Planet rocks

by ERIK LEIJON

In the two years prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet (PS3/Sony, Media Molecule), Sony scoffed at the notion that their killer app was some mere platformer, instead touting the creative aspects of LBP as being the game’s true calling card. Historically in-game customization has rarely overshadowed the game itself; but not only is LittleBigPlanet the most malleable, customizable and creative gaming experience ever, after only a couple of weeks of awe-inspiring user-generated material it seems impossible to separate LBP from the endless creative possibilities the game provides.

A largely 2D side-scrolling platform game in the vein of Mario, the story mode is a dizzying display of vibrant colours and inventive level design—each stage looking like some ADHD child’s grade school art project—complete with cut-up fabrics and cardboard cut-out googly eyed characters. Any stage can be messed around with by using stickers or decorations.

TREASURE: LittleBigPlanet

The story mode (playable either alone or online with a group) is satisfying by its lonesome, but LBP is a community-driven experience: either for playing other people’s created levels or for sharing your own works of art. Playing story mode is important for acquiring the dozens of tough-to-find stickers, decorations and items hidden within each stage. Everything you find will prove useful when you start fiddling around with the level editor mode, which should become a life-debilitating addiction even to those who have never had a creative inkling. If not, playing a user-created level is as simple as picking a story mode stage.

Developer Media Molecule’s greatest accomplishment is making an anything-goes level creator so accessible. LBP’s community has already created levels good enough for most platformers (nothing on par with the story mode yet), and even I’ve felt comfortable enough manoeuvring through the popit system that I’m hoping to eventually complete a level worthy of sharing.

The popit is a small menu screen where every conceivable item, enemy, sticker, danger, background music and even graphic effects can be easily accessed and added to your level. To truly understand the vast possibilities of this level creator, none of the user-generated levels I have played thus far even look like they’ve been created using an editor. Even the hidden rewards in each level show a personalized touch.

I heartily recommend players try out fords30’s Escape from Alcatraz! It’s a simple prison level with a Dirty Harry sticker as a reward. Squirell42000’s The Great Pyramid is filled with difficult traps, and evolution7354 has actually recreated another game, EA’s Mirror’s Edge, using LBP’s editor. Not to be outdone, the developer’s Serpent Shrine stage is the best platform level I’ve played since the airships from Super Mario Bros. 3. LittleBigPlanet is one of 2008’s treasures, but expect to be playing and sharing well into the new year.

Taming of the beast

Beat ‘em up Golden Axe: Beast Rider (X360, PS3/Sega, Secret Level) deserves kudos for including the most memorable elements of the Golden Axe series, including magic attacks, steeds for riding and those agile leprechauns. Otherwise, Beast Rider is an average return for a series that has been dormant for over a decade. Instead of playing true to its manic, exceedingly tough forefathers, Beast Rider plays more like a Heavenly Sword or any current hack and slash, mythically-themed action game.

Was it worth dusting off the Golden Axe name for this acceptable weekend waster? It may ultimately do more harm than good—similar to the Altered Beast remake that only found release in Japan and Europe—but truthfully these games were pretty cool in their heyday and conceptually don’t really stand up to today’s standards.