LittleBigPlanet 2 Review

The idea of Create, Share, and Play have been brought back once again thanks to the release of LittleBigPlanet 2. Following the successful release of the first game, Media Molecule presents the sequel packed with a lot of extras, that will appeal to creators and fans of the games who love playing unlimited levels. For gamers who played the first game, expect to see the same exact gameplay however, there are things that makes this game a sequel instead of an expansion pack to the first LittleBigPlanet.

How is the first game any different from the sequel? Should fans of the first game pick this one up even though they play the same? Let’s take a look on the HOTs and NOTs of LittleBigPlanet 2 to see if it is worth you purchasing the sequel.

HOT

Presentation
Comparing the first game to the sequel, not much has changed when it comes to the graphics except they have became sharper, and more colorful. It’s the same exact engine that was used on the first game however, the new and improved levels are what players will truly appreciate. Story-mode features well crafted levels. The designs of each levels that can be found on the story-mode are well crafted and players will enjoy every detail of each one. At the end of each level, players will then realize just how fun the levels are as some of them are hard but fun to play with. At each world Sackboy will go to will be introduced in cutscenes equipped with voice overs that touches the players heart. As for the story of the game, it’s not much of an upgrade as it doesn’t offer a deep storytelling but it’s cute enough as it’s similar to reading a children’s book.

Short Story-mode but Memorable
As mentioned earlier, the story mode of LittleBigPlanet 2 isn’t as deep as other platformer games out there but it’s memorable enough that can make the player smile along the way. The Craftworld, where Sackboy resides, is under attack by the evil Negativitron and it’s up to him and Larry Da Vinci to stop them. Players will be going through five different worlds with seven levels each and a number of mini-games that gives the player an insight as to what tools can be used when creating the player’s user-created levels. While the story mode is short, players will appreciate every levels they come across to as it’s fun, memorable and some gives a nice challenge.

More Co-Op Challenges
Players who like playing with friends will be able to appreciate LittleBigPlanet 2 as it offers a decent number of versus challenges. These versus challenges can be unlocked by playing through the story-mode and acquiring the “key” at each level. The versus challenges varies from a rat racing game to a basketball game where up to four players can jump in and play. If the player doesn’t have any friends to play with, thousands of people from the online community can easily jump in and enjoy the game with you instead. Don’t forget that any of the levels that the players will be playing can be played with friends both offline and online. Playing with someone is always fun as not all prize bubbles in each level can be achieved by one person.

New Tools and Gadgets
For those of you who are more creative will instantly love creating levels as LittleBigPlanet 2 offers a lot of more tools and gadgets that will enable them to create masterpieces other players will enjoy playing in. Introduced in LittleBigPlanet 2 are: the ability to use a grappling hook to swing around, a jumping pads, a rabbit that jumps so high and a dog that emits sonic waves and a Grabinator that gives Sackboy the ability to pick up objects and throw it at a distance. Using these new tools and gadgets totally revolutionize the way you can create levels now. As seen in previously betas, the new tools that can be found in LittleBigPlanet 2 and can be used in making levels that combines different gaming genres like; first person shooter, RPG, and even a racing game!

Import Purchased LBP Items
The costumes, level packs, and items that were purchased for LittleBigPlanet on the PlayStation Store can be used in LittleBigPlanet 2. As soon as the game starts, it will automatically detect the profile the player has for LittleBigPlanet and the importation will begin. For those who own the Game of the Year Edition of LittleBigPlanet, the items that are on the discs cannot be imported as they can only be used when the disc is inside the system. However, those items that are bought from the PlayStation Store such as the Water Level Pack can be used on both the story and creating mode.

Online Community
Just because the player finishes the story mode doesn’t mean it’s over! As the player unlocks the new items and tools that can be used in creating levels, they can either go make their own level for the online community to play or just surf around the community and find awesome levels to play with. Similar to the first game, the game never ends as every day, there are new levels that are accessible. Sure, the levels on the community are not made by Media Molecule but some of the user-created levels are just plain better than the official ones that are made. Levels that can be found in the community varies from versus challenges such as racing games, and a first person shooter game. Players who participated in the Beta should know what to look for!

Collecting Pins
In addition to playing the user created levels and creating the player’s own masterpiece, there is one more thing that players can do that adds a lot of replay value to the game. Introduced in LittleBigPlanet 2 are the pins that players can unlock. Pins in the game acts like a Feats in which some of them unlocks a trophy. There are a hundred of pins that can be collected and they all vary from easy to a hard conditions that players must met to unlock them. These pins can be accessed in the POD menu.

NOT

Where’s the PlayStation Move?
For those of yo who own a PlayStation Move controller, I am sad to report that none of the levels or the user-created ones are PlayStation Move compatible even though it says on the box itself. The mini game called, “Prehistoric Moves” that are included in the game are the only ones that are compatible with the motion controller. I’m guessing that we will be able to see some levels that supports the PlayStation Move controller via future downloadable content.

Pretty Much the Same Game
LittleBigPlanet 2 feels like playing the first game. If you’ve played the first game and you didn’t really appreciate all of the features the game had to offer, then getting the second game in the series will be out of the question. It’s basically just the same game plus the added features that only applies to the creators. However, while certain levels that are made on the first LittleBigPlanet can be played on the sequel, levels that are made using the tools on LittleBigPlanet 2 can only be played only on that game.

VERDICT

Sackboy succeeds once again in capturing the hearts of its fan with Media Molecule’s latest creation of LittleBigPlanet 2. While the game plays similar to the first game, the things that creators can do with the new tools that can only be used in LittleBigPlanet 2 are unimaginable. Imagine levels that combines different genres such as RPG, first person shooter, and racing games can only be found in LittleBigPlanet 2. Forget about games such as RPG Maker back in the day, in this time, LittleBigPlanet 2 is one of the ways to express the inner game designer a gamer dreams of.

[Editor’s Note: LittleBigPlanet 2 was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 hardware. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]