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Sackboy, the star of LittleBigPlanet was originally introduced to the world on the PlayStation 3 and has been a huge success since launch. Media Molocule, the developers behind the game are back with a big game on a little platform in LittleBigPlanet PSP. Thanks to those kind folk at SCE Studio Cambridge in conjunction with the games original creators, we recently got the chance to go check out the new game.
Just in case you missed the massive launch of the original game, then let us tell you a little about it. LittleBigPlanet is a platforming physics based game, you take control of a creature known as a Sackboy in an imaginary world where anything that has been imagined in the real world comes to life and finds a home. Sackboy explores his world by jumping from platform to platform, pushing and pulling objects to create new ledges to jump on or by swinging from object to object. This time around you must use these skills to traverse the levels you visit which are based around different countries from the real world, starting in Australia, or as known in the game 'Down Under'. Sackboy is tasked with visiting these different regions of the world to find out why some people aren't using there imagination to their full potential.
As well as visiting these regions, the mini games are back and see a return as a fun diversion from the platforming of the main story game; one level we've seen involved Sackboy balancing on a surfboard while trying to catch bubbles as they floated past which was fun in it's own right and you could probably spend as many hours on these alone trying to master them.
The level creation tool is also included and once again offers a detailed tutorial to help you create your own worlds giving you all the tools necessary to create your own additions to the LittleBigPlanet universe, these can be uploaded to the PlayStation Network for others to play and rate and in return you can download other peoples creations, expanding the game much further than your average game on the PlayStation Portable. After the release of LittleBigPlanet on the PS3 there was some truly stunning level designs showing what a powerful tool and addition this can be to a game, hopefully, people's imaginations will once again be fuelled and we'll see levels of the same calibur appearing on this version as well.
Those that marvelled at the original PS3 version and fear how it will translate to this version can set there mind at rest, the transition has seen little lost in the games charm; Stephen Fry lends his voice once again to ease you into the game and its scenario. Likewise, the controls mirror the original, the analogue stick provides the method of moving Sackboy around LittleBigPlanet, the D-Pad can be used to alter his expression as in the original game and the right shoulder button allows you to grip objects so you can manipulate them. The X button provides the jumping duties where a quick stab at it will give you a hop, and a longer prod will give you a prolonged jump. The stickers you collect are accessed from a menu system known as the Popit which pops up on demand (hence the name). You can also customise your Sackboys appearance (making him a Sackgirl if you so desire) from this same menu.
The graphics have also seen a brilliant recreation on the new version of the game, while the textures of Sackboy aren't quite as stunningly realised as they were in the PS3 version, you can still see the wool texture and cross stitching of the little guy and he looks just the business as he struts his stuff. The worlds are equally stunning to look at on the PSP and look every bit as good as they did in the original game, the developers really have done an excellent job here and the whole thing looks superb, hard to believe that the game could be so well replicated, but it has been. The quirky soundtrack that came with its big brother has also been mimicked excellently, with lots of dainty little country themed ditties that will get stuck in your head for weeks to come.
All in all, the experience that was so brilliantly received with the original LittleBigPlanet has been created once again on the PSP, we get the impression that this is going to be a big hit for Sony and a whole new mobile legion of fans are going to be taking to the streets creating daring new adventures for Sackboys and Sackgirls across the world.
LittleBigPlanet for the PSP is due to be released on the 3rd November 2009 in the US and sees release in Europe on the 20th November 2009.
