I’m still not entirely sure what Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves is, even after finishing the entirely too brief foray back into the world of LittleBigPlanet. It could have been any number of things. It might have been a demo for LittleBigPlanet 2. It might have been a way to show off some fun functions of the Move controller. It might be an unofficial apology for the delay of LittleBigPlanet 2. It sort of ends up being all of those things, crammed into an experience that you can get through in less time than it takes to download and install the whole game.
Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves drops the LittleBigPlanet moniker, and for good reason. This downloadable title really isn’t a LittleBigPlanet game. It uses all of the assets of LittleBigPlanet, with its made-from-scratch art style and great licensed music, but it has none of the user-created elements at all. You can’t even paste random stickers on the wall. There is no level creation and no collecting objects to be used later in your own personal masterpiece, just bubbles, and a few little bonus hidden thingies here and there. It’s all about platforming, and it’s all about Sackboy and his helpful, floating, Move-controlled cursor.
Basically, what is presented here is a stage made up of five levels, four bonus levels, and a boss battle that have presumably been ripped from the LittleBigPlanet 2 single-player game. If you’re a member of PlayStation Plus, you get the game for free, and if you’re not, you pay $5.99 to go on a romp through some dinosaur-themed LittleBigPlanet levels.
The levels are standard LittleBigPlanet fare. They’re made up of incredibly cute, clever, absolutely endearing platforming challenges, all based around physics and grabbing onto stuff. What sets this apart from the normal levels we already know is the required use of a cooperative Move partner. Not only does this game require a Move controller, but it also requires a living, breathing person to hold the aforementioned Move controller. There is no online play in Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves, so if you want to play, you need to buy a Move controller, and make a friend, which may mean buying lunch for somebody, so along with the $5.99 download cost, the whole ordeal becomes a bit of an investment.
As someone who lives in a household with a wife who does not like LittleBigPlanet, I can confirm that the game is not entirely impossible to play on your own, but it is incredibly difficult, and can make the experience frustrating. I would not recommend playing the game alone, unless you thing you can comfortable grip and manipulate the buttons of the Move controller with your feet.
The way the game works is that player one takes on the role of Sackboy, while player two grabs the Move controller to control an onscreen cursor. The Move player will hit switches, move platforms around, and even create protective barriers to block incoming fireballs from hitting Sackboy. The second player is rarely without something to do, but player one is still the ultimate hero. Sackboy gets all the glory, while the Move controller provides support. It expands greatly on the semi-passive cooperative play created for Super Mario Galaxy, and delivers a game that truly does require teamwork.
Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves is a stifled, but fun experience. The choice to require local cooperative play and a Move controller severely limits the audience for the title, but those with the tools will find a fun little game here. And little is an important word, because there is not a whole lot included. No online play or creation mechanics and it’s all very short. It feels like a demo more than anything else. Finishing off the boss doesn’t offer credits; instead you get a reminder about the release date of LittleBigPlanet 2.
Speaking of LittleBigPlanet 2, the full game will include all of the Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves levels. If you’re willing to wait for the full LittleBigPlanet 2 game, I would recommend doing just that. If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, then go download your free copy right away. If you’ve got $5.99 burning a hole in your PlayStation network account, a Move controller, a friend, a longing to revisit Sackboy, and you just want a taste of LittleBigPlanet 2, then I say go for it. For the price of a number 4 at any random fast food establishment, you can’t go wrong for some entertaining platforming.
