Game review: LittleBigPlanet - Sony PSP

In the sick and cynical world in which we live it’s a pleasure to see something come along which is so good and innocent.

This game is all about pure, unadulterated fun. It just wants you to enjoy yourself in its surreal and dreamlike lands.

Your imagination is the driving force on this journey of wonderment and discovery.

You create things and then you play with them.

It’s like being a child again when you could draw a picture and imagine it coming to life.

It’s like being given the key to the Haribo factory and told you can create any new kind of sweet you like – whatever size, shape or flavour you choose.

It’s like being stood in the middle of the world’s biggest toy shop and told you can choose anything you like – then given the chance to make it bigger, better, faster, more magical in every way.

A portable version of LittleBigPlanet has been a long time coming but it’s definitely been worth waiting for.

If, like me, you’ve never played the original PS3 version then you’re in for a real treat as this is a platform game like no other you’ve played before.

In LittleBigPlanet you play as Sackboy, a cuddly ragdoll-like character who can be customised with loads of different materials, colours and clothes.

Sackboy’s journey begins in story mode which features 30 pre-designed levels spread across seven themes.

The first theme is Down Under and features a series of learning levels to get acquainted with Sackboy’s capabilities.

You’re taught the very simple controls for making Sackboy move, jump and display his emotions. You’re also shown how he can push and drag things.

In addition there is an introduction to using the very handy Popit gadget which accesses all the menus for performing different functions and creating things within the game.

One of the many things Sackboy can do is slap stickers onto whatever level items take your or his fancy. Stickers not only decorate the bits-and-bobs world but actually help solve puzzles in certain situations.

Despite all the PSP’s buttons being used at different points in the game, the controls always feel incredibly simple and intuitive. Everything in the game is easy to operate and there are never any sticky or frustrating moments.

In some respects the in-game levels are standard platform fare. They generally involve getting from one end to the other while overcoming obstacles, avoiding pitfalls and collecting items.

But in every other way they are anything but typical platform fare. For a start the levels and more colourful and beautifully crafted than almost any other platform game I have seen, and secondly they are packed with imaginative features.

From being able to switch between foreground and background paths on levels, to pulling levers to crane pieces of scenery into place, to jumping on Chinese lanterns for elevating to higher platforms, to launching fireworks at a fearsome dragon - the game oozes cleverness and creativity.

It’s a pleasure watching the mysteries of the game unfold and uncovering the next trick it has in store.

This is platforming in a very advanced and accomplished state.

Despite its friendly appearance, the difficulty of the game is set to challenging from an early stage. However, it never gets overwhelming or annoying.

Video and voiceover tutorials are provided throughout the game, narrated by none other than Stephen Fry in his usual witty style.

His presence adds a whole new layer of class to proceedings.

Ironically the game actually reminds me of a couple of Mr Fry’s other credits.

The light-hearted humorous narration, along with the theme of exploration and discovery in the game, are reminiscent of Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy.

Meanwhile, the playful abstract nature of LittleBigPlanet is somewhat similar to kids’ TV show Pocoyo which Stephen Fry also voices. Pocoyo looks like Sackboy too.

Once through the first few levels you can either continue with the story or begin designing your own levels.

Even without the design element this would still be an amazing game, just for the story levels alone.

But it’s when you begin designing your own first level that the true magic of this captivating game is finally revealed.

The My Levels section of the game is all about boundless imagination and limitless potential.

Early on you only have a limited stock of design tools and materials available but completing more story levels unlocks more items. This means both these parts of the game work in perfect harmony. No matter how much fun you are having in design mode you will always want to keep returning to the story.

Starting with a blank canvas you can create a brand new unique 3D world for Sackboy to investigate.

Again using the same Popit device as in the story mode you have access to a colossal array of backgrounds, objects, contraptions, switches and platforms.

Virtually any style, any vision, any madcap marvel you can picture in your mind can be crafted in LittleBigPlanet.

The mechanics of the creation mode take a little while to get used to, but once you’ve mastered it building levels is absorbing and fulfilling.

After creating a level you can play it yourself or go online to publish it. You can also download and play other people’s creations from the web. I haven’t found too many levels to grab from the net yet but hopefully this will increase as more people jump into the game.

LittleBigPlanet, from SCEE Cambridge, is a feat of engineering excellence. So much has been crammed in yet somehow it remains simple and accessible.

It’s a paradise of possibilities, overflowing with ideas and charisma. LittleBigPlanet is pure gaming magic and is an absolutely essential purchase for anyone with a PSP.

Verdict: 9.5 out of 10 – If a crop plane flew over the classic platform game format and sprayed a huge load of creativity all over it, LittleBigPlanet is what would grow as a result. Inventive, fun and utterly charming, this wonderful game casts a spell of enchantment over anyone who plays it.