Review: LittleBIGPlanet (PS3)

LittleBIGPlanet may be the first official entry from Media Molecule, creators of Rag Doll Kung Fu, into the videogame world, but don't let Rag Doll Kung Fu's "meh-ness" fool you. LittleBIGPlanet is worth your time and money in every way possible. Also: Sackboy is freaking awesome.

The PS3 may not have a ton of standout games, but LittleBIGPlanet is one of the few games that is universally loved. This adorable platformer is probably the most charming game I've ever played. Beyond that, it's boasts the most robust and easy-to-use level designer I've ever seen.

With 8 different worlds with several levels in each world, the story mode is also very diverse, but the cool part is that every level in the story mode was made with the aforementioned level editor, so anything you see in the story mode can be created in the level editor.

Like I said, the level editor is extremely easy to use. It has a ton of tools to use, and a tutorial video for every tool. There are tutorials on how to create most basic things, like enemies, vehicles, and basic levels, and after that, you pretty much know enough that you can create anything you want. You can use any of the 8 environments unlocked in the story as a backdrop for your level, and there are stickers, items, clothes, materials, and more to unlock in the story levels. You can change the lighting, camera angles, text, music, and just about everything else in your level to set the perfect mood for whatever the situation.

Even though the story mode only clocks in at round 10 hours, there's also the user-created levels. I'm not sure if I have ever seen a community as creative as the one for LBP. I've seen levels for Metal Gear Solid, Pac Man, Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto, Donkey Kong, and just about any other classic franchise, all created by the LBP community with the level editor. It's not just levels based on things, either. I've seen a working basketball court, a construction zone where you can control several vehicles (bulldozer, wrecking ball, etc.), a level based on the TV show Ninja Warrior, and several other fantastically creative scenarios.

The game is also freaking GORGEOUS. The graphics would make even Pixar jealous, and the art direction is absolutely superb, adding the perfect feel to the game. The soundtrack is good, although sometimes it seems like you keep hearing the same songs over and over.

LittleBIGPlanet is a fantastic game, and one that deserves to be in any PS3 owner's library, because even though the story is pretty short, with the level editor and other user-created levels, you could theoretically play forever and never play the same level twice. 5 out of 5.