LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation 3 was one of those rare games that could put a smile on the face of even the most jaded of gamer. The idea of "Play, Create & Share" was fully realized with the game, and a strong community sprung up around the title soon after its release. It was inevitable that the adorable little Sackboy would end up on the PSP, and we're certainly glad he did.
LittleBigPlanet on the PSP IS 100% LittleBigPlanet. It looks, feels, sounds, and possibly smells just like the PS3 original. Even though SCEE Cambridge was mostly responsible for the portable version, they have positively nailed almost everything that Media Molecule strived for when creating the game.
The Story mode is totally new in LittleBigPlanet PSP, with new challenges, levels and music. The adventure is definitely a fun one, and to better go with being a portable game, it's more forgiving. Not only are there checkpoints literally everywhere (sometimes a few seconds apart), Sackboy always has an unlimited number of lives. The 30 or so levels takes place in 7 worlds, and they are all distinct, really creative and nicely designed. To go with the platforming, I'd say the PSP game has a little more puzzle solving than its PS3 big brother. One of the complaints that some users had with the PS3 version of LBP was the somewhat floaty, physics based jumping. LBP PSP has toned that feeling down a bit, so platforming is much more solid and predictable. The portable version also handles the 3 side-scrolling planes somewhat differently. It's still possible to manually move into the background and foreground by tapping up or down on the analog stick, although it's mostly automatic now. There are a number of hidden prize bubbles and paths and such that require some thought in that way. The plane switching and physics still do cause a few problems now and again and may lead to Sackboy making a bad jump or getting stuck somewhere without escape. The frequent checkpoints and ability to pop back to the most recent checkpoint exists just for that reason.
As in PS3 LBP, playing through the Story mode will net you a ton of building materials for when you want to actually create stuff, or customize Sackboy or his pod. Picking up prize bubbles or perfecting a level will help stock your pop-it toolbox will all sorts of goodies needed to make a level of your own or put together some sort of bizarre Sackboy torturing experiment. Stickers, decorations, objects, machines, textures and materials and so forth are available. Incredibly, Sony Cambridge tried really hard to shoehorn all of the level creating functionality into the PSP version. It works for the most part, but having less buttons and the lack of the second analog stick really limits what you can do in terms of manipulation and control. Most of the functionality from the PS3 tools are actually included, though it's definitely more difficult to put together more complex creations. The result isn't particularly unexpected considering the platform it's on.
Whether or not you've built the perfect level, LBP PSP has online sharing tools just like its PS3 big brother. You can upload your handiwork directly from the PSP, and choose a destination moon, location and icon for it just as before. From there, others users can download, play and rate your published creation. In terms of searching, rating and tagging, there are obviously less options available in the PSP version, but what is included works really well. Downloading of other levels was surprisingly quick, and most only seemed to clock in at a couple of MB, max. It's impressive that they were able to get this kind of community sharing functionality working so well on the PSP to be honest.
LittleBigPlanet on the PSP looks shockingly close to the LBP PS3, and yet another portable title that looks nearly as good as a console game. Some of the more advanced effects and lighting are toned down and it still looks fantastic. The themed, pre-built Story levels are packed with imaginative details and cute little touches. Sackboy has just as many customization choices in his pop-it as before, from textures, colors and hats, to shoes, accessories and more elaborate getups. Many of the costumes have been taken directly from the PS3 version, so it's likely you can create the very same Sackboy on both.
A nice chunk of LittleBigPlanet's charm is the upbeat, super catchy soundtrack. The PSP version stays right on the same path with a diverse and interesting selection of tracks spanning many genres and regions. I'm not sure who many of the artists featured in the game are, but all of their songs fit in perfectly. As in the LittleBigPlanet PS3, each and every level has a unique track to go along with it. All of the familiar sound effects, such as the chime when you place a sticker or the celebration noises when completing a level have also made the transition. The game is just a joy to listen to.
One feature that I particularly loved about LittleBigPlanet was the local or online, co-op gameplay for up to 4 players. Unfortunately, it's a feature that was left out of the PSP LBP entirely. The Story mode makes for a nice single player experience though having the ability to play with at least one other player would have made it that much better. The game does feel like it's missing something without any sort of multiplayer. Also, the load times on the UMD version (what this review was based on) can be on the long side occasionally, although they are generally decent enough to not totally be an annoyance. We would expect that the downloadable version, due out soon, may speed things up a bit.
LittleBigPlanet for the PSP is certainly the charming, playable LittleBigPlanet that we all know and love. It's an impressive achievement on the PSP, even if the lack of multiplayer and more difficult creation controls hold it back a little in the end. Play, Create & Share on the go!
