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[neutralgamer02]

So, I just got a ps3 a couple of weeks ago and started playing little big planet 2. It is really fun and really unique as a platformer unlike many others that I have played or seen in generation. I'm just wondering why this franchise isn't more popular? Do people not like it or something?

Anyway, if this isn't the best platformer of this generation what is?

Edit: Sales comparisons-

LBP - 4.5 million+
LBP 2 - 1.5 million for less than a year.
Mario Galaxy - ?
Mario Galaxy 2 - 6.36 million+
Rayman Origins - ~50k

Edit 2: NVM, LBP is actually pretty successful when you look it. It is one of the top selling platformers of this generation. Didn't realize that it sold as much as it did.

 

[Data West]

Super floaty.

 

[Throavium]

I always thought it was because it was a PS3 game, and not a Nintendo title.

 

[cooljeanius]

One half?

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Editor = awesome.

Core gameplay and general aesthetic = not so awesome.

 

[Seraphis Cain]

Too cute, not enough guns/explosions/short-haired white male protagonists.

(I love LBP)

 

[Raggytash]

I think it was the floaty physics that put a lot of people off, personally i loved both games.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

It's weird, I love LBP/2 but I never really remember that until someone mentions the games.

I have no idea why.

 

[Kermit The Frog]

Didn't LBP1 sell like 4 million? It's just the sequel that bombed.

 

[Marleyman]

Super floaty.

Nailed it.

 

[metareferential]

Super floaty.

First post nails it as usual.

The premise is great, the tools are awesome, the platforming itself is boring, it just feels off, to the point where I have no interest in playing more than 30 seconds of the game.

Really a shame, because I really wanted to love the games, since everything else is stellar.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

LBP2 is probably the most underrated game in this generation... if only more people knew what this game holds they wouldn't miss it.

 

[Cipherr]

To much create/share, and not enough platformer.

And thats not meant to be a diss either, its amazing at what it does, but I really wanted a fantastic MP platformer, and it just doesn't deliver in that way the way it does with its create-content side.

 

[Deadbeat]

I always thought it was because it was a PS3 game, and not a Nintendo title.

Didnt MM show off their idea to Nintendo first and they turned it away?

 

[neutralgamer02]

One half?

1 and 2.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Retail plattformer which doesnt star a fat plumber always tend to get overlooked by the mainstream. The PSP version was a flop sales wise.

 

[AceBandage]

Tri Plane gaming ruins the experience for me.

 

[The Return of]

I absolutely hated the level design in LBP1 story mode and I wasn't a big fan of the floaty jumping.

LBP2 level design I liked really way much more and was able to have fun with the game, but still that floaty jumping madness, I do not like at all.

So, I guess the games just aren't for me.

 

[hawkshockey11]

The bigger question is why it was not even considered in anyone's game of the year awards? I mean what the hell, everyone forgot about it....

 

[Neuromancer]

Tri Plane gaming ruins the experience for me.

This, but also the mushy/floaty feeling jumping married to an extremely precision requiring platforming.

It's just a weird package all around. Cute style though.

 

[Alrus]

Didnt MM show off their idea to Nintendo first and they turned it away?

Nope, sony just snatched it first

 

[bill0527]

The platforming was mediocre for me.

And I don't give a shit about creating my own game. That's what I give companies my $60 for.

 

[dralla]

It's hard to sell a game when the 'hook' is UGC and creativity. The physics based controls also seem to be divisive. I feel like the first game did the series a disservice. It was a platformer with poor platforming, LBP2 is such a bigger, more expansive game that does a lot within its boundaries. I don't like LBP1, but LBP2 is one of my favorite games on PS3 for the single player alone.

 

[kuroshiki]

It's a platform game, but it fails so miserably on the more important part.

jump mechanic.

Unless sony fixes this LBP will never be a big franchise. But media molecule is too proud of themselves to realize this.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Editor = awesome.

Core gameplay and general aesthetic = not so awesome.

My guess as well, only I would put general aesthetic in the awesome category.

That said, the series is sufficiently popular.

 

[elrechazado]

Because it's a mediocre platformer under all of the nice style stuff.

 

[Aeana]

I do not like the floaty jumps or the condecsending Nick Jr. narrator.

