LittleBigPlanet 3 Review (PS4)

excellent
key review info
  • Game: LittleBigPlanet 3
  • Platform: Playstation 4
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LittleBigPlanet 3 review on PS4

LittleBigPlanet was one of the most ambitious titles to appear on Sony's PlayStation 3, proving that user-generated content can work quite well on consoles, provided the mechanics and the tools put at fans’ disposal are simple for all sorts of users to enjoy.

The title quickly spawned a sequel and iterations on multiple other devices, such as the PSP or the PS Vita, which further expanded the fanbase and added even more elements to the side-scrolling puzzle platformer, transforming it into a multi-faceted experience.

Now, LittleBigPlanet 3 is available on the PS4, coming from new developer Sumo Digital, which takes over from Media Molecule and promises to deliver not just better visuals, but also more imaginative tools and a better story campaign.

Does LittleBigPlanet 3 manage to deliver on its promises or should the series take a break? Let's find out.

Story

LittleBigPlanet games in the past didn't exactly shine in terms of story campaigns, as Media Molecule just used that aspect of the titles to get players up to speed with the basic mechanics, the basic kind of levels that were possible in the title, while supplying them with plenty of decorations, stickers, and objects.

In LittleBigPlanet 3, however, things are a bit more complex. You once again control a Sackperson, either a boy or a girl, depending on your preference, but right from the get-go you're transported to Bunkum, a new land in the LBP universe. Here, a being called Newton, who has a lightbulb for a head, warns you of a big danger, as three evil Titans are soon to be re-released onto the planet.

Of course, once you reach the place where the creatures are imprisoned, you find out that things aren't always as they seem and Newton betrays you, shortly before getting corrupted by the now released Titans.

The only solution to the predicament is to find three mythical heroes by rummaging through Bunkum. The whole plot is quite fun and deliciously brought to life by talented voice actors, which make the whole thing that much more impressive.

For the first time in the series, it's quite a joy to go through the story campaign, so don't miss out on it.

Pick your mode
Pick your mode

Gameplay and Multiplayer

LittleBigPlanet 3 doesn't mess with the key mechanics of the series, as you're still in a side-scrolling puzzle platformer experience. However, the team at Sumo Digital adds quite a few new elements that transform it into something much more impressive.

Immediately, you notice that there can be way more background layers besides the standard two, as thanks to bouncing pads you're transported to the background and back to the foreground. While the game doesn't go full 3D, it still manages to pull off a 2.5D style.

What's more, the platforming mechanics, at least when it comes to Sackboy, are much more precise, as he no longer makes the tiny protagonist feel floaty. The rest of the standard systems don't feel much different from previous incarnations, however.

Another big area in which LBP3 innovates is the presence of other protagonists, as Sackboy meets and frees three new friends during his adventures, in the form of Oddsock, Toggle, and Swoop. Each of the characters handles in a different way and possesses unique abilities that make them suited to beating the bosses of the game's main regions.

Oddsock feels like a "SackDog," as he uses all four limbs and runs much faster than Sackboy and can even jump off walls. His levels are much more fast-paced and a welcome change of pace from the regular levels with Sackboy.

Toggle is certainly one of the most intriguing new characters, as he can use his Big form to weigh down platforms, while his smaller one can run on water or squeeze through smaller spaces. His levels require quite a lot of fast reflexes, however.

Last but not least, Swoop is the first flying character in LittleBigPlanet, but while that ability may seem gamebreaking, as it can be used to avoid platforming sections, the team at Sumo Digital has made sure that his levels are built with the capacity of flight in mind. This includes the presence of some wonky controls that require a lot of button mashing, not to mention plenty of surfaces that are electrified and mean immediate death.

All these new characters are pretty fun, more or less, but you're still stuck most of the time with Sackboy, which feels a bit unfair and restrictive. In order to make regular gameplay more dynamic, the studio occasionally brings players new tools that spice things up. These include a gun that can blow or suck things towards it, a ball launcher that teleports players when it hits certain surfaces, or a hat that allows Sackboy to grind on rails. These all work pretty well, but once you complete your arsenal, the levels become quite demanding and require you to seamlessly swap between gadgets and items on the fly.

Of course, besides the actual campaign, LittleBigPlanet features an impressive level editor, through which players can create all sorts of different stages and then share them easily with others online. The set of tools is staggering in size, but if you go through the special PopIt Academy section, where you learn in a mini-campaign how to use them, you'll be crafting your own stages rather easily.

In case you can't find any inspiration, you can easily browse the best user-created levels out there, not to mention all the different stages made in LBP1 and LBP2, as they're all compatible with the new title and its improved visuals.

Of course, the game also supports online or local cooperative play, although all players need to use the same type of character, so you can't roll around in a complete team with Sackboy, Oddsock, Toggle, and Swoop.

Alone or with friends, the game does have some pretty lengthy loading times when entering new worlds/levels, but at least some of the messages played during them are pretty funny.

Meet new characters
Meet new characters

Visuals and Sound

LittleBigPlanet has always had a special kind of visual style based on knitted things, but on the PS4 these graphics look much more impressive. You can really admire the nuances of the fabric from which both the characters and the stages are made. The framerate remains solid even in hectic scenes, so don't expect any downsides.

The soundtrack is utterly delightful, complementing the action at practically all times. Special props go to the voice actors, with Stephen Fry reprising his role as the narrator, while Hugh Laurie brings the antagonist to life. The rest of the cast is also very impressive and you'll have a great time listening to them in the campaign.


The Good

  • Fleshed out story mode
  • Gorgeous visuals
  • Intuitive level editor & PopIt Academy
  • Great soundtrack and voice acting
  • Imaginative new characters

The Bad

  • New characters aren't portrayed all that much
  • A few restrictions when playing cooperatively
  • Some story levels feel a bit confusing

Conclusion

LittleBigPlanet 3 is the greatest installment in the series so far, bringing not just a complex toolbox for imaginative players but also a great story campaign that delights and amuses practically all the time. Throw in the already amazing levels being pumped out by the community and you can expect to spend a lot of time with the game on PS4. Sure, the loading times and the limited situations in which you can use the new characters aren't that great, but it's still enjoyable nonetheless.

story 8
gameplay 9
concept 9
graphics 10
audio 10
multiplayer 9
final rating 9.5
Editor's review
excellent
 

LittleBigPlanet 3 Screenshots (16 Images)

LittleBigPlanet 3 review on PS4Play as SackboyMeet NewtonUse the environmentProgress through the levels
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