Small world, big hit
Play, create, share – why Sackboy is such a success with people of all ages
Even those who don’t care for gaming must have noticed the impact that
LittleBigPlanet is making. Lead character Sackboy – with his irresistible puppy-like expression and slightly clumsy gait – is everywhere.
“Wonderfully animated”, “best-looking console game to date”, “brilliant soundtrack” – the praise for
LittleBigPlanet has been unstinting. The biggest launch for PS3 in 2008, it combines the simple creative pleasures of the PS2/PSP role-playing game
Harvest Moon with the innocent appeal of classic kids’ TV.
LittleBigPlanet is a side-scrolling platform game, developed by Media Molecule in the UK. You get to guide Sackboy through a world that looks like the stage scenery from a primary-school pantomime, solving puzzles, collecting tools, funky outfits and funny stickers along the way.
All this is playfully narrated by Stephen Fry in his inimitable, reassuring voice. At any time, Sackboy can access his ‘poppit’, which, Fry tells us, is “the most useful tool since some Swiss bloke welded a kitchen knife and a screwdriver together”. The poppit contains Sackboy’s wardrobe and sticker collection, as well as other tools to help you on your way.
Play dress-upThe dressing-up tool is great fun. You can dress Sackboy in any number of mismatched combinations, such as a polka-dot dress, blue-rinse wig and massive fake moustache. And when he glances down at himself and looks back at you helplessly, even the most heartless gamer will feel a twinge of guilt.
The ‘planet’ itself is akin to a fairy tale. Sackboy scores points and collects stickers, which he can use to decorate his environment with a satisfying ‘splat’. The level editor tool allows you to let your imagination run free by creating your own lands to play in. You choose everything – from shapes (blocks, slopes) and materials (cardboard, stone, rubber) to textures, sound effects and background music.
Upload your creationsMost impressively of all, by logging on to the PlayStation Network you can upload your levels to share with other gamers, discover other people’s creations, meet up with other Sackboys and discuss your favourite levels in forums. It’s this user-generated feature that has really captured the imagination of the PlayStation community – 84,000 of them were created within days of the game being released.
Like many recent popular CGI films, the game is designed for both children and adults. And perhaps best of all,
LittleBigPlanet brings platform games into the High Definition age – and lets you put your own personal stamp on it.
Story by Erica Goodey LittleBigPlanet
is out now on Sony PlayStation 3