Have you ever wanted to work in video games? Well that's what the guys at GameBizCo Inc. do. Literally.
Join the cast of Another Videogame Webcomic as we peek behind the curtain to see what exactly goes into bringing your favorite video games to the small screen. It may be a job in video games, but it's still a job.
LittleBIGPlanet review
Platform: Playstation 3
Price: $59.99
When I first laid eyes on LittleBIGPlanet, I didn't think much of it. Sure, it looked great, but I didn't see anything special about it. I wasn't one of those people who immediately fell in love with the cuteness of it all. But as the release date approached and I saw more and more of the game, the more I started to warm up to it.
At first glance LittleBIGPlanet is your average platformer. You control a Sackboy (or Sackgirl) moving them from left to right from the beginning of a stage to the end, all the while navigating obstacles and enemies and collecting bubbles for points. Sound familiar? If not, replace Sackboy (or girl) with Mario or Sonic and bubbles with coins or rings and things should be a little clearer. (If this still doesn't sound familiar, then I'd like to get the name of your ISP because they must be damned good for you to get service in that cave you've been hiding in.)
But after a picking up the controller, it's clear that LittleBIGPlanet is really the next step in the evolution of the platformer. Your Sackboy/Sackgirl interacts with the objects and environment around them, pushing and pulling their way to their ultimate goal. But what really sets LittleBIGPlanet apart is it's physics-based gameplay. The objects you interact with behave like they would in the real world, so figuring out how to get from point A to point B is more intuitive than most other games. The one exception to this is the Sackboys themselves. Controlling the Sackboys are easy enough, but they don't seem to have much weight so the jumping can be a little "floaty" which may lead to an untimely death or two. Also, moving between the three planes of depth can get a little tricky as sometimes the game decides to move your Sackboy between the planes without your explicit control.
The game shines in multiplayer co-op. You can play with a total of four players either online or locally. Online co-op can be a little choppy, especially in the more hectic levels, but the local co-op is a lot of fun. Seriously, once you discover you can bitch slap the other Sackboys, I'm sure a good portion of your time playing the game will be dedicated to perfecting that maneuver. And you'll want to play with other people because there are some areas of the game that are only accessible with two or more players. You don't need to play those areas, but if you're one of those guys who has to unlock everything in the game, playing with other people is the only way get 100% completion. Or you could get really adept at playing with a controller for each hand and foot... kinda like this guy.
LittleBIGPlanet may look cute, but don't mistake cuteness for a lack of challenge. You wouldn't think something that cute would be so tough, but it is. There are some levels that you will die over and over again. (Although I have to say, I was a little disappointed with the final boss... he was kind of a pushover compared to some of the other bosses you have to face.)
Once you're finished with the levels on the disc, there's potentially an infinite number of user created levels to choose from. Like most things, there's a lot of crap out there, but there are a few out there that I'm sure push the boundaries of what the developers originally thought was possible. And if you're ambitious/sadistic enough, you can create your own levels with a robust yet easy to use set of tools.
Rating
So since this is my first review for Another Videogame Webcomic, I'll explain my rating system... Instead of numeric rating, I'll rate games using a simple "buy, rent, pass" system. "Buy" if I think the game is worth buying, "Rent" if I think the game is worth playing but not owning and "Pass" if the game is not worth playing at all. So what does LittleBIGPlanet get? I'd have to say "Buy".
If you own a PS3, this is a must have game. It's an all around fun game that is even more fun when played with other people and the user created levels provide a nearly limitless replayability factor.
Player Two
After the resurgence of multiplayer co-op, GameBizCo Inc. hired Player Two to be the Goose to someone else's Maverick. His workload isn't quite as heavy as most of the other people working at GameBizCo Inc. and as a result, he spends a lot of time in the break room or playing computer solitaire.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction
Player One
Player One is top dog at GameBizCo Inc. Nearly every game, from Pong to Mario Bros to Grand Theft Auto, requires Player One's expertise. His cocksure and sometimes inappropriate attitude is an annoyance to his coworkers but seeing as every game needs a first player, they make due.
First Appearance: Bonus Stage! Here comes Player One!
Damsel I. Distress
Whether it be a castle, a dungeon or mystical island, Damsel always needs to be saved... and she hates it. Damsel longs for the day when she's given the role of a strong female lead character who doesn't have huge breasts with hyper accurate physics.
First Appearance: LittleBIGPlanet
Final Boss
Underneath the huge brute that is Final Boss lies a timid creature who wouldn't hurt a fly. He puts on his "angry face" when throwing barrels down ramps or breathing fire but deep down he feels sorry for doing so. He's been known to throw a game or two in the player's favor.
First Appearance: World Record
John Minion
John Minion, or Min for short, is the hardest working employee at GameBizCo Inc. Playing everything from Goombas to no name thugs, Min gets beat up on a daily basis but loves every minute of it. He always wanted to work in the gaming industry and was originally hired as an intern. After years of getting coffee, his big break came when someone called in sick... and the rest is history.
First Appearance: Watchmen: The End is Nigh
Middle Manager
Middle Manager works in the Human Resources department. He runs staff meetings and interviews prospective employees. The other 90% of his time is spent playing Freecell on his computer.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction
