[PS3] LittleBigPlanet Impressions

[Phil]

ahem...

I have to say though, Little Big Planet is IMO the biggest underrated game outthere. I bought the game for a friend (got one of those 15 Euro deals) and he managed to leave it lying around unpacked for over a year until he finally started playing it. And now? He doesn't play anything else! It's the perfect game to get creativ, have a bit of fun with a date that's not too interested in games or simply play online with buddies.

It's a shame really it isn't more popular. If there's a game that deserves it, it's definately LBP! It's accessible, fun, deep, easy and simple. How many games can you call that all in the same sentence?

 

[JPT]

@JPT: should sell more like those CODs and Gears ! I had thought it was the next big thing!

Well, we need to have a look at the reality of it, Gears and Halo and CoD are massive things, not many games are in that league. And according to the people on here, a game that sold 2M+ was a big success last gen. And if the numbers about breaking even on the high budget games is 1M, like it was hinted about for MGS4, then 2.5M is quite a nice profit. I assume that LBP budget is much lower than MGS4 for instance.

 

[patsu]

Hey!!! Who said my last name isn't Harrison?

....although, with the amount of time I spend on planet Helghan, I probably wouldn't have time to earn any rewards at all...

But thanks for the flowers... *very flattered*. Maybe we can still pretend I'm the one?

For the past 2 times, you guys entered the chatroom when I was about to ramp up for work (PST 10:00am -ish). At the rate it's going, you Euro KZ2 people will prevent me from winning an award
I demand compensation !

 

[patsu]

LBP on PSP:

 

[RenegadeRocks]

Guys can u tell me how to find that GT video level? The USS Starship or something !

 

[2real4tv]

Millionth level trailer, that pixel out looked neat will looking for that one over the weekend:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/53064.html

 

[deepbrown]

Millionth level trailer, that pixel out looked neat will looking for that one over the weekend:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/53064.html

it's in my favourites

 

[Arwin]

I booted up LBP after having been out of it a while to see how the kid liked it, and it is clear the art-style appeals to him I chose the Savannah (was sure he'd like the giraffe and buffalo), but he liked one of the Dinosaur user levels that deep hearted as well. He even managed to walk and jump sackboy around a bit (14 months ... he also likes steering my force feedback wheel in gran turismo and drumming in GHWT, though if I put studio mode on he often gets distracted by the animated band players - don't worry, it's five minutes at a time at most )

Anyway, the game installed no less than six updates, varying from 32 to 80 MB. It's now at 1.17. Wonder what's been added ... couldn't find anything definitive online yet.

 

[joker454]

It's accessible, fun, deep, easy and simple.

Easy? I dunno, I almost smashed the controller trying to get through "the mines" level. I'm at one of the sensei levels now that is driving me nuts as well. Some levels are easy but others are incredibly hard!

 

[patsu]

I am soooo.... glad I'm not alone. The Sensei level is indeed maddening. Sometimes, my family would try to tackle difficult LBP levels after dinner. I use it to teach the notion of "practise" and "patience" to the little one, but it's trying my own limits as well. >_<

Wait till you get to the final "Wheel of Death" level. That's where I gave up and went to play user levels. I am still awed that some young housewife, part-time student @ Home completed the last level alone. She said her gamer hubby was proud of her.

I call it a fluke. It has to be !

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I managed to fluke it too. What amazes me is that there are people out there with the LBP Platinum trophy! Completing the 'Wheel of Misery' is hard enough, but that whole level without dying??

 

[patsu]

It didn't look as hard when I watched someone else played it, but damn I just couldn't time it right.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I guess the problem here is the intertia. If you get it right, it's probably straightforward, which would explain why the level ever made it in as the designer/tester found it easy. Much like me and my balloons which no-one else can pilot! But if you're slightly out, you're then battling inertia to get to the right spot while also having to avoid the hazards, meaning you can't always get to the right place to jump and sometimes just have to jump wherever you are. Like snooker, once you lose position, it can be all over.

