LittleBigPlanet 3 Review - Best Things Come In Small Packages

Review 

November 19, 2014 By Maya Mayfield

In this latest edition of LittleBigPlanet 3, original creators Media Molecule have handed Sackboy over to Sumo Digital. Now decisions like this can be risky and a cause for concern to fans who have followed the series since its PS3 launch back in 2008. People don't often like change especially when it's something they are familiar with. Well if you did have any concerns about this then I am pleased to put your mind at ease.

LittleBigPlanet 3 is probably the biggest adventure in the series to date and Sumo Digital have not only kept all the great features fans will appreciate but have added a few new surprises along the way.

The most notable change is of course the addition of new characters. Sackboy now has  friends to play with. (Yay!) These additional characters open up a whole new way of enjoying LittleBigPlanet 3 thanks to their various abilities and skills. Swoop can fly to new heights, Toggle is big and strong but can  easily change to small for easy access to tiny spaces, while Oddsock is quick and agile.

With the introduction of all these new characters Sumo digital did not forget about Sackboy.
The little guy has been updated with some cool new tricks. Sackboy's sack pack now comes with a Hook Hat that lets you attach to rails, while his Pumpinator vacuum lets you blow things out of the way.

Sackboy will go up against the wickedly cruel Newton, voiced by actor Hugh Laurie as he journeys to save the little world of Bunkum. You must explore 3 main planets filled with dozens of missions and side challenges. Each hub will have you searching to locate marbles in hopes of restoring Swoop, Toggle and Oddsock back to their rightful places in Bunkum.

The idea of having new characters is great, but we don't enjoy them for very long. The moment Sackboy finds one, we are off to discover the next. This is a little unfortunate as the ability to switch between Sackboy and a newly unlocked character would have brought a fresh approach to the gameplay story mode. It's only after the game has been completed that you can play them all at once.

Beyond the story what fans of the series will likely enjoy most is content creation. Sumo digital have scaled back the tool box making it a lot more user friendly than before. Your ability to create will start in the early stages of the game where secret zones give you the opportunity to make items to clear that area like building your very own go kart for example.

The creative process starts with a blueprint screen in which you select your different elements to add together. Creating content is easier than ever thanks to the DualShock 4's touchpad for quick drags and drops. Sumo digital have also added a new world called Popit Academy. This new planet was designed to help aspiring creators learn how to make new items by solving puzzles that require the creation tools. Those new to this concept will appreciate the simplicity of it all, while LBP veterans will have their moment  to shine as each week, Sumo digital will highlight the best new designs to the the community.

Overall

Consider LittleBigPlanet 3 as a sort of introduction back to the series on the PlayStation 4. Although the game is without a doubt filled with charming imaginative designs, the 6 hours worth of gameplay barely scratches the surface of what could be. However it is still the best way to let your imaginative juices flow and with an all new creative process in place its so much easier to show the world just how far your imaginations can stretch.

Score

5/5