzzles, there's no CGI cutscenes to bore you to death, there's no 'amazing graphics' to overshadow mediocre gameplay. Aside from the REALLY 'Old School' (ala Space Invaders and PacMan) LittleBigPlanet is gaming at its purest. And because of its simplicity, this is one of the few games that is easily approachable by anyone.
You are introduced to a character called Sackboy (or Sackgirl), which looks like a patchwork doll made from burlap. However, you can customize the look of your Sackboy with items like Pirate Hats, Dresses, Elk Horns, Devil Horns, Clown Makeup, Cat Eyes, Zebra Heads, different Materials (leather, tweed, cotton, etc) and the list goes on and on. Even cooler is that you can download new accessories and items from the Playstation Network (both for free and for a small fee). The 'premium' sackboy accessories are often outfits and items to make your Sackboy look like Ryu from Street Fighter, Santa Clause, Snake form Metal Gear Solid 4, and so on.
There is even an exclusive Kratos (God of War - Playstation 2) costume:
Which brings me to my next point: WHERE THE HELL IS THE "GIR" (Invader Zim) COSTUME!!!????
You start LittleBigPlanet by running through tutorial levels where you watch a large video behind your character that instructs you on the bare basics of the game. After a few levels into the game, you are finally allowed to be set loose to create your own levels, or you can continue playing the main game, collecting the items and materials that expand what you can later create.
The single player games are enjoyable and unique. You go from continent to continent on the 'world', and each has a (often stereotypical) theme: Africa looks like 'The Lion King', Europe is all Knights and Castles, North America looks like the movie 'Shaft', Asia is all Ninjas and Dragons, etc, etc.
Though the levels become increasingly complex and ingenious, and none of the levels feel 'reused' or 'stale', a few of the later stages are extremely frustrating, especially if your goal is to 'Ace' all the levels (beat a level without dying) or trying to collect ALL of the items and materials in the game. Why would you bother with Acing levels or collecting everything? For the Trophies (aka 'Achievements' aka 'Gamer e-Dicks') that let you boast what accomplished in LittleBigPlanet and rank yourself against everyone else's 'score' (combined trophies).
Still, the single player experience always feels fresh from level to level. Even more entertaining is that you can play co-op with up to 4 players, which becomes necessary in order to collect all of the materials and items in LittleBigPlanet because of some complex and interesting co-op puzzles in each level.
Though single player is really fun, the real fun to be had can be found online where you can play some amazingly imaginative levels that other people have created. Only when playing the user-created levels can you really grasp how amazingly powerful your Creative Tools can be, with a healthy imagination to go with it. I've seen levels that are based on the American Gladiators TV show, anti-gravity race cars that ride like rollercoasters, a quirky, disturbing SAW-based level with traps and puzzles, and my favorite, the Music Levels:
Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns n' Roses
Terra's Theme - Final Fantasy VI
Road to Zanarkand - Final Fantasy X
While it can be hard to find something really special in a sea of semi-mediocrity, those you DO find can be saved as a 'Favorite' and (unless it gets pulled for copy-write or legal issues) are easily re-visited with a click of a button.
The graphics in LittleBigPlanet are pretty simple, and nothing as orgasmic as Metal Gear Solid 4, but they do not border on mediocre or 'last-gen'. The textures are sharp and the objects are well rendered with surface textures and amazing lighting. However, the whole 'patch-work' and 'cloth' feel of LittleBigPlanet can be its biggest detractor. Too many gamers take LittleBigPlanet for face-value, only seeing a 'cutesy' world instead of the blood and carnage that most gamers (myself included, sadly) believe is needed to make a 'good' video game. I believe this is also why LittleBigPlanet has yet to hit the number of sales it needed to be a hit, despite the widely high praise from game critics and gamers.
The sound, while simple, is fantastic. You'll hear muffled speech, duck quacks, pops, bangs, and whistles which aren't all that impressive, until you realize that you can PUT THEM INTO YOUR LEVELS. The sheer number of 'stock noises and sounds' is overwhelming, but equally as satisfying and liberating. Coupled with an amazing multi-cultural soundtrack (my favorite being the song in the first South American level, "Volver A Comenzar" by Cafe Tacuba) of both mellow and upbeat songs, LittleBigPlanet is an experience that was truly meant for everybody.
There isn't any real story behind the game, which is kind of a shame. I would have liked a more concrete reason for the Sackboys to be globe-trotting rather than having one character you help out in Africa point you to a new character to help in South America, etc. However, the counterweight is that LittleBigPlanet shines in its replay value. Seriously, the sky is the limit. And, if you're one of those people who has no imagination, you can play in a nearly infinite sea of user-created content.
Anyways, I want to wrap up this review so I can keep tweaking my own level: THUNDERDOME. A massive dome with a 1-way entrance. You are forced to swing from objects suspended from the roof by elastic ropes over a pit of fire. Collect points and knock your opponent(s) into the fire!
"2 Sackboys enter, 1 Sackboy leaves!"
OVERALL
Despite the 'childish' presentation, LittleBigPlanet is one of those rare and brilliant games that anyone can easily lose themselves in. The only shame is that Sony never properly marketed this game, nor gave casual and non-gamers a precise idea of what this game is about. Too many people just see little sack puppets running and jumping with their cutesy smiles through a land of patchwork and fabric and dismiss LittleBigPlanet without realizing how deep this game can be.
Graphics
8.0
The graphics aren't cutting edge, but they were never intended to be. The 'cut-out' and 'cloth' look to LittleBigPlanet gives it a lot of charm.
The controls are very simple and accessible. It's a simple matter of jumping and grabbing objects to progress through the game. Controls were just a 'little' loose, but has been patched.
Story
3.0
Not much to say for the story, because there really isn't one beyond "You beat me, go meet -----" and progress to the next stage.
Replay Value
10
A perfect ten because this is one of the few games where the sky is truly the limit. With the ability to create your own content, as well as play the content of others, there is no foreseeable end to the fun.
OVERALL
9.0
I think that the only thing that possibly dragged the score down from a 'perfect' was the lack of a single-player storyline.
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LittleBigPlanet Review
(Playstation 3)
