LittleBigPlanet Karting

by Sony

• Your favorite customizable Sackboy returns with new driving abilities to guide you through a completely new fast-paced adventure.
• Race through a whole new 3D world filled with a mix of familiar and unique Craftworld environments and themes. Experience competitive races, objective-based missions, boss battle challenges and the ever-competitive arena modes.
• Share your creations with the rest of the community and contribute to the inevitable thousands of new tracks and experiences created by fans just like you.
• Compatible with PS Move controllers (but only when used with PS Move Racing Wheels)
• In the creative mood? Customize your Sackboy and Karts with tons of options unlocked throughout the game. And for all you future game designers, take control of the new CREATE tools and create your own tracks, missions, games and adventures, just like you did in all the other LittleBigPlanet games.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0050SX00Y
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 6, 2012
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (149 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #30 in Video Games > PlayStation 3 > Games > Adventure

Product Description

Amazon.com

LittleBigPlanet Karting is a unique Racing game exclusive for PlayStation 3 that blends the "Play, Create, Share" standard set by earlier LittleBigPlanet games, with the addictive fun of classic kart racing. The game features a whole new adventure set in Sackboy's Craftworld universe, as well as extreme customization options for user generated content in the form of characters, tracks, mini-games and so on. Additional features include, the ability to share user generated content with the greater LBP community via PlayStation Network, compatibility with select 3D TVs, PlayStation Move compatibility and online and offline multiplayer support.

Fast-paced kart racing action meets the extreme creativity of the LittleBigPlanet game franchise.
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Create tracks and games that incorporate platforming elements.
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Fast-Paced Karting Meets Extreme LBP Creativity

Sackboy returns in a completely new adventure where players' fast-paced karting skills will be the key to saving the Craftworld universe. Get behind the steering wheel and get ready to race through fun-filled tracks, discover unlockables in open-world environments, and battle in karting arenas filled with pick-up items and LittleBigPlanet-esque weaponry in a karting game like no other.

Gameplay

LittleBigPlanet Karting is a Kart Racing game that incorporates the familiar Platforming, and user generated content elements of the LittleBigPlanet universe, that sets the game apart from all kart racing games before it. The campaign of the game features a racing game mechanic in which players compete across tracks, with the goal of saving the Craftworld universe. The tracks of LittleBigPlanet Karting are filled with unique challenges, obstacles, mission objectives, boss battles and mini-games, which require much more than standard kart racing games. Along the way players gain access to a wide variety of weapons and power-ups that can be used increase their progress and/or impede that of opponents.

Along the lines of creativity, LittleBigPlanet Karting is also a true LittleBigPlanet game, firmly embracing the "Play, Create, Share" of the game series. Players can customize their Sackboy, as well as their karts, tracks and the rules to races. With this extreme freedom, races can be molded to be as constricted or open as the player chooses, and include as many obstacles, platforming challenges and mini-games as can be dreamt up. The game also incorporates familiar LBP grapple hook functionality, adding exciting platforming options to track/game design. Once tracks/games are created, they can be shared online through the PlayStation Network with other players in the LBP community. Multiplayer functionality includes four-player support in local play and support for up to eight players in multiple modes online via PlayStation Network.

Key Game Features

• LittleBigPlanet Fun Takes to the Track - Your favorite customizable Sackboy returns with new driving abilities to guide you through a completely new fast-paced adventure.
• 3D Compatible - Race through a whole new 3D world filled with a mix of familiar and unique Craftworld environments and themes. Experience competitive races, objective-based missions, boss battle challenges and the ever-competitive arena modes.
• LittleBigPlanet Customization - In the creative mood? Customize your Sackboy and karts with tons of options unlocked throughout the game. And for all you future game designers, take control of the new Create tools and create your own tracks, missions, games and adventures, just like you did in all the other LittleBigPlanet games.
• Interact with the LBP Community - Share your creations with the rest of the community and contribute to the inevitable thousands of new tracks and experiences created by fans just like you.
• Multiplayer - Share the fun in local multiplayer with up to three other players, or play online with up to seven additional kart racing friends.
• PlayStation Move Compatibility - Optional PlayStation Move control system compatibility allows players to extend the creative, kart racing fun.

