[PS3] LittleBigPlanet Impressions
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I got to play some 4 player local co-op last night. Was a disaster.
We are playing in the first night levels in the game. It's kind of silly that everyone has to move in sync across the stage, to the point that if one straggler goes a little a head, the camera may jump straight to them, leaving the other 3 off the screen, and ending up killing us. Or the camera will stretch out so much that it gets hard to be technical enough to make some of the jumps or some of the moves. When the stage is moving horizontal, it doesn't get as bad, but as soon as you add the vertical into the equation, it got exponentially worse.
It turned into an 'Ok, you go, now you go, wait, wait for me, you go, wait.'
It was an entirely frustrating experience. We played through 2 levels and I don't know what could possibly bring me back to playing 4 people again. I figure it may not be as bad with 3 people, but 2 person co-op seems to be the sweet spot.
I have to honestly say we were pretty dissapointed, me in particular. We tried a couple of different ways to prevent it from happening, but you lose the ability to explore unless everyone is exploring.
Between the constant trial and error needed for the game, and the issues with more then 2 people, my interest is waning greatly for LBP. I am going to try and stick with it, and keep playing with my wife. That seems to be the most enjoyable experience so far.
We are playing in the first night levels in the game. It's kind of silly that everyone has to move in sync across the stage, to the point that if one straggler goes a little a head, the camera may jump straight to them, leaving the other 3 off the screen, and ending up killing us. Or the camera will stretch out so much that it gets hard to be technical enough to make some of the jumps or some of the moves. When the stage is moving horizontal, it doesn't get as bad, but as soon as you add the vertical into the equation, it got exponentially worse.
It turned into an 'Ok, you go, now you go, wait, wait for me, you go, wait.'
It was an entirely frustrating experience. We played through 2 levels and I don't know what could possibly bring me back to playing 4 people again. I figure it may not be as bad with 3 people, but 2 person co-op seems to be the sweet spot.
I have to honestly say we were pretty dissapointed, me in particular. We tried a couple of different ways to prevent it from happening, but you lose the ability to explore unless everyone is exploring.
Between the constant trial and error needed for the game, and the issues with more then 2 people, my interest is waning greatly for LBP. I am going to try and stick with it, and keep playing with my wife. That seems to be the most enjoyable experience so far.
I got to work this morning to find it closed due to gas or electricty of some such maintenance. Didn't hang around to find out the details, but filled my morning with LBP instead and completed all the levels.
Overall I rate the game as a disappointment so far. In the early days we had talk of building contraptions within levels to solve puzzles, and using the SB's emotions at specific points. What we actually got was a general platformer through-and-through, and a tough and unforgiving one at that. The controls are too darned dodgy to be enjoyable in too many cases, with momentum having too much impact. The jumping can also be quite buggy thanks to the auto-plane shift. Several times I've had my SB pulled a little further than I wanted as he's adjusted to a different plane. The end result is challenges that are frustrating, death is annoying as it's not my fault, and the prospect of having to restart a level and face the same awkward puzzles is discouraging.
Coop is also well short of what I hoped for. Apart from the few coop puzzles, mostly players just get in each other's way (talking offline here. Still haven't managed to get an online game). Just as AntShaw, we had to manage each other to stay within camera view. If someone slipped, we'd have to scramble to try and get them back in camera or they die, and there's a tragic shortage of lives.
I'm also shocked at the asking price for the DLC! £1.60 for a Motorstorm costume, and £4 for a T-shirt! I can get a real T for that!
I'm slowly learning some tricks to working with creation. eg. If you want small objects, create them small. If you make them large and shrink them, the LOD is more aggressive. I think some of the Story levels showed great potential, like the
. I still believe there's loads of potential here, but it'll be for independent creators to make the most of it IMO.
Overall I rate the game as a disappointment so far. In the early days we had talk of building contraptions within levels to solve puzzles, and using the SB's emotions at specific points. What we actually got was a general platformer through-and-through, and a tough and unforgiving one at that. The controls are too darned dodgy to be enjoyable in too many cases, with momentum having too much impact. The jumping can also be quite buggy thanks to the auto-plane shift. Several times I've had my SB pulled a little further than I wanted as he's adjusted to a different plane. The end result is challenges that are frustrating, death is annoying as it's not my fault, and the prospect of having to restart a level and face the same awkward puzzles is discouraging.
Coop is also well short of what I hoped for. Apart from the few coop puzzles, mostly players just get in each other's way (talking offline here. Still haven't managed to get an online game). Just as AntShaw, we had to manage each other to stay within camera view. If someone slipped, we'd have to scramble to try and get them back in camera or they die, and there's a tragic shortage of lives.
I'm also shocked at the asking price for the DLC! £1.60 for a Motorstorm costume, and £4 for a T-shirt! I can get a real T for that!
I'm slowly learning some tricks to working with creation. eg. If you want small objects, create them small. If you make them large and shrink them, the LOD is more aggressive. I think some of the Story levels showed great potential, like the
flying explosives through the caves.
