First PS3 LittleBigPlanet review in as Beta ends
By Dave Parrack
LittleBigPlanet on the PS3 started as a little game by a little studio that needed the help of gamers to create some of its content. It’s now a massive game that is set to give gaming back to gamers, and possibly save the Playstation 3. The beta has now ended, and the first review is in.
The beta version of LittleBigPlanet, that has been running for a few weeks and has enabled budding level designers everywhere to conjure up their own special creations, has now come to an end. In that time, thousands of new levels were created by enthusiastic amateurs everywhere, all of which (apart from the ones with penises) are going to be in the full game when it’s released on October 24th.
The end of the beta has coincided with the timed release of the first official review. You may have seen reviews on the shadier areas of the InterWebs but up to now, those people haven’t actually played the game. Eurogamer nabbed the first review proper, and give Sony’s great hope a three page write-up. Here are the abridged highlights:-
The story mode is only 20 levels long but well worth multiple plays, especially in light of the cracking level design and hidden collectibles. The multiplayer elements are fun and entertaining. The physics are astounding but the controls and lives system leave something to be desired.
As a platformer, it doesn’t compare to Yoshi’s Island, but the user-created levels obviously set it apart from that substantially. It’s a laborious task to create levels, but the community will provide for those too lazy to bother with fodder for years to come. LittleBigPlanet is a fun, flagship game which may be mildly flawed but still manages a 9/10 nonetheless.
The reviews are going to start coming thick and fast now, and some will obviously praise the game for its simple but endless fun, while others will baulk at the fiddly control system and over-complicated level designer.
Personally speaking, I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Sackboy is adorable, the game looks astoundingly beautiful and well-designed, and even the content on the retail disc looks like making it worth buying. Add to that the chance to play thousands of user-created levels and the chance for others to play yours and what’s not to love?
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October 13th, 2008
OPM was first review actually, they gave it 10/10 over 2 weeks ago
October 13th, 2008
Yes, I agree with ‘anonymous fool’. OPM were the first.
October 13th, 2008
I can not wait to get this game! This could really be the biggest game around in a years time. I cant imagine how many user created levels there will be by then.
October 13th, 2008
User created content is a big drawcard for this game I think. If you get the community involved in a game, it can do wonders with it’s popularity.
October 13th, 2008
I wasn’t aware that the “press” is now supressing our first amendment rights. Just posted a lenghly reason why this title will be massively successful hope this one stays. The Beta was great and the actual release will only be better. See you all online.
October 13th, 2008
For anyone that wasn’t able to try the beta, the psn has some new videos of LBP up. Great stuff.
October 13th, 2008
OPM reviewing a Sony game… and they gave it 10/10? Well I never. I excluded that as it’s clearly a biased source. Eurogamer’s is the first independent review and the first that I take seriously.
October 13th, 2008
Dave Parrack:
LittleBigPlanet deserves the perfect 10. Everyone will give it the same score as OPM. The game is pure amazing. And if you call Sony’s official PlayStation magazine biased, what would you call Microsoft’s official Xbox magazine. Stop trying to give Sony’s new game bad publicity. Oh and Eurogamer is the stupidest and the worst gaming reviewer…
October 13th, 2008
Ivan - Official Xbox Magazine = biased as well. Anyone who believes review scores in an official magazine is seriously in need of a reality check.
October 13th, 2008
Ivan_PSP:
Sorry Ivan but if the Official Xbox Magazine is biased then why would it give halo3 an 8/10 and Gears of War a 9/10???
And i played the Beta for LBP - it was ok - nothing special in my opinion - i think that it will be a massive hit as long as EVERYBODY who plays it - goes online with it and tries peoples created levels.
And frankly - NOT EVERYONE takes their console online these days - believe it or not - its TRUE>
So if everybody who buys the game and outta that only half of them play other peoples levels online - then i think you will have 50 percvent of people who buy it (those who stay offline) who will think that its just a basic, platform game that could have been on the PS2. - Me for one.
