LITTLE Big Planet 2 is without doubt one of the most intriguing games available on any operating system.
Having never played the first title this was my first experience of the world of ‘sackboy’ and his platforming playground and a thoroughly enjoyable one it was.
On the face of it, there’s nothing more than a bit of well wrapped platform action to sink your teeth into. However, delve deeper and you’ll find a game that has almost limitless possibilities (as long as you enjoy the basic platforming mechanic that is).
The main story mode presents you with 30 different story levels which see Sackboy tasked with taking on Negativatron an evil beast which is busily eating up the contents of Sackboy’s home, Craftworld.
To complete the levels you have to run, swing, grab and jump your way from left to right as in classic platform games of old. The levels and the story have been lovingly created and look outstanding.
However, don’t let that cutesy appeal mask what can be an incredibly frustrating game, requiring some pixel perfect platform action and more than a little thought to make your way through the levels.
While leaping your way through the entertaining surroundings you’ll also have the opportunity to collect stickers, scenery items and new clothing for your character.
You can play the levels in a co-operative manner with friends which also helps add a little more fun to proceedings. The story levels really do look impressive. The eclectic array of objects that make up the scenery make for some incredibly beautiful surroundings, in a style that’s completely unique to the title.
What separates Little Big Planet 2 from the crowd is the much vaunted level design system which allows novices, even with the most rudimentary of expertise to begin plotting their own levels.
They can then be posted on servers allowing you to share your creation with the rest of the world. This is the crux of the game really, you will never run out of new levels with gamers across the world dreaming up their own creations and putting them out there for everyone to test.
Although the creation system is fairly user friendly there’s still plenty to learn before you’ll be producing your own masterpiece – but then that’s the joy of the game, the more you learn and practice the more impressive the rewards.
It’s up to you, if you want to just play it as a simple platformer that’s fine.
There’s the story mode to finish and millions of levels created by other gamers across the globe to keep you occupied.
But if you’re feeling creative you can sink your teeth into level creation in hope of producing your own masterpiece.
RATING: 4/5