System: PS3
Dev: Media Molecule
Pub: Sony
Release: Q1 2008
Players: 1-Many
ESRB Rating: Pending
Preview by Amanda L. Kondolojy

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

LittleBigPlanet: coming to orbit on your PlayStation 3 soon!
by Amanda L. Kondolojy

July 19, 2007 - Everyone is very excited about LittleBigPlanet. If you haven't heard about it yet, chances are you've been living in a cave since it debuted last spring at the Game Developer's Conference. But for those of you who have been in said cave, here's a quick recap.

What LittleBigPlanet is, in very simplistic terms, is a completely interactive game where users can create their own characters, create their own levels, and really express themselves. And your experience is completely ground by physics. You'll have different materials like felt, Velcro, yarn, and a host of other hard and soft surfaces, with which to interact in real-life situations. And to further the experience, users can share their different levels over the PlayStation Network and challenge others to clear your masterpiece level. And the best part? It's brought to life by adorable sock puppets!

Of course, we knew all this back in the spring, and we were so excited we could hardly wait. But now it's summer, and E3 gave us the opportunity to really explore the intricacies of this title. First off, there's the playthrough. Unfortunately, the only immediate level available for play was the one featured in the first trailer. But there are so many possibilities, it almost felt new again. One really great thing about this game is that nothing is off-limits. If it's on-screen, you can use it in any physically-possible way to try and reach your goal.

But the real treat when it comes to LittleBigPlanet is the creation aspect of the game. Because the whole concept is to create a user-defined experience, it was absolutely vital that this part be explained a little more in detail. Well, we definitely got our wish this year at E3! The game's controls as far as creation are very basic. You simply decide what you want to customize, hit a button, and bring up an overhead menu. Since there are almost limitless choices associated with the game, the developers have wisely decided to narrow the field by limiting what you see to the current backdrop you're using. So no snowmen in the desert stage. But the items that you can use are full of potential. Not only can you use them for whatever you want, you can also combine items to create new ones. And it's all presented in a very simplistic scrolling menu system that's extraordinarily easy to use. Plus, it's very cutely stylized in bright neon colors!

The key here is that everything you want from this game you can get. And it will be a completely user-defined experience. Nothing about what you do with this game will resemble anything anyone else does. You can create the experience you want, and that's such strength for this game. In truth, I wasn't too sure about the prospect of essentially "creating" a game for myself, but if you're having thoughts similar to these, prepare to write them off completely. LittleBigPlanet is everything everyone said it would be and more. Trust me on this.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

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