The LittleBigPlanet franchise holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers that grew up during the PS3 generation. A special series that gave players the tools to create whatever they dreamed of, LittleBigPlanet games provided an endless array of content once fans made their way through the endearing story modes. Not only could players enjoy millions of user-generated levels, which ranged from mini-games to full-on movies, but they could also craft their own content.
Though creative players found ways to push the limits of the tools provided by Media Molecule and Sumo Digital, there were obviously some limitations present with the games' systems. Later entries aimed to open up new ways to create, with voice recording and additional character options being a few of the routes taken. A new LittleBigPlanet game could continue to innovate, pushing the envelope even further by offering some thrilling new tools for creators to mess with.
Features That a LittleBigPlanet 4 Could Introduce
First and foremost, LittleBigPlanet 4 could make use of the PlayStation 5’s capabilities. Players would not have to worry about lengthy load times when switching between levels, allowing them to move between connected levels instantly. This would stop stories from being interrupted and could allow players to make proper games within LittleBigPlanet, and increased storage could let players upload and store more custom levels. Additionally, 3D Audio, Adaptive Triggers, and Haptic Feedback could be placed in the hands of creators, allowing their levels to feel more special.
One downside of the older LittleBigPlanet titles is that they make it hard to achieve different camera perspectives. Though players found ways to create things like first-person shooters, they were limited, and the process was far harder than it needed to be. With a new game, players could be given the tools to easily make levels in third person, first-person, or other camera perspectives. This way, players could easily make homages to games like God of War, Uncharted, and Doom, and the feature would be just as impactful as the different character types from LittleBigPlanet 3.
Alongside PS5 features and more camera perspectives, a new LittleBigPlanet could lean into the PS5’s Tournaments and PlayStation Stars. Players could have proper level creating competitions and work on monthly campaigns that see them earning digital collectibles based on the LBP series. With streaming being far bigger than it was when LittleBigPlanet 3 released, there could be a significant audience for a new cozy creation game, and whoever develops the title could take things to the next level by expanding on player pods. Instead of having a small area to customize, players could get access to proper ships that they could decorate, letting them explore their friends’ ships as another way to have fun.
Alongside all the creation tools, another adorable LittleBigPlanet story could be provided. Like past entries, this campaign would surely feature co-op play, and some delightful narration from Stephen Fry would undoubtedly improve the experience. Players could expect some new and returning characters, with Sackboy moving away from his work as the Knitted Knight to get back to building colorful worlds to live in.
Though Sackboy: A Big Adventure was entertaining, and shows that the titular character could work as a PlayStation mascot and support his own series of platformers, LittleBigPlanet was a truly special franchise that should not be abandoned. Not only would a PS5 game be able to bring back all the old player-made levels, helping with perseveration, but it could introduce some new tools to let players make levels that were previously impossible to achieve. Though Sumo Digital is busy with an ambitious AAA title, and Media Molecule has done amazing things with Dreams, one of Sony’s first party studios can and should do something with LittleBigPlanet.