LittleBigPlanet Karting

LittleBigPlanet Karting marks the sixth entry in the LittleBigPlanet series, starring the ever-charming ragdoll hero, Sackboy. Given how major franchises often end up with a karting spin-off (Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and who knows—UnKarted someday?), it was only a matter of time before Sackboy hit the track too.

First off, credit where it’s due—Sony did a great job with this one. They managed to pull together elements from all the previous LittleBigPlanet games and cleverly weave them into a fully-fledged karting adventure. Familiar bosses, iconic level designs, and even story elements from earlier titles all make a return, giving the game a real sense of continuity and fan service.

There’s even a surprise appearance from another beloved Sony franchise—which I won’t spoil here—but those crossover levels are brilliantly crafted and a genuine highlight of the game.

The developers behind LittleBigPlanet Karting are none other than United Front Games, the same team responsible for the ModNation Racers series. I’ve always enjoyed their work, but I’ll admit their mishandling of the VITA version—sloppy framerate, lack of online features, and other issues—left me a bit cautious about this release.

Thankfully, LBP Karting is a major step up. The online mode is not only robust but also thriving with new players and creative content. In the few hours I’ve spent with it so far, the online races have been smooth and completely lag-free, which is impressive.

The story mode supports up to four players—whether offline, online, or a mix of both—which is a welcome feature. It spans across seven themed planets, each filled with a variety of tracks and plenty of personality. Alongside the racing, there are loads of mini-games—some great, some forgettable—but they help keep the experience varied.

As always with LittleBigPlanet, there’s a ton of collectable gifts scattered throughout the game, encouraging exploration and replay. There’s even a Battle Mode, reminiscent of Twisted Metal, and yes—someone has already recreated a Twisted Metal-inspired arena using the game’s tools. It’s wild and definitely worth checking out.

The Create Mode is massive, as expected. It’s tough to cover in detail without investing hours into it, but let’s just say the 57 tutorial videos are no joke. If you’re into building and sharing, the creative possibilities here are nearly endless thanks to the powerful engine.

The soundtrack features a mix of remixes and original tracks from the previous LittleBigPlanet games. Personally, I’ve always loved the music from the first LBP, so I was thrilled to see (and hear) some of those tracks make a return.

Graphically, the game is charming and solid—nothing groundbreaking, but more than good enough for this type of experience. The create/share aspect really elevates the overall package and makes great use of the game engine.

Gameplay-wise, it sticks to classic karting mechanics but spices things up with inventive weapons and fun little twists. Even though there isn’t a ton of innovation here, it still manages to entertain more than most kart racers I’ve played in recent years. Controls, power-ups, and AI all feel well-balanced, and some of the boss encounters are just as challenging—and scream-worthy—as those from the earlier LittleBigPlanet titles.

Overall, LittleBigPlanet Karting delivers a well-rounded and surprisingly deep karting experience that’s worth checking out for both fans of the franchise and kart racers alike.

I forgot to mention this in the LBP Vita article, but all LBP games are now cross-compatible with costumes etc, so you will be able to use your Sackboy/girl from earlier games that you spent xx hours into making so perfect.

Sonic All-Stars is not out yet, so i am not sure which will be the better of the 2, but if Sonic is better than this one, then that is one heck of a game.