I still haven't found out if my brother picked this up. I'm looking forward to playing it, but I'm somewhat skeptical of how much fun I'll have playing it. Doesn't seem to have taken off in Japan, and I'll be interested in seeing the NA numbers. It looks very casual and mass appealing, but everything I'm reading about it makes it sound as if it's somewhat unforgiving.
The thing I hate about this new trend of micro-transaction DLC is that people actually pay for it and we get stuck with the prices! Is there a lot of free stuff for LBP? I hope there is. It seems like the game would be better off if they continually added free stuff.
The thing I hate about this new trend of micro-transaction DLC is that people actually pay for it and we get stuck with the prices! Is there a lot of free stuff for LBP? I hope there is. It seems like the game would be better off if they continually added free stuff.
There's a couple of free costumes. I think it'll have a good mix of paid-for and free, but we'll see.
From what I can tell, EU DLC didn't work with my NA account. I didn't try logging into my EU account and seeing if the free DLC was there. So in essence, NA has no free stuff.
I still hold that the game would be GREATLY improved by putting in difficulty modes. Maybe just 'normal' and 'hard', just in case the word 'easy' is too demeaning, with normal giving infinite respawns on the checkpoints, and hard being as it is today. Or, otherwise, just remove the limit on lives on checkpoints as they stand today, and introduce a new checkpoint with a variable number of lives for user-made levels. Dying's not the problem, restarting the level over and over is.
Personally I'm ok with the platforming - it basically fits in the traditional platforming mould, and I have to admit I just wasn't used to that anymore. In fact, in some ways it's easier because you can get more lives for a certain section. However, you also can't save up lives.
However, they should have simply added a mode that allows you unlimited lives, especially in multiplayer.
As for the four player mayhem, for this the side-missions are more suitable I think. Also there will no doubt be a whole bunch of great multi-player levels.
So far I've loved the last of the 'Mexican' levels the best, the worms level. That is really nicely done.
However, they should have simply added a mode that allows you unlimited lives, especially in multiplayer.
As for the four player mayhem, for this the side-missions are more suitable I think. Also there will no doubt be a whole bunch of great multi-player levels.
So far I've loved the last of the 'Mexican' levels the best, the worms level. That is really nicely done.
Actually, I like the platforming. It gives me a distinct Sonic vibe (Sonic also had quite a bit of 'weight' to him and couldn't stop on a dime -- and the last levels give me a definite Scrap Brain/Robotnik nostalgia trip), and I was a SEGA kid growing up. I don't think Mario is the end-all of platforming, either, just a specific style with very high, very tight jumps. It takes some doing to get the jumps right, but that's okay, it depends far more on using physics.
As for the lives, the problem is... well, you'll see, later on, but especially the last couple of worlds there are sections that are longer than anything before it, though they'll still give you the single-life checkpoints. Double-life checkpoints are only for bosses.
IMO, it really just gets more and more amazing. What they did with their whole physical system is just jaw-dropping, I particularly love the last world. Pity is, I have a feeling a whole bunch of people in this thread won't even get to see it because of the frustrating checkpoint system.
I wish they would get rid of the limit on how many lives you have to try a level, that would eliminate a lot of the frustration because then you can experiment without fear. Right now I get less inclined to experiment the deeper I get into a level because I don't want to risk dying and having to redo it all again. Likewise, stuff like the auto plane shift would be much less irritating if lives didn't matter so much. Maybe just penalize your final score, or something like that, if you die too much.
I agree !
Also for the co-op, not every level is suitable for N players. The ones that throw SackBoys around are bad for > 2 players. It's something the creators have to design in (even for MM).
Meanwhile, this is the third and last LBP ad:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Joystiq/videos/306/0
Also for the co-op, not every level is suitable for N players. The ones that throw SackBoys around are bad for > 2 players. It's something the creators have to design in (even for MM).
Meanwhile, this is the third and last LBP ad:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Joystiq/videos/306/0
Yeah, most of us seem to agree about the no limit on lives thing. Although I do have to say I'd want it as a mode.
As for Mario, I hate Mario. Not to fond of Sonic either. There are very few big platformers that I've managed to enjoy I think (I think the only platformers I've ever liked enough to complete to the end were Gods and Pandemonium 1, I couldn't finish Bounty Bob Strikes Back but liked it, and of the modern platformers I think I played Jak & Daxter the longest).
On me personally though the game is growing by the minute. It's awesome. I'm learning to deal with the physics by pressing back when landing for a perfect standstill when I need one and the levels are just getting better and better. Initially I was frustrated for having to go back through the level after dying for no reason I could comprehend, but now I've seen that all puzzles are actually fair and I just need to take a second to look at them properly. It's been too long since I played a game like this, and I think that holds for more of us ...
My wife is actually willing to drop in to help me with some of the 2 player secret sections now, which I'm going to ask her to do more often (though often she's not around when I'm playing) because some of the secrets there are pretty cool (like the Elvis outfit in the first City level). Predictably, she likes the dress-up bits. But then, so do I ... the graphics are downright amazing when the sackpeople get zoomed in all the way.
@obonicus: yeah, I'm starting to really dig it too!