October 13th, 2008
who does believe any official magazine of any product? 9/10 isn’t exactly bad is it? If it as 5/6 out of 10 then i think we could worry but 9/10 still means its awesome. Besides you have to make your own mind up on whether you like it. Personally i don’t think COD4 is all that yet everyone else seems to love it.
October 13th, 2008
I have been in on the beta also. Before I played the game I was a little skeptical, but the beta blew me away. This is one of the most original and creative games I have played in a while. The demo was around 938mb or so…. I can’t wait to see how much they crammed on to the disc. I have it on reserve and will be picking it up the day it releases.
October 13th, 2008
Actually one point i do agree with eurogamer is that the control system was slightly off, it was a little less desirible than i was expecting, but for sheer fun this game blows everything else out of the water. I think this is the game we all needed. Fanboys can’t argue over or compare with this and that, and its fairly relaxing. I will definatly be buying this as the Beta was awesome.
October 13th, 2008
@Shannon - Didn’t the review already state there has been plenty of user created content in the closed beta. Image when the thing finally hits retail and sells 500k or more. There will be tons of user created content.
Still, I am not sure if I am getting it yet. I wish it were digital download for the same price as wipeout
October 13th, 2008
IGN has it’s reviews in now too. US: 95 and AU gave it 92.
October 13th, 2008
Like many of you, I was also in on the beta (look for my Created Level “Stupid Duck Rockets!” on launch day!
) and I’ll just say that Eurogamer’s review was pretty spot on, which is surprising since Eurogamer hates all things Playstation.
There ARE control issues, especially in multiplayer, but it’s really not a big stain on an otherwise stellar title. My roommates and I played the level I made and were cracking up and the silliness. Yet on other levels, we were intensely focused on getting to the end of the level, and on others we were fiercely competing for points. It’s the first time me and both my roommates sat down and played a game together since we moved into our new place. Fun stuff.
-Arvis
October 13th, 2008
I hate you lucky Beta bastards
October 13th, 2008
I wouldn’t say OPM is biased, they gave Heavenly Sword, Folklore and RFOM 7/10 (fair enougth it was released in UK 6 month later but come on a 7!?
They have 5 10/10 games, COD4, MGS4, GTA4, Oblivion and now LBP, LBP definatly deserves to join those games and is arguably better than all of them.
Anyway Eurogamer’s score is high seeing as they are nearly as tough as Edge and Games TM.
October 13th, 2008
The reviews are flooding in, 96 metacritic score! and there is a few 10/10’s that havn’t been counted yet.
98 - gta4 best game of this console generation? no way, Sackboy’s after ur crown Niko.
October 13th, 2008
My favourite part of metacritic is how since the reviews started to come in the user score has dumped
I love fanboys
Its funny really, you can’t go by magazine reviews (I mean sure they can give you an idea of the game) and you certainly cannot use the user scores due to all the fanboys. Well at least the internet can still deliver porn.
October 13th, 2008
I would really like to have this game, but as it stands, the PS3 isn’t worth the investment.
A few more games like this, though, and it may be.
Reviews are backing up the hype this game generated.
I’m still not sure if it will be a real console mover, but I will be interested to see how much PS3 sales spike on this game.
October 13th, 2008
@dave parrack, i agree with u eurogamers is a shit site.. they the site that gave mgs4 a 8 which is the lowest score out of everyone..the site got microsoft written over it..
October 13th, 2008
Well i wrote that Eurogamer suck. And no matter what review LBP gets the entire world will buy it.
October 14th, 2008
Fuck. i think I’m going to buy this game now.
Damn you IGN and your videos! *shakes fist*
LBP & Fable 2 on the same day
The 21st of October should be a great day 
October 14th, 2008
SW - I know that by the time the game hits there will be loads of content available for iot.
BUT It WONT be available to people who are not online.
That is my point - its a game whose success depends on how big and dedicated the community will be - im not doubting whether or not there will be a community for it 0- in fact i think that the commmunity for it will be immense!!!
HOWEVER - if you are not online - i dont think that you will think very much of the game that comes outta the box so to speak.
