One of the most awaited releases for the PS3 is 'Little Big Planet'. I have been super excited about this game since the E3 trailer this past summer. On Wednesday Oct. 8 I finally received my BETA tester key. I spent some good time playing it that night, which happened to be my last night in Ottawa before leaving the next morning at 7am back to Southern-Ontario. Obviously an all nighter was needed...

E3 Trailer of Little Big Planet

A little big background...

I wasn't sure I really understood what the actually did until i started playing. The basic idea it's that it's a multiplayer platform game with a lot customizing option.

You can customize your character which happens to be raggedy-ass puppet. You can customize your 'pod' which is the equivalent of you home where you launch levels from. You can customize levels in which you must complete with or without help from your friends online.

My little big experience...

You start off by running through a level who's backdrop is a collection of mugshots for the developers and other team members. A very creative way of making you sit through the credits. There is very little sitting involved as you are running jumping, moving, dragging and hanging off of things. You are guided through the tutorial levels by a British accented narrator which makes the whole experience as if is you're listening to a story being told(they should really use this guy with audible books, as Audible.com seems to be the latest craze in literature...NOT). Within minutes you learn all the info you will need to know:

• you have to complete the level by making your way from left to right of the screen (similar to a side scroller) by bypassing all the obstacles
• you should collect all possible orb as they gain you points at the end
• every final step in each level world requires you to stick stickers on objects which seems to animate them (eg. sticking shoes, shorts and a jacket on a cardboard cut-out of a king animates him to drop a bridge down over a river for you to cross to the checkpoint)
• this is more than a side scroller as you can move from background to foreground (jumping also)
• six-axis controls the characters head motions (found no use for it other than as a novelty)

My little big positives...

• graphics are stunning
• physics are surprisingly accurate
• more fun than Mario...there i said it
• Possibilities for levels are endless with online creation and sharing
• intuitive controls
• appeals to different crowds (Wii-like effect)
• the cutest game you will ever play

My little big negatives...

• moving from foreground to background can be a bit confusing as all it takes is moving left joystick up or down. I would have liked to see the six-axis used for moving back and forth.
• no choice to skip the tutorial if you really want to start playing. The controls are really intuitive and are only hard if you haven't played games since the 1990s

My little big conclusion...

I absolutely loved this game. It is exciting and magical in the way everything is presented. A lot of attention to detail has been paid and it shows. I for one will make sure to a get a copy of the final release as soon as it comes out this October 21st and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an easy to play game with fun challenges.

My little big scores...