Great thing about this game is that experienced players can drag along beginners through the more difficult levels in coop. At least for the online enabled crowd that should really help getting more people to the end. If necessary though I'm sure they can patch in some extra lives.
I think an important part for the multiplayer > 2, is that sackpeople can hold on to each other. I'm thinking that could be a good strategy for dealing with sections that are otherwise hard.
By the way, since this game's been out, my youtube videos made during the beta are getting a lot of views and comments, quite funny to see ...
The final thing has the capacity to look so much better though, I think we'll see some really, really good looking levels yet!
As for Mario, I hate Mario. Not to fond of Sonic either. There are very few big platformers that I've managed to enjoy I think (I think the only platformers I've ever liked enough to complete to the end were Gods and Pandemonium 1, I couldn't finish Bounty Bob Strikes Back but liked it, and of the modern platformers I think I played Jak & Daxter the longest).
On me personally though the game is growing by the minute. It's awesome. I'm learning to deal with the physics by pressing back when landing for a perfect standstill when I need one and the levels are just getting better and better. Initially I was frustrated for having to go back through the level after dying for no reason I could comprehend, but now I've seen that all puzzles are actually fair and I just need to take a second to look at them properly. It's been too long since I played a game like this, and I think that holds for more of us ...
My wife is actually willing to drop in to help me with some of the 2 player secret sections now, which I'm going to ask her to do more often (though often she's not around when I'm playing) because some of the secrets there are pretty cool (like the Elvis outfit in the first City level). Predictably, she likes the dress-up bits.
But then, so do I ... the graphics are downright amazing when the sackpeople get zoomed in all the way. @obonicus: yeah, I'm starting to really dig it too!
Great thing about this game is that experienced players can drag along beginners through the more difficult levels in coop. At least for the online enabled crowd that should really help getting more people to the end. If necessary though I'm sure they can patch in some extra lives.
I think an important part for the multiplayer > 2, is that sackpeople can hold on to each other. I'm thinking that could be a good strategy for dealing with sections that are otherwise hard.
By the way, since this game's been out, my youtube videos made during the beta are getting a lot of views and comments, quite funny to see ...
The final thing has the capacity to look so much better though, I think we'll see some really, really good looking levels yet!
RenegadeRocks
Legend
I played the game today (offline, as the update was really slow and I couldn't wait )
Its brilliant !!!
I was smiling all the way thru and what an opeining sequence !
But one surprise: The game is tough! I mean I can't keep pressing jump while laughiung at my sackboy ! I have to really work for it !
Its awesome, the graphics, the mood, the music ! Also, the Scrrenshot feature and nthe option to start putting in stuff in any level ! I started putting lot of objects in the meerkat level and made a nice area within it :Razz: !
Is there any way to get those screenshots out of the game?
I am loving it!
Its brilliant
!!!I was smiling all the way thru and what an opeining sequence
!But one surprise: The game is tough! I mean I can't keep pressing jump while laughiung at my sackboy ! I have to really work for it !
Its awesome, the graphics, the mood, the music ! Also, the Scrrenshot feature and nthe option to start putting in stuff in any level ! I started putting lot of objects in the meerkat level and made a nice area within it :Razz: !
Is there any way to get those screenshots out of the game?
I am loving it
!
Had a nice game with Shifty and one of his friends. First I just watched as they tried a co-op challenge that was giving them quite a headache, I think for 10 minutes or so. That was just totally hilarious. Then we went through a whole bunch of levels the three of us doing some of the coop puzzles, and I have to say most of them were just really awesome fun. I think we made a pretty decent team. (ok, at least after the first 20 unnecessary deaths )
Some of the materials are just so darn beautiful! Wow.
(ok, at least after the first 20 unnecessary deaths )Some of the materials are just so darn beautiful! Wow.
All three had voice, yes. I had the PS Eye again (maybe Shifty can comment on the sound) and I'm sure at least one other player probably had the PS Eye because I heard an echo of my own voice through one of the voice channels (with like a three second delay). It worked pretty well, because we really did talk a lot about how to tackle the problems.
Yeah.
The more I think about it the harder time I have seeing how it would work in the full context of the game. Right now it's stimulating to have to work a little to get the more rare objects. A lot of people are now playing coop to get the extra materials, clothes, etc. and it's a strong motivator. Also, with the coop puzzles, if it had unlimited lives it would get less exciting and challenging, which would be a shame.
The difficult bit here is balancing it for different users with different skills.
So far though I'm having a great blast with this, and coop - which we did with 3 players - is just nigh perfect for me. Key is that you have to play with the right people, I'm thinking.
EDIT: 1up is doing a top 10 user created levels, and on the 1up yours show they say it will be a regular thing:
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171190
After cursing my way through 15 minutes of downloads and installs (2.x followed by 2 multi-megabyte 'patches'), this put a huge grin on my face. Well, after the quick install.
It's fantastic.
One thing (Arwin?): the original voices aren't selectable some way are they? I didn't see an option to switch to English AFAIK.
It's fantastic.
One thing (Arwin?): the original voices aren't selectable some way are they? I didn't see an option to switch to English AFAIK.
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