Unleashing the Potential: Why a LittleBigPlanet Reboot Is the Game-Changer We've Been Waiting For

Highlights

Sackboy: A Big Adventure proved that the LittleBigPlanet mascot can thrive outside the franchise, reducing the need for a new game. Still, a new LBP has potential.

A reboot of LBP has the potential to introduce an improved achievement system in the game, enhancing the player's experience. This would enable creators to reward players for successfully completing challenges that are connected to their levels. Moreover, MM Picks has the potential to transform creator challenges into actual PSN Trophies, providing an infinite collection of Trophies for players in a new LittleBigPlanet game.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure received favorable reviews despite its poor performance on PC, demonstrating that the beloved stitched mascot could thrive outside of its original franchise. With Media Molecule moving on to Dreams, which is gaining a larger audience through PlayStation Plus, the demand for a new LittleBigPlanet game has decreased. However, there is still potential for Media Molecule or another developer to revive the series and further explore the delightful play-create-share formula.

Over the years, LittleBigPlanet fans have proposed various ideas for the direction of a new game. Implementing comprehensive creation tools for both third-person and first-person gameplay could greatly enhance the experience. Allowing gamers to design their own clothing pieces would add more depth to the game, and a live service LittleBigPlanet title could thrive in PlayStation's upcoming multiplayer era. Additionally, a battle royale-style mode where players compete to create the best design within a limited time frame could be an entertaining concept. Ultimately, the ideal option for the next LittleBigPlanet game would involve incorporating in-game achievements.

How Creator-Made Achievements Could Improve LittleBigPlanet

As the LittleBigPlanet franchise evolved, community creations grew more complex. Instead of limiting themselves to tributes to favorite franchises, short platforming levels, or addictive mini-games, creators began putting together entire stories. They chained multiple levels to create full-on games within LittleBigPlanet, showcasing mesmerizing feats accomplished by players. The developers provided fans with more tools and materials, fueling the community's desire to push boundaries and creating a plethora of must-play experiences. However, creators were unable to incorporate their own achievements into their creations.

While gamers could compose music, provide their own voice acting, and add text boxes for character dialogue, they lacked the ability to easily offer in-game challenges for players to strive towards. The leaderboard system sufficed for competition in official levels from Media Molecule and community creations, yet achievements would provide players with specific goals to pursue. Given the particularly ambitious nature of some fan projects, there is ample opportunity for an in-game achievement system to thrive.

Creators can incentivize players to engage in their addictive series of levels, which are filled with Easter eggs and unique mechanics, by implementing achievements. These achievements can serve as rewards for players who find all the hidden secrets or defeat enemies in specific ways. The challenges can range from speedrun achievements to difficulty level achievements and multiplayer achievements. In fact, creators have the option to include a comprehensive list of achievements for their levels, similar to a PlayStation Trophy list, which would greatly enhance the replayability of their creations.

To entice players to pursue these in-game Trophies, creators can incorporate item unlocks. Typically, creators distribute items by strategically placing them in collectible bubbles throughout the levels. While this mechanism can still be utilized, creators can take it a step further by assigning a unique item to each achievement, where the difficulty of the achievement determines the quality of the item. Alternatively, points can be earned for each achievement, allowing players to redeem these points for official LittleBigPlanet cosmetics once they have accumulated enough. Additionally, an in-game achievement case attached to players’ profiles can serve as an additional motivation for them to embark on the hunting journey.

In the event of another LittleBigPlanet game, it can be assumed that the MM Picks feature would make a comeback. This feature involved Media Molecule showcasing the top-notch community creations and placing them in a dedicated section for everyone to appreciate. The studio would recommend certain levels as a must-play for players. It is possible that these developer-endorsed levels could have their achievements transformed into official PlayStation Trophies. This would enable the next LittleBigPlanet installment to continuously receive DLC Trophies, enhancing replayability and giving a more authentic gaming experience to connected levels. It is hoped that a new LittleBigPlanet game would fully embrace this concept.