As in previous titles in the LittleBigPlanet series, players control a character named Sackboy through a variety of worlds utilising the character's various abilities such as jumping and grabbing objects. It also features various non-platforming mini-games. Numerous multiplayer options are available. As well as up to four-player online competitive or co-op gameplay, the PlayStation Vita's multi-touch display can be used by two players for competitive games. "Pass'n'Play" is also available, enabling turn-based gameplay. The Vita's rear touchpanel is also used for pushing objects toward the player, creating platforms out of parts of the world.
Content creation
Players are able to create their own levels and share them online using the PlayStation Network. The PlayStation Vita's touch-screen display can be used to directly draw objects and platforms in the game world. As well as unique creation tools such as these, the game also includes all of the tools available in LittleBigPlanet 2. Costumes bought from the PlayStation Network used to customise the player's character are transferable between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita games. Content can also be shared over both Wi-Fi and a 3G network.
Additional content
The PlayStation Vita version of the game has tools from previous versions of LittleBigPlanet that have been adapted to suit the Vita's control system, as well as new tools such as the Motion Recorder, the Touch Sensor, the Touch Tweaker, the Touch Cursor, the Touch Material and the Layer Tool, all of which provide players with touch controls. There are also tools used for other purposes such as the Dephysicalise Tool, the Sticker Scrubber and a tool that makes a jelly like substance that Sackboy can pass through. Another new tool, the Memoriser, can store data between levels and play sessions. A bonus with BioShock costumes was included to those who pre-ordered the game. The pack includes a costume of a Big Daddy and a Little Sister. A "Knights of Old" Pack was also announced, allowing to dress as a knight, dragon or a princess.
Reception
LittleBigPlanet PS Vita received critical acclaim, garnering aggregated scores of 88/100 at Metacritic and 88.68% at GameRankings. Justin Calvert from GameSpot called the game the best in the series so far and stated: "This is the game that your Vita has been waiting for. For months, the shiny handheld has been aching to show you what it's really capable of, and with the arrival of Little Big Planet PS Vita, it finally has an opportunity to do so." Calvert, who gave the game an 8.5 out if 10, praised the "wonderfully varied" story levels, "excellent" controls, and the "easier than ever" creation tools, but disliked tutorials for feeling incomplete. Matt Helgeson of Game Informer wrote: "While LittleBigPlanet has clearly settled into a comfortable groove, it’s still one of the best pure platformers on the market. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is another stellar entry on Sackboy’s impressive resume." Helgeson awarded the game an 8.75/10 and spoke well of the overall design, the graphics, the soundtrack, and the developers' ability to create a LittleBigPlanet game on par with the main games. In his review, IGN's Greg Miller concluded: "LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is the definitive LittleBigPlanet game. It's everything you loved from the past games boiled down into a package you can play anywhere at any time. You can collect prize bubbles while watching TV, download user-created levels at home and then play them on a plane, and sink the hours into learning create mode via 10-minute chunks at the Laundromat. Then, there's all the new stuff like touch controls, games that don't involve Sackboy, and the creation potential that could give you an endless supply of free games. Yes, the jumping is still floaty, the creation complicated and the load times a bit too long, but that doesn't stop LittleBigPlanet PS Vita from being an amazing experience." Sophia Tong of GamesRadar commended the narration by Stephen Fry, the controls, and the story levels, saying: "LittleBigPlanet PS Vita encapsulates what the system can do, and deserves a spot in your Vita library. Running through each level is a charming, creative, and incredibly rewarding experience, regardless of whether it's to beat your friend's leaderboard score or if you're simply going after every collectible for that satisfying "pop" sound. Even when you feel like you've exhausted all your minigame options, what you can create in the Imagisphere with the game's powerful toolset is only limited by your imagination."