And i for one am not online at home console or otherwise - i do my posting at work (and get paid for it!)
October 14th, 2008
LittleBigPlanet takes a big amount of space: up to 40GB on Blu-ray
The first major publication to review LittleBigPlanet was the UK edition of PlayStation Official Magazine. In their November edition they gave the game a score of 10/10 calling it “a beautifully elegant and powerful creative tool that puts unlimited potential in the palm of your hand”. Eurogamer scored the game 9/10. Reviewer, Oli Welsh commented specifically on the game’s “unforgettable visuals” and that the accurate lighting was “as total a realization of high-definition as you’ll see anywhere in games this year”. He also praised the multiplayer gameplay as “a loosely-structured scrum of competition, collaboration and sheer, joyful mucking around”. Speaking of the game’s comprehensive creation and community tools in contrast with its classic platforming gameplay, he calls the game “the future and the past of videogames, rolled into one”. IGN (US) scored it 9.5/10 and said the game was an “instant classic”. The reviewer, Chris Roper, also suggested that the game may even be a reason to buy a PlayStation 3; “If you own a PlayStation 3, you cannot miss this. If you don’t have a PS3 yet, this is the reason to get one.”
Review scores
Publication Score
Eurogamer: 9/10
IGN: 9.5/10
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK): 10/10
Gamereactor: 10/10
Aggregator Score
Game Rankings: 96%
“LittleBigPlanet is perhaps one of the most dazzling demos I’ve seen in the last 10 years.”
BBC
“This could be something very special”
1UP
“If you really need comparisons, the game is like Line Rider meets Garry’s Mod meets Super Mario Bros. meets an orgasm.”
Kotaku
“LittleBigPlanet is the epitome of imagination”
IGN
“easily the best PlayStation 3 game that Sony has ever shown off”
Wired
“this is the reason to buy PlayStation 3″
Slashdot
Key Features
* Meet Sackboy, an iconic new character that you can customize to reflect your own personality
* Dive into a brand new gaming genre that unleashes the creativity in everyone
* Explore over 50 awesome levels which will inspire and teach you the skills to build your own content
* Share your creations and enjoy access to unlimited content - a new experience is waiting to happen every single time you go online
* There’s not just one way to play. Players craft their own individual experience based on their own creativity
* Unlimited possibilities for user-created content - players can customize everything: their characters, the landscape around them and their own patch on LittleBigPlanet
* Online and offline multiplayer modes - play alone, work as a team or get competitive.
* LittleBigPlanet global community for players to get involved with: includes player comments, rankings and easy communication with new and existing friends
LittleBigPlanet will eventually allow players to profit off of their user-created levels or add-ons by offering the content online at a price, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has revealed.
Yo can buy LittleBigPlanet now from SonyStyle http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665563460
October 14th, 2008
@Shannon - Ok I obviously missed your point there
Still, I wonder what the actual % of players who use thier consoles online is…
Don’t suppose anyone has these statistics
October 14th, 2008
Im sure there are millions of people who do go online.
But i dont.
Therefore - LBP doesnt interest me at all..
But thats the beauty of taste.
October 14th, 2008
@shannon
there is still the single player levels and you can create and save levels to play for urself, friends and family to play(single or multiplayer)
October 14th, 2008
Yeah but playing your own stuff just isn’t the same as playing something you didn’t make
Cuz otherwise you know everything that is going to happen don’t you
October 14th, 2008
Fake Arvis,
You’re not fooling anyone… and you’re not funny.
-Arvis
October 14th, 2008
Arvis:
That’s the low life harry sachz hijacking your name.
I can’t wait to play LittleBigPlanet.
October 14th, 2008
Ivan,
No, it isn’t. This is more Future Sega Boy’s style, although it’s more likely just some random bored teenager laughing at how clever he thinks he is.
-Arvis
October 14th, 2008
Arvis-
Your right, it does sound like Future Sega Boy’s style. Either way it needs to stop, along with the sexual, racial, and sexual preference comments.