PSP Review – LittleBigPlanet

11/17/2009 Written by Anthony Severino

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The talented folks at Sony Cambridge Studios have been tasked with bringing the compelling charm of Media Molecule’s award-winning PS3 hit, LittleBigPlanet, to the PlayStation Portable. Have the studio realized the full Play. Create. Share. experience on the PSP? Read our full review to find out.

LittleBigPlanet for the PSP was developed by Sony Cambridge studios in “close collaboration” with the team behind the PlayStation 3 version, Media Molecule. Even though the game has been taken over by a new studio, it still retains the look, feel and overall experience that the original won over our hearts with back in October of 2008.

This is no simple port; this is another whole chapter in the LittleBigPlanet universe. The game ships complete with 30 new levels across 7 different themed areas. Each area features original levels as well as plenty of mini-games to keep you busy along your journey.

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The levels exude the same level of creativity as the original from Media Molecule, and in some cases, I enjoyed the layout of these levels even more than those in the PS3 predecessor. The game starts off slow, teaching you how to control your sackboy. However, don’t be fooled by the game’s kiddy appearance; there are many areas in the game that feature challenges that are very difficult, bordering on frustrating. However, they are not so difficult as to negatively affect your experience. There is a nice balance of easy, breezy, casual stuff, and stuff that would make the most hardcore of gamers cringe.

Each level is filled with hidden item bubbles, so you’ll keep coming back for more and more to help build your creative tool kit, or to find new threads for Sackboy. Like the PS3 version, you’ll receive awards for completing the level, or for doing so without losing a life. At the end, you’ll be given a percentage that lets you know if you’ve missed anything during your run-through of that particular level.

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The baddies seem fewer and farther between this time around, but it isn’t really noticeable, since your hands will be full with plenty of puzzles and platforming fun. Some of the game’s bosses are exceptionally fun, yet tricky to defeat. I would have liked to see more bosses.

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