Game Info
Game Name: LittleBigPlanet 3
Developer(s): Sumo Digital
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s): PS4
Genre(s): Platformer/Strategy
Release Date(s): November 18, 2014 (US)/December 4, 2014 (Japan)
ESRB Rating: E
The world of Bunkum is being threatened by the three Titans that were trapped by the heroes of Bunkum. When Newton brings Sackboy to Bunkum to help the world, Sackboy learns that Nana Pud intends to free the Titans. The only hope for the planet could be the return of the heroes of Bunkum, and Sackboy must reunite Oddsock, Toggle, and Swoop…but the real threat might not be Nana Pud at all!
LittleBigPlanet 3 was developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as a PlayStation exclusive. The video game was the first of the series to be released on PlayStation 4 and followed LittleBigPlanet Karting in 2012. The game was released to positive reviews.
The original LittleBigPlanet had me interested in the PS3. I got it, played it, and enjoyed it, but I didn’t really get into the building aspect of the game series. While some see this as the primary part of the game, I kind of see it as secondary and enjoy playing the puzzles of the game (or created by gamers who do get into the building). LittleBigPlanet 3 does add some new twists to the game experience but largely remains the same overall.
The biggest “add” to the game is the three other heroes. Oddsock, Toggle, and Swoop give radically different play modes than the traditional Sackboy (or Sackgirl). The only problem with the additions is that their use is kind of limited. There are levels specifically designed for each character, but it could have even been more fun playing through levels (or trying to) with the other characters.
The story mode is rather short. There are three basic worlds with different branching levels. You aren’t required to play many of the levels and other than a few races and getting a number of characters through other levels, there isn’t a wide variety in gameplay. Primarily it is a platformer that has you jumping and figuring out the puzzles. That being said, it does it well and it is fun.
The game doesn’t seem like that big of a step-up from the previous entries. The style of the world doesn’t allow a ton of improvements though the tones and textures of the game are more defined in this outing. The ability to create allows from some fun parodies of other games, movies, comics, etc. and that does add to the creative nature of the game and interesting visuals.
The gameplay is both LittleBigPlanet’s curse and blessing. While the game is smooth and the character moves with easy through the levels, I always find the controls of the game a beast for anything but running and jumping. The submenus and multiple select screens can be maddening and if you accidentally hit one of them instead of jump, you find yourself digging through to “de-select” the menu. A tutorial series of levels are available which kind of help explain the physics and some of the controls, but just knowing how to do things in LittleBigPlanet 3 doesn’t necessarily make it easier.
LittleBigPlanet 3 is a game that does allow growth and exploration. The game isn’t limited to the actual game and with people still building for it, you have access to new levels all the time. The variety of the game can also change simply by adding other players and this opens up new areas for exploration. If you haven’t played a LittleBigPlanet game, don’t sleep on it and pick-up an affordable used copy of LittleBigPlanet 3 for some fun (and creative times).
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