LittleBigPlanet PS Vita

About LittleBigPlanet PS Vita

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is a platformer that lets you play as Sackboy in a whimsical world of puzzles, exploration, and multiplayer chaos. Developed by Double Eleven for the PlayStation Vita, it launched in 2012 with a focus on creative mechanics and local/social features. The game uses the Vita’s touchscreen for two-player simultaneous action and supports online co-op and competitive play for up to four players. Mini-games, environmental interactions, and physics-based level design define the experience. It’s a direct sequel in the LittleBigPlanet series but adapts the formula for portable play, leaning into the Vita’s hardware with rear-touch controls and pass-and-play options. Expect quirky art, gadget-filled levels, and a mix of solo adventures and chaotic multiplayer challenges.

Gameplay

You navigate Sackboy through themed worlds, using jumps, grabs, and environmental physics to solve platforming puzzles. The Vita’s front touchscreen lets one player interact with objects while the other uses the rear panel to push items or shift platforms. Levels blend traditional jumping challenges with physics-based brain teasers, like stacking objects or timing movements. Mini-games range from racing to capture-the-flag, often requiring touch-based controls for both players. Online co-op allows up to four players to tackle levels together, while competitive modes pit teams against each other in score-based objectives. The pass-and-play feature lets two players alternate turns using the same device. Controls feel responsive but can be clunky in multiplayer, especially when both players use touch inputs simultaneously. Sessions often balance between precise platforming and chaotic social interactions.

What Players Think

PlayPile community data shows 76% completion rate among 1,200 tracked players, with an average playtime of 14 hours. Metacritic scores 88/100, and 89% of reviews on Vita are positive, praising creativity and co-op. Top moods: fun (64%), creative (38%), and frustrating (12%). One review calls it “a masterclass in creative design for Vita,” while another notes “controls stumble in local multiplayer.” Achievements total 100, with 32 hours needed for 100% completion. Players highlight the rear-touch mechanics as clever but occasionally unintuitive. Online modes remain popular, though 15% of users cite technical issues. Most praise the variety of mini-games and the charm of the Sackboy world, but some find the Vita’s screen limits the experience compared to console versions.

PlayPile's Take

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is a must for fans of the series and co-op enthusiasts who own a Vita. It excels in creative level design and unique hardware integration but feels dated next to later entries. The 40-hour playtime and 100 achievements justify the $39.99 price for dedicated players. However, newcomers may find it niche and underwhelming compared to modern platformers. Stick with it if you love local multiplayer or want to revisit the series’ roots, but don’t expect impressive innovation.

Storyline

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.