 

[Arwin]

I managed to fluke it too. What amazes me is that there are people out there with the LBP Platinum trophy! Completing the 'Wheel of Misery' is hard enough, but that whole level without dying??

I wasn't up for that yet either, but it seems doable. Certainly the wheel had method to its madness. It didn't seem like fun to me though, getting through that level without dying - but hey, trophies are often for things that are special achievements that are actually hard, and I have no problem with that (well, sometimes I'm a little jealous of people who do have the time for such a thing - or skill of course).

But yeah, the physics are the hardest part about this game. Once you get used to them, you regain control a fair bit, but still when jumping on a moving target that bumps you upwards a bit, you lose contact with the surface and are momentarily out of control. It's hard to deal with. I think it could actually be solved on both sides (i.e. level design and engine design), but it's ok.

There was one part, maybe in the sensei level? where there was a set of spinning wheels you had to use to get up the level. That was the only other part I found really difficult, for the same reason - I often ended up landing somewhere, get bumped up a slight bit and falling down. Took me forever (which probably means 20 minutes)

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Yes, that spinning wheel ascent, actually there were two, were terribly frustrating. One had timing issues, and the other made thing painful by having half the wheels ungrabable. One big issue is the inertia seems unnaturally high, as if the SB's have a huge mass or something. If you run to the end of a ledge to jump and it curves down slightly, that tiny drop in motion before you jump and dramatically affect height. You remember the swinging pile of rocks ate the beginning of the Mexican levels? I've managed to lose every life on that one! The physics are consistant but with a huge learning curve.

 

[Arwin]

Actually maybe it's not the weight that's off, but the drop-speed. Falling is slower than actual gravity laws suggest, which by the way is the norm in platformers I think.

By the way I also tried Jaeyden's wonderful level (the relatively easy one with all the wonderful colors), amazing again, I'll probably suggest it to my colleague who, yes, finally caved at my nagging to get it and decided to order it.

It's still 23,49 euro at Play.com by the way.

 

[goonergaz]

I managed to fluke it too. What amazes me is that there are people out there with the LBP Platinum trophy! Completing the 'Wheel of Misery' is hard enough, but that whole level without dying??

I am one of those - in fact it's the only platinum trophy I have!

The wheel isn't that bad, initially it seems impossible - and don't get me wrong - it is VERY hard...however there is a simple way to do it once you figure out the 'route' to take. Then it's just a matter of timing, I tend to be able to ace this on every 3rd attempt at the wheel now...I've had to ace it for my kids! lol

Here's a tip (having watched the video posted) - another (and easier) way to get to the outer rim (the last bit before you drop out of the wheel) is to play it 'poseidon' like. So instead of running and jumping, 'walk' on the ceiling! The bit where he first drops into the wheel - walk to the end (not too close) and just grab it - wait until your sackboy is just past the highest part of the rotation - drop onot the ceiling and then walk to the left. It's a bit less 'control' than in the video, but I find it much easier! Play it through a few times and eventually you'll do it - IIRC the first time did take me ~15/20 attempts...but that included figuring out the route!

 

[upnorthsox]

Well what's the secret? I've got about 3 hrs invested in that damn wheel and I've pretty much given up ever finishing.

 

[patsu]

Here's a tip (having watched the video posted) - another (and easier) way to get to the outer rim (the last bit before you drop out of the wheel) is to play it 'poseidon' like. So instead of running and jumping, 'walk' on the ceiling! The bit where he first drops into the wheel - walk to the end (not too close) and just grab it - wait until your sackboy is just past the highest part of the rotation - drop onot the ceiling and then walk to the left. It's a bit less 'control' than in the video, but I find it much easier! Play it through a few times and eventually you'll do it - IIRC the first time did take me ~15/20 attempts...but that included figuring out the route!

I am confused ! Got video ? ^_^

 

[goonergaz]

sorry, I don't do youtube...no idea where to start, but if you PM me your email addys I'll gladly video what I'm talking about and email the video.

basically in the video, the first bit he lands on - grab onto this until you're 'upside down' - or dangling at the highest point, then drop down and go left! I'll see if I can sort a video! lol