Welcome everyone to another Spotlight! If, like us, you can’t believe that it’s already almost a fortnight since Halloween, you’ll be pleased to know we’re keeping the Halloween spirit going with a few more superb Halloween-themed levels for you to enjoy. Other than that, the theme for this episode seems to be challenge, challenge and yet more challenge. We’ve at least three levels on the list which will give your “skillz” a serious workout and there are distinct mutterings amongst some of the Spotlight team about danger money and stunt doubles.
You may also notice that we have a number of illustrious “guest” Spotlighters for one level *cough* ;) Without further ado, on with the Spotlight, which is a PS3 one only as sadly no PSP levels were spotlighted this time round.
The Printz Diaries, Chapter One: Apples and Diamonds
byrialrees
We join Printz once again as he embarks on his first adventure. Journey into the unknown and challenge your wits with this Point and Click Adventure! This is a level which requires a large amount of patience and puzzle-solving to progress. You have been warned! Single Player Only! Compatible with Move & Sixaxis With special thanks to radio_statik, Calyst_aayla and MuddledMuppet
I've always enjoyed a good point and click adventure. Sadly the trend seems to be a decline in this genre all around. But rialrees has brought it back to the spotlight in this quirky little adventure which you can tell has been painstakingly created. From the charismatic voice acting to the stunning scenery it exudes charm. A real pleasure to work your way through. But be prepared to scratch your head a few times at the puzzles laced throughout and of course engage in a good ole dollop of backtracking! Then you've got the humor, music, presentation and everything else which is just stellar, this is the complete package. If this pace keeps up I think we're in for one hell of a series.
Move over Sam & Max, there's a new game in town. The Printz Diaries is one of the most clever levels I have played in a long time. From start to finish the level did not dissapoint. The puzzles are wonderful. The menu system is superb, but the real gem of it all is the characters. They'll have you pointing and clicking everything in sight just to see what hilarious thing they say next.
I was so giddy with excitement when I learned this project was about to be published, but then Rialrees popped my happy balloon when she said it was Move only, as I am still Moveless. She reinflated my balloon with helium though, when she updated this stellar series with the 6-axis option. I love, absolutely love point and click adventures and Rialrees has done an amazing job with this series. The environments are varied, very lively and some of the structures have a sort of whimsical feel to them. Rialrees has thrown in plenty of humor that will make even the grumpiest of grumps chuckle out loud. The puzzles are very well crafted and while they aren't so tough as to cause a brain hemorrhage, they are clever and require some thought. The boss battle is cunning, original and a blast! Queue it up and find out what awaits our young Printz in this charming tale.
Stop Cloning Around
byMicGorbachev
In his quest for the ultimate illusion, your colleague Iva Bigmo has borrowed from Tesla's alternating current to create his very own cloning facility. Make your way through this environment and encounter the mysterious wonders of science. 1 PLAYER preferred. LBN: Platforming Perils entry.Woah there, MicGorbachev! One second I'm gadding about, perfectly aware of who I am and what plane of existence I belong to, and the next, I enter your level, and the whole world goes topsy turvy! I do believe the fabric of reality was quite literally ripped into shreds in order to make this wonderful level. Well, either that, or very clever use of sackbots.... No. No I think the fabric of reality thing was more likely. I mean c'mon.. Sackbots, who's ever believed in those? Race your way through this wonderfully smooth, but deviously complex level, with the assistance of your friendly next-door clone. After all, it takes two, baby!
Woah there, MicGorbachev! One second I'm gadding about...wait, I think I'm seeing double. You will be too when you play this great level. For the puzzle lovers out there, this will satisfy that craving and then some. Be aware though, while a lot of these puzzles are pretty straightforward, some of them can be pretty tough. It'll have you thinking twice.
MicGorbachev has once again created a masterpiece. The design of this level is flawless and the gameplay mechanics? Brilliant. With the aide of your trusty self? Wait, what? That's right, you'll have to not only guide yourself through this facility, but use yourself as well to help you navigate this contraption filled level. Still with me? Don't worry, I confused myself as well. Using replicas of yourself, you'll need to solve some cleverly designed puzzles in order to traverse this facility. That's better. Just a word of warning though, your clone is a mirror image of you and does everything you do, so tread carefully. Can't tell you how many of the little boogers I fried. Click the link and queue the level. Trust me, you'll have fun.
