Saturday, June 4, 2011

Little Big Planet


Little Big Planet is a Playstation 3 exclusive developed by Media Molecule and is now available for free. The following review of this game first appeared in November 2008.
It's clear that Sony wants to propel sackboy onto the same platform as Kratos, Drake, and Sergeant Hail when it comes to character recognition. While it's still unclear as to whether or not this will happen, it is clear that Little Big Planet is a very good game. Gameplay in Little Big Planet is simple, much like old 2D platformers. You can jump with the X button, and grab objects with R1. While this may sound too simplistic to many core gamers, it is anything but. Levels created by the developers, and user created levels test the patience of even the most loyal 2D platformer fan. That's not to say that all of the levels are difficult. Some levels are very simplistic, while others will challenge even the most adept gamer.
This is what makes Little Big Planet shine. It appeals to almost anyone. People can pick this game up for young children who will love the simple control scheme and warm art style, while the adults can enjoy the nostalgia of a 2D platformer and challenge themselves to acquire every trophy, and get the high score in some of the more challenging levels.
If you're the creative type, making your own level from the ground up can be a very rewarding experience. You aren't just limited to the objects given to you. You are able to create almost any object, or enemy that you can think of. The interface for creating a level is rather simple as well, and there are tutorials for everything, so if you're truly interested in making a level, the interface shouldn't put you off. Little Big Planet has only been out for a few weeks, and there are already too many user created levels to play, many of which are well done. The replayability is through the roof because of this, and with the inclusion of trophy support, many gamers will be playing Little Big Planet for quite some time.
The graphics are technically sound. The art direction is very warm and inviting. Environments vary dramatically, keeping the game fresh. Hazards such as fire, electricity, poison gas, and explosives all look very nice. The texturing on every object and hazard is very clean. The animations for sackboy/girl are all done well and add to the cute atmosphere of the game. There are no real complaints here besides some odd glitches. If you grab on to a spinning object that is going too fast, sackboys/girls arms and legs will appear elongated. It's quite odd, but not game breaking.
Sound in Little Big Planet is excellent. Everything from the music to the sounds your sackboy/girl makes as they navigate through levels fit the look and feel of the game perfectly. However, there isn't a huge collection of songs, so expect to hear them over, and over again.
Overall, Little Big Planet is a must own for PS3 owners. There is something here for everyone. It's as simple, or as difficult as you want it to be. It may not be difficult for a core gamer to play through the story levels once, but acquiring all of the trophies is a different story. 2D platformer fans don't need to worry, Little Big Planet certainly lives up to the hype.

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