Preview: LittleBigPlanet 3

User-generated content — UGC for acronym lovers — has been around almost as long as video games have. It can be argued that UGC never hit the mainstream until the LittleBigPlanet series entered the scene. The powerful tools at players’ disposal, coupled with the widespread availability of a little(big) thing known as the internet, meant that LittleBigPlanet’s user created levels were a (little)big hit.

While each and every iteration of LBP has included a frankly wonderful story mode, its real longevity and success comes from the millions of user-created levels that are currently available for both PS3 games and the PS Vita version. Thankfully when Sony announced LittleBigPlanet 3 for PS3 and PS4 at E3 it also announced that every single currently existing user created level would be available for the game on day one. That’s not all though, on PS4 every level will also benefit from a graphical upgrade. Nice.

In November, when LBP3 launches, players will not only have a brand new story and over 8 million user created levels to play, they’ll also have three brand new characters to play with. For the first time in the series Sackboy doesn’t have to go it alone. He’ll be joined by Oddsock, Swoop and Toggle. Each are significantly different from Sackboy and their differences and abilities bring the biggest change to LittleBigPlanet’s core gameplay since the series’ inception. Oddsock is a lovable four-legged fellow who moves at a much faster pace than Sackboy and can also wall jump. His goofy face and tongue hanging out are adorable and he looks right at home in LBP3’s 2.5D, hand crafted world.

Swoop is a parrot of sorts who can (of course) fly. Swoop can move in any and all directions and is not limited by jumping or platforming. The character is by far the freest in LittleBigPlanet and also plays an important role in transporting the others. Swoop can carry objects and other players in its talons, thus avoiding pits, spikes and traps. The player using Swoop can of course be a jerk if they choose and simply drop Sackboy and Co. down a pit if they so choose. But where’s the fun in that? Oh yeah, the fun is in the doing of it. Finally, Toggle — looking like a pale Grimace — can switch between two forms, Big Toggle and Light Toggle. Big Toggle is — as his moniker suggests — rather larger than Sackboy and much heavier.

In Big Toggle form he can stand on pressure plates to activate them and weigh down platforms so as the create new paths. In Light Toggle form he’s able to run across the surface of water as well as fitting into tight spaces the other three characters can’t access. Sackboy hasn’t been left out of the new ability bonanza though as he now comes equipped with the Pumpinator and can scale walls covered with ropes and vines. The Pumpinator blows air to move switches and light objects. With their powers combined (they are Captain LittleBigPlanet) the levels become much less straightforward platforming as with previous entries. Levels are far more puzzle focused and using the characters in concert is the key to completion.

LittleBigPlanet has always featured some light puzzle solving, but in LBP3 the series takes its biggest step towards puzzle domination, which is a good thing. LBP has never been about fast and furious platforming with pixel perfect precision. It’s about the journey, the handcrafted look and the exploration. Previous LittleBigPlanets have also featured minor multiplayer elements. LBP3 looks set to heavily invest in multiplayer this time around and it makes perfect sense. Using the four characters alternatively, alone is a lot of fun, but using them simultaneously with three other friends — in couch co-op no less — is a real thrill.

LittleBigPlanet has always held a special place inside my heart and with the addition of three great new characters and the ability to play all of the existing UGC when it launches, LittleBigPlanet 3 looks set to eclipse the other three games quite easily. Come November, I for one will be jumping headfirst into LittleBigPlanet 3, visiting old friends and making three new ones.

LittleBigPlanet 3 will be available for PS3 and PS4 from 19 November.