 

[Forkball]

The games feel like you are walking in tar in slow motion.

 

[Phonomezer]

The game is cute, funny and nice to look at.

It's also incredibly complicated for casuals. The platforming leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[Shanadeus]

Super floaty.

Annoyingly floaty.

 

[neutralgamer02]

I don't really mind the floaty jumps. Seems to fit the style of the game which I like too.

Anyway, if this isn't the best platformer of this generation what is?

 

[Fantasy Final]

LBP on PSP, meh
LBP on 3DS, Console Seller.

 

[Sanjay]

Wrong platform. Would have been huge on the PC.

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

because people realized that creating their own levels is much less fun than actually playing a full game

.

 

[reminder]

I love both games, especially 2 since i played it with my gf. She felt in love with the game from the very first second ("omg soo cuuuute") and we had so much fun playing together. Don't know why it isn't more popular, though. Not enough advertising maybe?

 

[Y2Kev]

Yeah, I don't think it has anything to do with the actual mechanics. Lots of popular games have been clunky or floaty or impenetrable mechanically, but I think the concept doesn't really connect well with casual audiences. Creation is never going to be as popular as destruction, even accepting that there's more to LBP than creation.

That said, the games are still pretty successful.

 

[DaBuddaDa]

The series is extremely popular with kids and has sold multiple millions of copies. It'd be hard for it to do any better than it has IMO.

 

[The Lamp]

lol @ floaty gameplay complaints. Stop trying to play it like Mario. You have to take realistic physics into account when you play it, otherwise the levels wouldn't be able to be created the way they are. Also, you can completely edit jumping or movement physics in LBP2.

Anyway, I love LBP1/LBP2. I don't have enough time to make levels now that I'm out of high school, but it was really intuitive and it's easy to find good levels, particularly with LBPCentral.

I don't care if it's popular or not, people miss out I guess. lol

 

[Stormwatch]

I really enjoyed the games. But, the controls were floaty and the hit detection was off. For a game that requires precision that hampered my experience with it.

 

[Himself]

I'd say it's pretty damn popular, no?

 

[Dead Man]

The floaty jumps don't bother me, they are consistent and predictable, which is all you really need for a platformer.

 

[Majima Everywhere System]

I bought little big planet 2 because I thought my girlfriend and I would enjoy it so much together. She doesn't play a ton of games, but played Nintendo/Super Nintendo stuff. Her take on why she didn't like it: too floaty.

Now she didn't say it like that, but you know. Why isn't it more like Mario, why doesn't my guy move like he should, damnit missed _____ again, etc.

 

[Tashi]

The floaty jumps don't bother me, they are consistent and predictable, which is all you really need for a platformer.

It just doesn't feel right though.

 

[Ushojax]

Because it isn't a very good platformer and is just awkward to play? The fun comes from building levels not actually playing them. These kinds of games that rely on user generated content are almost always niche, being a colourful, whimsical game on the PS3 probably didn't help either.

 

[magicalsoundshower]

I tried the LBP2 demo and was seriously enthralled by how great it looks, I'm a big fan of the style they chose. Too bad the game itself didn't seem all that fun.

 

[Himself]

because people realized that creating their own levels is much less fun than actually playing a full game

.

This too, but playing other people's levels is probably more fun than playing the ones in the game. There are some levels you can tell people put an immense amount of care/work into and it's easy to get lost trying out all the wacky stuff people put up.

 

[Dead Man]

It just doesn't feel right though.

I think many people expect all platformers to feel like Mario. It is not the only way to set up a game. I get it is not for everyone, but there seems to be a lot of people who just don't want anything other than Mario style platforming.

 

[neutralgamer02]

It just doesn't feel right though.

I think this is a problem with people expecting it to be like mario or something. I have already seen it mentioned a couple of times. The game isn't mario so you shouldn't try to expect it to handle like mario.

The jumps are fine.

 

[RyanardoDaVinci]

Because the average gamer is about as creative as a lamp.

 

[Himself]

I tried the LBP2 demo and was seriously enthralled by how great it looks, I'm a big fan of the style they chose. Too bad the game itself didn't seem all that fun.

It's a hell of a lot more fun with other people to play with.

People looking at LBP for a challenging single player platforming experience a la Super Meat Boy or DKCR are going to be disappointed.