LittleBigPlanet 2 is finally here. Fans of the original questioned whether the franchise needed a sequel. Developer, Media Molecule argued it did, promising to reinvigorate the franchise that lets players create and share their own levels, and once again deliver that rarity in today’s gaming age – a brilliant platformer. Has Media Molecule succeeded? Is the sequel justified? Find out here in our full LittleBigPlanet 2 review.
When the original LittleBigPlanet surfaced, along with its charming Sackboy mascot it popularised a new sub genre all on its own on the PS3 – what Sony and LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule dubbed “Play. Create. Share”. Sony later released the racing game ModNation Racers to build on this. It was essentially LittleBigPlanet, with racing cars, where players could build and customise their own cars and racetracks to share with others.
As smart as ModNation Racers turned out, it didn’t quite capture the imagination the way LittleBigPlanet did. LittleBigPlanet let users create their own levels. Now, over 3 million exist. So did LittleBigPlanet 2 need a sequel? After seeing what LittleBigPlanet 2 has to offer, the answer to that is a resounding yes.
So, LittleBigPlanet let you create levels, but unless you were a creative genius, chances are the standard of your creations were only just about worthy of taking up residence on the LittleBigPlanet servers. The sky was the limit, but the complexity of creating levels worth shouting about meant that reaching those heights was nigh on impossible for most. Certainly this reviewer, who gave up attempting to replicate levels from the likes of Super Mario, Sonic The Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot and many, many more.
Media Molecule knows this, and has now made it easier to create genuinely awe-inspiring things. And games. We’ll talk a bit more about the create side later. Not everyone will purchase LittleBigPlanet 2 to make their own levels. What about the levels already on there?
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Single player
As the story mode goes, Media Molecule has excelled itself . The original LittleBigPlanet featured a story mode, but it felt more like a collection of levels. In LittleBigPlanet 2, Media Molecule has really stepped things up. Its story guides you through a series of events surrounding the appearance of the evil Negativitron, which has come to cause chaos to Craftworld. As Sackboy it’s down to you to save the day. The levels are both charming and clever in equal measure. Many wouldn’t feel at all out of place in a Super Mario or Crash Bandicoot title: Some of them really are that brilliant.
It’s the new features that make the story mode what it is. The introduction of jump pads in levels means levels no longer feel flat, adding new height to them. Levels are filled with all sorts of obstacles such as electrified object, floating platforms, fiery chasms, sub-bosses and more to make it as fun as any platformer out there.
One of the biggest gameplay changers comes courtesy of the Grappling Hook. It lets you attach yourself to grippable objects to swing from ledge to ledge, climb and collect otherwise unreachable bonus items. As a result, levels are smarter, and play quicker and are generally more fun than the original. Fans who didn’t like the floaty jumping controls of Sackboy won’t like them here either. They are still floaty. But the addition of the grappling hook mean you can get Sackboy around levels much quicker anyway.
The Grabinator lets you pick up large objects to create makeshift staircases to reach higher plains, or pick up objects to throw at door-opening buttons and enemies. Speaking of projectiles, the Creatinator returns. It’s a gun that shoots anything you want it to. It’s cleverly used early on to shoot sticky cupcakes at enemies, transforming some levels into fun run and gun affairs.
The Creatinator now also lets you create all manner of remotely controlled objects – the results of which you get to see in the story mode. One level has you piloting a bumble bee in R-Type style fashion. It plays out just like the original side-scroller. The best bit is, everything you see in the story mode can be created in the Create mode.
DIY Levels
Speaking of which, LittleBigPlanet 2 makes it easier for players to create stuff they may have had trouble conjuring up in the prequel. Both new and old to the franchise can take heart from over 50 tutorials telling you how to do everything from placing a stone slab on the floor to creating your own AI controlled characters and contraptions, each narrated once more by QI host, and loveable brainbox, Stephen Fry. You can choose which you want to view without having to wade through each one.
The major change here comes via the “circuit board”. The revised Creatinator lets players create vehicles, robots, spacecraft independent of Sackboy more easily by letting you attach wires to a virtually displayed PS3 pad on-screen to map your own way of controlling them. It’s mostly a matter of dragging a connection and attaching to, say, the X button if you want it to jump, or accelerate, R1 if you need it to shoot, and so on. While that may still sound complicated, it’s still easier than twiddling lots of wires in the original. This new ability to create controllable objects independent of Sackboy means players can now create games.
There’s already a host of side-scrollers, robot battle arenas and even a pretend Street Fighter game created by LittleBigPlanet 2 players available to play now. If there is a major complaint to be had here, it’s that once again not all the levels created by fellow players are of the same high standard. Some of these also take an age to load. At times, close to a minute will elapse from when you selected a level, until you actually get to play it.
If music is your thing, you can now make your own. The Music Sequencer lets you compose your own soundtracks, with stunning results, if you know how. Using a range of real-life instruments you can create anything ear-worthy. Or copy existing music tracks, such as Derezzed, by Daft Punk, which we pleasantly came across earlier. Just take a look at what the Music Sequencer can do in this trailer:
All of the above means that LittleBigPlanet 2 is a must-have addition to your gaming collection. Its highly enjoyable story mode, new gameplay mechanics and new ways to build objects, levels and now, games, justifies Media Molecule’s decision to develop a sequel, rather than thrash out more DLC for the prequel. The story mode alone features some of the very best platforming action around anywhere at the moment. Add in the enhanced creation mode, and there’s no other game like it. You won’t immediately notice the difference between LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2, but once you do you’ll find there’s no going back to the original.
LittleBigPlanet 2 review disc kindly supplied by Gamesbasement.co.uk