Additional Screenshots

Extreme customization. View larger

Local and online multiplayer. View larger

Weapons, gear & challenges. View larger

New weapons and power-ups. View larger

Product Description

The Fastest LittleBigPlanet Ever
Sackboy returns in a completely new adventure where your fast-paced karting will save the Craftworld universe. Get behind the steering wheel and get ready to race through fun-filled tracks, discover unlockables in open-world environments and battle in karting arenas filled with pick-up items and LittleBigPlanet-esque weaponry.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 97 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Fun, Ignore Bad Reviews November 7, 2012

By James S. Mccarthy

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

First off, I've been playing kart racers for years (since the N64 days). Nothing will top Mariokart because it was (and still is) the cornerstone of this kind of game. That said, if you go into LBPK with an open mind and not expect some sort of revolutionary experience, you will have a ton of fun. The charm of Little Big Planet is all here with the cute visuals, the bubble popping, the unlockables and the character customization. Everything is nearly identical to the LBP games, all the way down to the home hub, the planets etc. Racing is quick and the controls are responsive. The game is built on an altered version of the Modnation Racers engine which was already very solid. Story mode is very long and yes, there are some challenging (OH MY!) parts but it has great lasting appeal. The in game track customizer/builder is amazing but they definitely could have done a better job at teaching you the in's and out's of using it. A little trial and error and you'll eventually be creating some killer tracks (just like in LBP).
The reviews I've read of the game seem to be harping negatively on factors that I don't quite understand. IGN complains about the menus/interface not being as easy to use as ModNation Racers. Seeing as the game runs and is created exactly the same way as all the other LBP games, I'm not sure how this could be a complaint. You have your hub, you click on the planets and you race. Not that difficult. They also complain that the game focuses too much on defense, again, not sure how this is such a big deal when the majority of your time in Mariokart, you are trying to avoid being hit with shells etc.
For me, a guy who has a small child, I can tell you, for a family game, this is excellent. He can play along and it's not so complicated that he gets frustrated. My wife plays, my family enjoys the music and the racing and I really like all the customization. It's a game that will continually grow with official tracks and user created content. What more can you ask for?
If you're looking for fun kart game, this is a no brainer. Don't listen to the negatives who are looking at this as something other than what it was intended to be, a Little Big Planet racer. It's great.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LBP Karting Hits a Home Run ! November 6, 2012

By saskamazon

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I picked the game up this a.m. & have now completed 71%, so have a fair idea of what the game comprises. It's levels are vibrant & creative, the soundtrack matches the mood & level themes beautifully; which range from western themes to futuristic flying ... the grapple hook, bounce pads & weaponators have all found their way into the charm & whimsy of this offering. They provide a diversity of challenges from battle arena levels to hold & keep egg captures. This game is neither a pure karting or LBP experience, but rather a hybrid blend of what makes each so enjoyable. The customization features are bountiful & deep ... right down to your engine & horn sounds. I have already over 80 skins for my sackboy, endless kart pieces, & my goodies bag over flows with a bounty of choices.

The game is a 2.2gb install & provides 71 levels. Story mode provides variety & replayability is endless between collecting the loot from each level, placing in the top 3 for each level, which then opens the vs. level for online MP & continues the player through story mode. You can set your controller to either the R2 or X acceleration scheme to allow the player control over how they play, it also supports move control & steering wheel.

The possibility is limited only by the player ... the create function & level editor awaits the brilliant & imaginative community who will create the UGC ... offering a fresh & innovative karting experience with each new published level.

My 8 yr. old son came home from school & had to be repeatedly prompted to leave the game ... he was creating karts & costumes & racing through levels with glee. This game should not be missed !

