Brilliant, extensive, superb, I love it!
I was right!
Amazing cutesy GFX, with in-depth levels. I admit it's slightly on the easy side and it will not take long for individuals to complete every level, but this is were the user community will step-in.
Providing the ability for users to build their own maps, is a stroke of genius for the PS3 game. Then making these available for users to download at there leisure is both smart and clever.
Re-running each level to unlock every customisable part of the game, from extra functions to add to your custom maps, to individual pieces for your cute and loveable Sackboy provides individuals with the ability to fully customise and change their character based on individual taste.
At face value, LBP is a left-to-right side-scroller -- Mario with even fewer options. You can jump, you can grab, and that's it. It's purposefully focused design at its finest, and it puts the spotlight on the interesting environments. Spread over eight worlds, LBP's story mode features some of the most endearing 2D levels in modern gaming, packed with secrets and even sporting a few devious bosses. Sackboy trots the globe to African, Japanese, Indian, and Southwest-American locales (to name a few), each thematically distinct and sporting tons of individual objects and artwork. The main exploration quirk is in the triad of 2D movement planes that each world's divided into. While the game is supposed to handle the act of hopping from a background object to a foreground object automatically, it's not 100 percent reliable; I found it easier (and more effective) to just do it manually each time. Other than that, the simplicity endears and perseveres, and the perilously clever levels kept me smiling straight through to the end (and then again with a friend...and once more in the hilariously hectic four-player co-op mode).
The story levels serve another purpose, too; any objects and stickers that you collect unlock in LBP's level creator -- where the real adventure begins. This ridiculously powerful suite of tools and decorations allows you to create almost anything of your own and share it with the world. Platformers are a good starting point -- but why stop there? Within a scant few hours of consumption, I played through logic games, murder mysteries, music videos, and more. Making good levels takes time and patience, but the creative satisfaction is immense. It's easy to get lost in the potential and spend time away from LBP simply dreaming up new things to try.
A really great game that deserved the game of the year award. I think the unique GFX, game play and customisation options really allow each individual to have their own unique experience whilst playing.
I look forward to the forthcoming Little Big Planet 2.