TGL’s Joseph Murphy zips up, gets creative and explores the glorious Little Big Planet PSP
With the dust kind of settling since the release of MW2, TGL had a chance to sit down and explore a world all too familar. Little Big Planet PSP is one of a kind so to speak. Having been born on the Playstation 3 with the cult classic Little Big Planet, LBP PSP draws from that and extends it in numerous ways but also falls short in some. “Developed” by Media Molecule Cambridge, LBP PSP sees you take control of sackboy again and this time it’s portable.
Upon starting you will feel very comfortable with the surroundings as the game looks and plays very similar to its predecessor. You have four main “pods”, three of which are available from the get-go (the creator is hidden until you finish the training level). You have “My pod” in which you can view news (when connected to the internet), you can change your avatar and customise your little sack person. Customisation is again very easy with menu after menu laden with extreme outfits, wacky hair and plenty of sackboy “skins”. Your pod itself is like a mini-version of the PS3 sister. When we say mini we mean mini. Virtually a windowsill, your pod is very small, actually too small to be honest to feel like a “home”. Ok you can decorate it etc but without space you will find yourself not viewing it much, instead favouring customising yourself in game instead.
The story mode itself is like the PS3 game. People needing help, you exploring many different worlds while trying your best to keep your multiplyer as high as possible. A great charm of the LBP world is that to those who like to rush (the fans of the Sonic way of life) the game will help you do so by providing some interesting elements and set pieces. But for those who like to take the game at a normal pace, the game is equally as satisfying filled with puzzles and some genuinely funny moments. With Seven different locations, you will have a LOT to do. Like the previous installment, you will be rewarded for collecting all stickers. This is a great incentive for those who like to own everything the game has to throw at you. By collecting, you are rewarded with more stickers, outfits, textures and skins.
One of the nice features of the menu system is how, like the PS3 game, it’s very easy to navigate and has an almost “Katamari feel” to it. Just like the PS3 version, one pod is dedicated to online elements. Sadly, and very sadly indeed, those looking for online co-op will be bitterly dissapointed. There is none. yes, none. Producer Mark Greene commented on the loss: “The system is physically capable of doing multiplayer, but perhaps not with the full physics system. On the technical side of things you lose a third of the processing power or a third of the system memory just to do multiplayer at all. With those limitations we couldn’t achieve it”. This is one major knock for me as I really did expect the multiplayer to make it [in the end], instead it’s replaced by the ability to share levels etc over AD-HOC. You can’t help but feel slightly numb as you run around and imagine the fun you could have with friends/family.
After you play more into the game, technically past the “introduction” you finally unlock the “creation pod”. 
This is where the fun starts. Juts like the PS3 equivelant, LBP PSP offers you an endless array of items, stickers, textures, nuts, bolts and glue. The level creator aspect of LBP allows the player to create practically anything from cars to rollercoasters: the only barrier is your imagination. I know that sounds very cliche but for a game like this, it actually turns out to be half true upon inspection. One of the most frustrating things about creation is some of the changes made. For example, if you draw a circle but you want the middle to be empty, the game will automatically fill the space. No way around it it seems. Also, deleting spaces within a made object have been so heavily restricted you kinda have to know what you want well before drawing it out. Little changes like this will annoy and complicate matters for fans but to the new folk it will prove to be an absolute joy. What is a very welcome touch about the level creator is that when you hover over your level-to-be on your pod screen, it will display the levels size and free space on your memory card. that can come in handy for all you 1GB PSP owners.
In terms of graphics, the game looks super impressive, when you first boot it you will be stunned at how good it looks. Offering both the feel and look of the same PS3 title is impressive, especially considering it’s for a portable machine. The textures such as rubber, metal and sponge still have that almost “touchable” feel to them. Like the Ps3 game you can jump, grab and swing from most of these materials. Little Big Planet PSP is one of many games that really makes you respect what the PSP can offer both visually but through content also, the game is just brimming with material.
Media Molecule Cambridge should be rightfully proud of the addition they have made to such a special title. It goes without saying that in some way TGL was holding their breath after hearing this game was coming but we have let out an almighty sigh now: as we swing from out customised “flying house”.
A game of beauty, excellence and an overwhelming gaming experience, Little Big Planet, with some minor issues, allows people to be thankful yet again for being gamers. For enjoying games, and most of all for playing them as this has been and will remain one of the most rewarding handheld titles around.
[TGL SCORE 9/10]
Format(s) : PSP/PSN
Release date: 17th November 2009
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Entertainmant
Developer(s) : Media Molecule Cambridge
