Little Big Planet
I completed my first play through of the single player portion of Little Big Planet last night and I have to say this game is great. The amount of creativity afforded is astounding as each level is more ingenious than the next. I absolutely love how everything has a hand-made look, a very distinctive departure from virtually every platformer ever made. LBP reminds me in many ways of Super Mario Galaxy because they both surprise you with their scale and the amount of variety they can pack into a level. Overall both games are very accessible, but also feature some genuinely challenging stretches.
Gameplay wise LBP takes some getting used to. For years I've gotten used to platformers like Mario or Donkey Kong Country where characters run and jump in certain ways. Not so in LBP. Since LBP takes place in a physical world, unlike any other platformer I have played, everything obeys the laws of physics. Objects have inertia, can gain and lose momentum, and most detrimental to platforming, can't stop on a dime. It is very easy to run off the edge of platforms simply because you are not accustomed to stopping your character's forward momentum. Even so I really like the benefits that a system like this gives you. For instance to reach high objects you simply ride a platform that rises and falls. If you jump just as the platform reaches its apex your upward momentum adds to the force of your jump, propelling you higher. There are some challenging and fun jumping puzzles involving platforms on bungies that use this principal to perfection.
I haven't yet gotten into the level creation aspect of the game since I wanted to finish the single player first in order to acquire as many materials and objects as possible. I have, however, tried a few of the higher rated levels that others have created and posted in the LBP system. Some of the levels are very creative (escape from Alcatraz), while other levels are more simple fun (ride a roller coaster). After I play some more and try my hand at level creation I'll do another post.
Aside from a few annoyances with getting used to the jumping I have thoroughly enjoyed my LBP experience so far. If you like platformers and have a PS3 Little Big Planet is a must have.
Comments
Posted by: Chris
Posted on: March 12, 2009 02:20 PM
I just got little big planet for my daughter's bday and we are stuck. How do we jump high? There is a level of springs where we have to jump to higher springs and we can't seem to jump high enough to reach it. Help?
Posted by: Joe
Posted on: March 12, 2009 02:45 PM
Chris,
Jumping higher on the springy platforms involves timing your jumps properly. LBP uses a very comprehensive physics engine which takes into account an objects size, weight, momentum, etc.
For example, if you jump once and stop jumping the platform will push you back into the air even without you jumping because the spring stores energy and transfers it to you. If you time successive jumps correctly each jump will add to the energy stored in the spring and propel you higher. If you get out of sink with the spring, however, your actions will actually dampen its ability to push you higher thereby preventing you from reaching the higher platforms.
I hope this makes sense and helps.