Written by: Chris W.

 

 

 

God created the world, its inhabitants and everything in it. He also gave us imaginations so we could use our brains and get creative ourselves, although I don’t think any of us have the materials or the know-how to create a new world.

 

"LittleBigPlanet" does allow us all to create our own levels though, but, with so much to see and do, it doesn’t just end there.

 

 

In a nutshell, LittleBigPlanet is a side scrolling 2D platformer as well as a powerful creation tool (it may very well make you think you are a god), that allows you to put aside that jumping for a moment and then dream up a level to do some more hopping about within.

 

 

The mandatory tutorials are narrated by a sarcastic Stephen Fry, and they prove most helpful for learning the many things that you are able to do with this amazing gaming accomplishment.

 

LittleBigPlanet could have been a mere creation tool, although developer, Media Molecule, have been kind enough to include their own created story levels. This has resulted in a fully featured game, with levels that include all the hallmarks of the platform genre: leaps of faith across gaps, enemies to be jumped on, a limited amount of lives and obstacles to avoid. If you’re new to LittleBigPlanet, this also shows that the creation tool is very flexible, that the developers levels are fantastically fun and that the customisable Sackboy is one of the most charismatic gaming stars yet.

 

The game is also a very rewarding one and will have you harvesting stickers to use in your own creations. These stickers are littered across each level, some seem impossible to get to, others require you to place particular stickers over silhouettes or some sections even require you and another player to work cooperatively in order to reach them. Acing levels (finding all the stickers), not losing any lives and simply completing tutorials come with their own rewards. Let’s face it, LittleBigPlanet likes us all so perhaps we should love it back then.

 

The only thing really wrong with LittleBigPlanet is that the jumping feels a little off at times, thus it doesn’t exactly reach the heady heights of the best platformers. Also, as the game is a side scroller with three planes, it can be occasionally difficult to gauge where obstacles are actually positioned. Both of these issues do very little to sway my very positive opinion of this game.

 

 

 

Those worrying about having to use reams of coding to make things work can stop worrying now, LittleBigPlanet uses a simple menu and drag-and-drop tool. Of course, I would be lying to say that there’s no learning curve involved, because there is, although at least it allows you to rewind if you make a nasty mistake.