Reviews// LittleBigPlanet 2

It’s hard to believe we’ve had three whole visits from Santa since Media Molecule left the sublime, critically acclaimed and award winning LittleBigPlanet (LBP) under videogaming’s Christmas tree.

Jaded with a seemingly unending stream of generic shooters, driving games, 3-of-a-kind puzzlers and, erk, hidden object games, LBP dished up a treat with its unique platformer cum create-‘em-up. Only the most dour of gaming curmudgeons could possibly resist wearing a little smile as young Sackboy went skipping light-footed through burning forests and swinging from bubble infested rafters.

Challenged but not yet bettered, LBP's “Play, Create, Share” formula, nay, mantra is the reason it seems I was playing the original LBP just yesterday - because I was! The official Metal Gear and Pirates of the Caribbean brought not only new levels, costumes and objects, but also the mighty Painterator and sploshy water features. Still, these official DLC packs pale against the community created levels, many of which challenge professionally created level designs with their cunning puzzles and joyous gameplay.

What's the Point?
So, what of LBP 2? With so many new levels available and so much great quality out there for free, you’ve got to wonder, what’s the point? What could Media Molecule possibly add to the original LBP formula that would make it worth forking out good money in these difficult times? Well, settle back and I’ll take you through a brief introduction to LBP 2.

Craftworld is under attack. An evil alien force is hoovering up swathes of hand-sewn scenery and cardboard creations. Only you, or rather your Sackboy or Sackgirl, can stop the meanies from knocking the stuffing out of world.

The moment you drop into the game, you’ll feel right at home. Almost too much so. As the mellifluous tones of Stephen Fry, reprising his roles as part-narrator, part instructor, gently cajole you through the introductory/credits level; it’s like pulling on that favourite pair of your jeans - the ones with that your wear despite the split just below the arse - well worn, but so bloody comfortable.

As you’re introduced to the first of the game's new creator curators, there’s a hint of “Okay, so is this really just a heap of new levels and comical dialogue”. Then, Bam! The first of the new gizmos is thrust upon your tiny, knitted mitt: the grapple.

Its magical electric force field grants your wee Sackbeing the power to snag any grabbable surface, like the sponge and cloth of old, and swing on it. Lengthening and shortening the “string” is just a left-stick nudge away, granting your woven wonder Tarzan-like japes and catapulting high jinks.

Hot Sack on Sack Action
You're barely onto the next section when, Pow! Here, have a Grabinator. The power mitten grants our Sackie the ability to hoist aloft numerous items, and lob them at switches, meanies or other Sackplayers. Hell, you can even lob a Sackplayer and another sackplayer. It’s hot Sack on Sack action - perfect for co-operative challenges and all good wholesome fun!

Talking of wholesome, the Sticky Bun Gun is a treat, and not just of the sugar-based variety. Those glutinous delights stick to all kinds of surfaces, granting you a helpful step up. Only one of these new gadgets can can be active any at one time though. Collected in the same manner as the original game’s jetpack or the Metal Gear Painterator, a gadget hovers at a fixed point in the level, typically at a restart point, and walking over it activates it.

At any point you can click the circle button to discard it. Being a one-gadget Sackperson is a bit of a let-down because it means that each level’s puzzles are fiercely geared toward that gizmo.

As a result, the puzzles are never truly taxing. Nor, for that matter, are the perils posed in the design of the earlier levels. Indeed, accompanying me through the first dozen or so levels was my eight-year old daughter.

When I asked her how the game felt so far, she said it seemed easier than the first game. The risk of death by spike, gas or meanie isn’t quite as evident in the the early levels. While it may be easier, don’t by led to believe that LBP 2 is by any means easy. It’s merely that the learning curve is a little more gentle.