There seldom comes a game which possesses the ability to simultaneously entertain those naughty little kids and that protein-shake-drinking, gym-worshiping “buff” guy. The first Little Big Planet managed to peak our interest in the fantasy world, as well as stir the mind in order to get those creative juices flowing.

Despite the fact that Sackboy remains vertically challenged, Little Big Planet 2 (LBP2) is bigger and better than its predecessor.

As you may know, the universe of Little Big Planet (LBP) is composed of the day-dreams of us individuals. This time around, Sackboy’s universe is under threat from a dark evil force and it’s up to him to join forces with the ‘Alliance’ and save the planet. While this may seem to borrow heavily from the Star Wars plot, the story remains surprisingly interesting and one can’t help but get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

LBP2 remains true to its 3D platforming roots but Media Molecule has managed to add a whole new range of features and gameplay elements to make the game feel like a true sequel.  Players can expect a whole new array of wacky and wonderful levels to play through. Sackboy has a completely re-worked arsenal of weapons and gadgets at his disposal. These include: grapple hooks, garbage lifters, as well as helmets which fire explosive projectiles – or cupcakes.

The difficulty of the game has also taken a step up as merely finishing levels and looking for hidden prize bubbles will not guarantee you that 100% level completion. Players will be required to complete small tasks within levels or achieve certain scores in order to find all the hidden prizes. LBP2 also boasts several mini games which are compatible with the PS Move. With all these new additions LBP2 is guaranteed to hold your attention, even if you felt that the first iteration eventually became stale.

Customisation has taken a great leap forward, and just when we thought that the first LBP had it all, LBP2 has introduced even more ridiculous outfits, stickers and creative tools. Level creation within the game gives the player even greater choice when designing his very own Sistine Chapel. This process has become more user-friendly than before, however, even with the plethora of tutorials, its still no walk in the park.

The overall visuals have been vastly improved which can be seen in the character designs and especially in the level design. The level designs of all the themed stages carry even greater detail and intricacy. Some of which will force you to snap your neck as you try to figure out your next step.

2011 is set to be a great year for the PS3 and LBP2 is one of the pieces of evidence to prove this statement true. With its quirky story, one of a kind platforming and cuddly visuals, this title is a must play for all PS3 owners. *Xbox fanboys- burst into tears.

Pros

• Level design
• Innovative additions
• Able to play LBP 1 levels

Cons

• Initially feels too familiar

Minions (Overlord)

Well they may not be obviously cute for some; but we find these critters repulsively cute thanks to their cute comments which are made throughout your quests and adventures. They also have a goofy like smile and care for their master oh so much.

Ok so this isnt their best pic, but there is something cute about them.

Yoshi (Super Mario)

Is he a dinosaur? Is he lizard? We cannot be sure. We can say that this little partner of Mario is one snuggly character.  If he’s not being ridden by Mario or consuming bad guys, he likes to make strange noises and eat apples. We don’t care what colour he comes in, he’s definitely snuggly.

Now available in these colours...

Essentially, this snuggly character doesn’t have a name until you’ve given him one; so it’s eye-pet for now. Looking like a cross between a monkey and a cat, this snuggly cutie will win you over the minute it’s hatched out of its egg. You are able to stroke it (no bad thoughts), and play with it (stop it!). Perhaps it’s the way he follows your hand or falls asleep that has made us think he’s snuggly.

That's one cute cat/monkey.

Kirby (Super Smash Bro’s)

Essentially, Kirby is a big pink ball that fights off bad guys. Beside that obvious snuggly characteristic, it is Kirby’s ability to suck in a bad guy then spit him out, as well as his power of being able to jump continuously by sucking in air. To top it off, Kirby can magically transform himself into a heavy black object.  It is all of this and more that makes Kirby take the number two spot on our list.

Kirby oozes snuggly.

Sack Boy (Little Big Planet)

Who would have ever thought that a piece of material would have the power to melt our hearts and the hearts of thousands . Whether he is standing still and wiggling his arms or his torso, or if he’s running around grabbing on objects, he is one cute critter. He also has an array of different looks and styles which can add an even more snuggly factor to him. He makes us melt every time.

*Heart melts*

*’Snuggliest’ does not imply that we are romantically attracted to any of these fictional characters. We are merely stating how we find certain aspects of them cute to the point where it would be semi-cool to cuddle with them (in a harmless and non dirty manner), akin to a child with a teddy- bear.

Have yourselves a super snuggly weekend!

The underlying premise of LittleBigPlanet remains, to the point that there kind of is no premise. It enters the world of imagination as you control Sackboy, a walking hacky-sack of sorts, as he travels across this planet and in some of the wackiest and interesting levels you’ve ever seen. Each level has certain objectives which range from retrieving stolen eggs and chasing monkeys, to fighting dragons and flying magic carpets. The magic created by the PS3 version is definitely here, and it’s safe to say that some of the awe-inspiring levels and ideas here even top that of the original LBP and place some unrivaled variety on a simplistic design.

The way in which you navigate the levels, clear obstacles and solve puzzles remains the same. Jumping, pushing, grabbing and swinging your way through the levels is easy, and thanks to the layout of the PSP and simple in-game controls it’s a joy to play which leaves absolutely no frustration.  The mechanics work in the same way as well, and that’s due to the fantastic physics which fuel the gameplay and, more importantly, the platforming. All the cool features like the jet-packs and vehicles are there which just goes to show that everything has been included here.

The level creator, which has become a defining characteristic of the LittleBigPlanet IP, is incredibly deep and user-friendly which allows players to create their own adventures with ease. The content quantity has definitely not been toned down, and there are literally hundreds of pieces and prize bubbles to collect throughout story mode in order to build your levels with. These levels, once again, can be shared online with the LBP community, which in turn, results in an endless amount of game time with LittleBigPlanet PSP.

The original LittleBigPlanet was commended for its innovative multiplayer which allowed up to 4 players to simultaneously play the game together. The multiplayer was so tightly woven (another shameless cotton joke) and it required 4 players to complete certain objectives. However, in LittleBigPlanet PSP, you’re on your own. The lack of a multiplayer component came down to the size of the game and the limitations of the PSP itself, but don’t let that distract you as the story mode is phenomenal and the crazy cardboard characters you interact with have more personality than most of your real friends.

Visually, LBP PSP manages to do the same thing that its big brother did. It astonishes with beautiful graphics in the most charming and simplistic of ways. The animations of Sackboy, the surrounding environments and settings are incredibly fluid, and every detail has been put into this game to make it look as good as it plays.

LittleBigPlanet PSP is not just a landmark title for the PSP, but it’s one of the most important titles of 2009. Everything great about the LBP world has been brought to the PSP in stylish fashion. The PSP’s hardware and UMD space limitations do hurt it in the multiplayer department, however no one can deny the brilliant visuals, gameplay and attraction of such an ambitious title. Sackboy is finally home.

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The Little Big Planet is supposedly a planet created from peoples daydreams. Their daydreams float into the sky and join together to form the planet. Yes… It does feel like the person who thought up the idea was high.

The story is rather simple. You play as Sack boy: a cute friendly little sack-like. Your job is to play through the levels that have been made in Little Big Planet and fight the creator (the evil guy) at the end. It isn’t exactly a groundbreaking story and probably one of the few weak points of the game – that is if you are into deep story lines.

The actual gameplay of LBP is where it comes to life. The game is basically a platform game (think super Mario but with 3D depth). You will play through a number of themed stages, each with a handful of different levels. Your task is to help the creators in each level overcome some sort of issue. As you go along you will have to collect prize bubbles, items, stickers and costumes for your sack person. This is great fun and with the 3D element you are able to move around objects and walls in order to navigate your way through the level. It’s a good mix of the old platform gaming with new features to keep it fresh. It should take you about six hours to play through the story mode and another six or so hours to collect every prize bubble as well as try and beat each level without dying.

One of the great aspects of the game are its physics. You can interact with almost everything in your environment. The levels are made up of different materials and this determines how your sack person can interact with it. These materials can range from sponge blocks, cardboard boxes and icy floors. Your Sack Person will be able to grab onto the sponge blocks to swing or push a box, he will also be able to slide across the ground if he running on surfaces such as ice. The environments are highly detailed and their textures are realistically complex. The textures are so good, it’s as if they could be touched. This gives the game an authentic feel.

Level design on LBP is very intricate. The levels are well put together and can be very challenging at times (so others can’t exactly say this is one for the kids). Each level is very distinct from the other in look and in the set up which is a good thing as it adds variety to the game and maintains your interest.

The customization is incredible. You can customize a character with different outfits, items of clothing, and other sort of apparel which you unlock as you play through the story mode. You can also create your own levels which you can play through, publish and share with others online. Level creation is made easy with a ton of tutorials and narration from British comedian and actor, Stephen Fry, to guide you through it all.

LBP has a co-op mode which allows up to four players. It can be played locally or online. The online element allows for millions of hours of gameplay once the story is complete. You can go online and play levels that other users have created. This ranges from Batman themed levels, to God of War and the list goes on.

The only downsides of LBP are that it can be rather limiting to those who do not have a broadband connection and really want to get a ton of replay value out of a game. Even though game play is rather smooth, the frame rate drops from time to time and the story is very, very weak.

Overall LBP is a great game. It offers loads of fun, variation and can be quite a challenge if you want to ace the levels of collect all the prize bubbles. It can be played with your friends or on your own. Either way you are guaranteed to have a great time. This is a must buy PS3 exclusive and an amazing alternative to action games. In fact it’s so good that the action games might start to gather some dust on that old shelf.

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