LittleBigPlanet never interested me on the PS3 and I only got it on PS Vita since I got it in a pack of ten games (the PS Vita Mega Pack, which is really good value). It's got excellent reviews and is one of the best games currently available on the Vita. The art style didn't appeal to me (while I did liked the design of Sackboy, how could you not like this character?) and the platforming didn't look that interesting to me. It wasn't cartoony enough for me, or so I thought. The game quickly won me over, I enjoyed it right from the beginning. Yes, right from the tutorial levels. It was creative and it was fun. The different ways in which to pass the levels and how they slowly reveal to you a new function, which not only feels intuitive but feels like such an integral part of the game.
The game uses a lot of the Vita's extra features such as the touch screen, sixaxis motion control and rear touch pad. To a degree, it still feels somewhat awkward when you have to take your hands off the face buttons to use these other input functions. However, they are done well enough to not be too intrusive and some of the platforming challenges feel clever. Once or twice in the latter levels, I felt that the touch mechanics had a delayed response, which gets annoying as you're trying to swipe some platforms down in quick succession and you need a few swipes to get it happen. The graphics are excellent, with detailed environments.
I am not sure if it is the art style though because sometimes the models feel low res and ends up looking a bit blurry. The level designs are excellent, filled with secrets (rewarding you with collectibles) and clever design. The same type of platforming sections never gets reused too much to the point of becoming repetitive, the game keeps it refreshing. In addition to the main storyline, there are optional minigames scattered throughout which adds a lot of longevity and extends the game time (in a good way). These minigames are simple but has depth and most of them takes advantage of the touch screen. Yet sometimes the touch screen is not responsive enough.
These minigames require accuracy and speed but it doesn't pick up your touch as quickly as you would like. Most of the minigames are addictive, simple enough to pick up and play but challenging enough to suck you into getting higher and higher scores. The game itself is pretty easy, some levels and boss fights will take a few tries to learn the patterns but overall, it doesn't present much of a challenge. This is good in that there are no frustrating sections which would hinder your progress. It requires enough skill to keep it interesting though. The final worlds is where the difficulty stepped up a little bit, even then, it will only take a few tries to pass a more difficult section. There was never a time where the platforming section would break the flow of the game or when you didn't know what to do.
The story is decent for what it is. You end up enjoying it because it is a simple, yet intriguing tale. It is not complex at all but when you meet all those charming characters in funny cutscenes, you can't help but love it. The ending felt weird but it makes sense considering the type of world that they are in. The character designs are perfect, being neat and aesthetically pleasing. The game has social features and it actually places a bit of emphasis in them, from two-player sections in various levels to multiplayer-centric trophies. This is somewhat annoying if you prefer to play through the levels/story yourself since these things are cordoned off with no alternative routes.
Of course, there are the user-generate content. While it cannot play levels from the PS3 and PSP LittleBigPlanet games, there are already a lot of levels available. True, a lot of them are junk or incomplete, but there are a few gems out there. Making your own levels can be difficult if you are a newcomer. There are tutorials... but it would take upwards of one hour to finish them all and even then, it's really easy to get confused. The music is amazing. Each piece of the soundtrack resonates with the theme of the current level perfectly. You notice it because it is amazing and something you want to hear more of. Overall, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is a brilliant game. It's a load of fun with heaps of content.
------------------------------------
For game reviews, refer to this page.
