Top 50 Challenge 2014 – LittleBigPlanet 3

When trying to decide what the best games of the year are, it's easy to dismiss some sequels as more of the same. LittleBigPlanet 3 has suffered from that characterization since it was first announced, but after playing Sumo Digital's colorful platformer for a day (and a good chunk of the following weekend), I'm ready to weigh in on whether it should earn a spot on our Top 50 list.

Learn about Game Informer's Fight for the Top 50 Challenge 2014, happening today and tomorrow.

When Matt Helgeson championed LittleBigPlanet 3, I jumped at the opportunity to play it. I'm a big fan of the LittleBigPlanet series, but I must admit I was a little disappointed when LBP 3 was revealed. Not only had the sequel been handed off to a new developer, but nothing about the announcement trailer seemed all that different, with the exception of a few new playable pals to accompany Sackboy. However, once I started actually playing (which – go figure – is still the best way to judge a game), I realized just how many new ideas and features Sumo Digital has crammed into the latest installment.

Every level in LittleBigPlanet 3 introduces a handful of new twists that I hadn't seen in previous entries of the series. Whether I was floating weightlessly in space, popping through portals, climbing up fences, or sliding between environmental planes, I was constantly surprised and amused by the variety of new mechanics I came across. Sackboy's new power-ups provide more substantial, sometimes game-changing abilities to your repertoire. Even seemingly familiar abilities have their own unique wrinkles; Sackboy's Boost Boots provide a helpful double jump, but unlike in most games, it's omnidirectional – you can blast off in any direction by aiming with the left analog stick while in mid-air. You can also recharge them with special floating orbs that the level's creator can place in the environment, allowing you chain together multiple boosts and hop your way through an entire area without ever touching the ground. The new playable characters are also game changers, each sporting their own abilities that open up brand new avenues for unique puzzles and platforming.

While some of these additions may sound minor, they can all be incorporated into your own levels via the improved and expanded creation mode. Even if you're not up to making your own masterpiece, you can bet that LBP's diehard fans will put all the new tools and abilities to great use. Sumo Digital also made the millions of user-created levels from the previous games compatible with LBP 3, so players won't run out of content anytime soon. After I finish up the campaign, I'm looking forward to tackling more of the multiplayer challenges with friends and toying around with the creation tools, before finally jumping into the deep pool of user-made levels.

My Vote
I was skeptical going into LittleBigPlanet 3, but after playing it all weekend, I'm ready to go to the mattresses to make sure it gets a spot on our Top 50 list. It seems like all Mario has to do is show up in a catsuit to get platforming fans in the office raving, but the wealth of new and interesting mechanics that Sumo Digital has added to LBP 3 puts Nintendo's tired mascot to shame. LittleBigPlanet 3 checks off all the boxes you could hope for: it's fun whether you're playing solo or with friends (and the multiplayer challenges are especially impressive); it's appropriate for kids, yet still engaging and challenging for adults. It provides a virtually endless amount of content for those who just want to play the game, and an unparalleled suite of tools for those who want to create and share their own content. LittleBigPlanet 3 is a great addition to the PS4 library, and – in my opinion – a no-brainer for our Top 50 list.