*Edit*

I spent a couple hours playing online against other players & it was a lot of fun - the players cast a vote for the next level to be played & then 1 level is the winner - I didn't notice any lag, was never dropped from the race, & thought it looks to be a pretty flawless interface.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Much Better Than Expected November 25, 2012

By TheCrimsonPig

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I have been a fan of kart racers, and racing games in general, since I first fired up the family's N64 back in the day. (My family would only purchase multiplayer games for the longest time, to ensure every one of my siblings and I would get a chance to play)

If it's a racing game, you name it and I've played it. Everything from Kirby Air Ride, to F-Zero, Need for Speed, Sonic Riders, Wave Race, Myth Makers Super Kart GP, Crus'n USA - you get the idea. When it comes to kart racers, a few have alway stood out in my mind (besides Mario Kart). The two I look back on with affection would include Diddy Kong Racing and Crash Team Racing.

Which brings us to LittleBigPlanet Karting - a racer brought to us by the team responsible for ModNation Racers. Let me be frank, I'm not a big fan of ModNation. I find the load times grating, and although I respect the creative freedom it allows I feel that, as I've become more of a casual player, those features are just 'timewasters' that hold little value to me. That didn't bode too well for me. I also was concerned since I had read some rather shocking negative reviews on LBPK (namely, IGN's review that rated it a 5/10).

However, I am a fan of LittleBigPlanet (at least what I've played of it), and you already know I love racing games. I saw LBPK on sale this Black Friday, a cool 25 bucks. I figured, eh, what do I have to lose? If I don't like it I can sell it on Craigslist.

Well folks.... I LOVE IT! How on earth could anyone give this game a bad rating? Seriously. First of all, the controls are superb. Very tight. Very natural. Some modern racers make it feel like you're shifting the world around you instead of driving a car (I'm looking at you Sega Rally... and Sonic & All-Stars Racing). That's not the case with LBPK. Secondly, the graphics. Like ModNation, the graphics are gorgeous - and I would wager stylistically the designs and art in LBPK are much more realized and exploited for eye-candy goodness here than they were in ModNation. Also, load times are reasonable.

This racer also brings back a more fluid racing experience, complete with weapons you can use against your competitors a la Mario Kart. The weapon system here is integrated very well. I think a lot of kart racers outside of Mario Kart have a hard time making the weapons feel natural to the game, and striking a balance with weapon usage. The genius thing here is, like Mario Kart, you can choose to use your weapon offensively to attack others, or defensively to protect yourself. Good call. Although, like Mario Kart, you probably will have a few moments of frustration when somebody out of nowhere knocks you from 1st place - but I would argue this is the nature of the kart racer. It's the great equalizer - so if you're playing against your mom or a younger racer they have at least a tiny chance of winning or finishing in a respectable place.

That's not to say you won't be rewarded if you are a more skilled player. Obviously there is some strategy involved, and certain tracks have 'shortcuts' to exploit if you take the time to research the landscape.

Also, unlike ModNation, I felt that the creative aspects of LBPK - like building your own karts, racers, etc - seemed much easier to swallow and less daunting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ModNation was rocket science, but LBPK does simplify things which is great if you'd like to experiment but don't have the time to get too crazy. The interface even seemed more streamlined.

I guess the driving point here is that everything feels right with LBPK. No, it's not groundbreaking - but is it supposed to be? It's a kart racer! And a really good one at that.

My only complaint is that the choice of racers is limited unless you've purchased a lot of costumes in previous LBP games. And even then, you're pretty much always playing with a version of Sackboy - so it's not like you can pick and choose your favorite character based off their stats or anything. This sometimes makes the racers feel generic. Then again, you can always create your own. And luckily, Sackboy is a pretty charming character to begin with.

Also, similar to that complaint, is the track selection. Many of them are simply gorgeous. A lot of them are well-designed. But, like some negative reviews have pointed out - they're not as memorable as other racers. They all do the job, but only a few stand out. And it' weird to say that, because while you're playing you probably won't notice it, as the tracks really do look great and it's really fun. It's just probably going to be hard to look back on it later and remember a specific track.

Either way, don't let that scare you. This really is a good purchase. Is it worth $60? Um. No. But I honestly don't think any game is worth $60. If you can wait for it to hit the $40 mark (or lower), it would be a good investment and nice addition to your library. I had too much fun with this to give it anything less than 5 out of 5 stars. Subtract a star or two if you're not a big fan of the genre.