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL (1-4 PLAYERS)
byPSYNTENS
It's now the season when the spiritis return, where terror runs through our veins and where hundreds of nightmares come to life which lead the way to that dreaded date we all know and love... HALLOWEEN!!! In this world, you will find 4 spooky multiplayer minigames that will put your concentration and reactions to the test. Many ghoulish things await you in spooktacular contest of fun and games. But who will be the winner? CREDITS: smasher1116789, Velvet--Audio, WeirdybBeardy, L1ghtmare and MonstertruckpipkAh halloween. Yes, it may be gone but its spirit (paha!) still lingers on, and PSYNTENS captures it perfectly with his wonderfully spooky-themed carnival, complete with multiple shooting stalls, all circulating around a different spooktacular theme. The visuals in this level are nothing short of fantastic, with perfectly crafted Zombie Ducks (I still giggle when I think about them) and a shifty, cackling witch, to name but a few of the areas you can explore here. Play as many or as few games as you like, but if you want to really own those scoreboards, you'll definitely want to take in every stall!
Halloween is gone but not forgotten in this spookified carnival. I've already mentioned that it's the little details in levels that thrill me and PSYNTENS delivered a plethora of details for me to feast my senses on. From the bats that fly up at the title screen, the ominous music, the guillotine character selection and then there's the actual mini-game selection screen that...is...Awesome! The menu is a carnival replete with a working ferris wheel, circus tent, carnival music and since it is a Halloween theme, eerie shrieks emanating from the background. There are four mini games in which to play and all are just brilliantly mastered with cool effects and sounds. I promise, no cotton candy belly aches will be had from visiting the Halloween Carnival. Mwuahahahaha!
Crooked Canyons 2 (ONE PLAYER ONLY!)
byVenemoX
Slaughter the sponge! Show them no mercy! Hint: Chili is delicious!Well, I’m always up for a bit of mass sponge-slaughtering, especially when it comes so charmingly packaged. Anyone who’s been hankering for some good ol’ fashioned platforming, LBP1 style, need look no further than Crooked Canyons by Venemox. The landscape of brightly stickered burnt orange rock, the fire hazards, chilli peppers and even the brief appearance of a mine cart are all heart-warmingly familiar. The same goes for the Canyons music. Hearing it again brought a big smile to my face and had me humming along to it for the whole of the level. The pleasure is not only one of nostalgia, though. Venemox has packed his level with straightforward platforming goodness and some cool obstacles. He set out with the simple aim of creating a level that was fun to play and succeeds hands down. A refreshing reminder of what a blast LBP can be. Some of those sponges were cute, though...oh dear...*donates to orphanage for sponges*
Remember back when you got the first littlebigplanet, and you hurried home to pop in the disk? Remember how you fired up the story levels for the first time and just sat there smiling at how wonderful it all was as you played? No? Well go play this level and you will. It is really everything good about the first game with all the polish and fun of the second. It's not overly complex or difficult, but it doesn't have to be, because it IS what every good level should be...engaging, attractive, full of charm, and loads of fun!
Wow, if this level doesn't bring back some fond LBP1 memories! Thanks Venemox, now that song is stuck in my head again. This is a platforming level through and through and although it is a lighthearted romp, it is not without its challenges. The obstacles are inventive and a few are just downright fiendish. The scenery is whimsical, with paint splatters and funny little sponge characters and unlike Lass, I enjoyed smashing every single one of them. I loved all the sound effects as well, and I will never, ever tire of hearing those ninja sounds. Whooowah!
Escape from the Moon
byBercilak
An interplanetary adventure for one player. Once captured by the cruel Lunarians, you are subjected to untold torments as they slake their vicious curiosity. Hack your way out of your prison and make your way out of alien hands!Noooo! Your poor little Sack is having cruel alien experiments carried out on him before your very eyes! Don’t watch if the sight of stuffing makes you feel faint! A dramatic opening indeed to the latest in Bercilak’s brilliantly idiosyncratic level series. Story, though, is not what this level is about. Your escape from the brutal aliens by hacking your way out of prison is a peg on Bercilak hangs some genuinely inventive gameplay ideas and the computer hacking concept allows him to play around with some neat retro style pixel gameplay. The level ends with a tricky journey around a circuit board perched on a moving platform. It’ll have you grinding your teeth and clutching your controller with sweaty palms as you find yourself electrocuted yet AGAIN! The tremendous creativity of the level makes persevering well worthwhile, however. Bercilak is a unique talent and one whose artistry makes every level by him something to be savoured. I can’t wait for the next chapter in this tale.
As our adventure continues we find that we've been captured and are lying on the operating table in front of the villanious Lunarians. Aargh! I hate to give out spoilers but this looks so cool I just have to tell somebody. Okay, So check this out. The view is from the 1st person perspective and you see these probes coming in and working on you, you raise a shaky hand but don't have the energy to do anything. More instruments of torture come into view and your vision finally gives way to darkness. You regain consciousness in your prison cell and need to find a means to escape. Maybe I can enter that computer and open my cell. Hunh? That's right, a few of the obstacles in this level will have to be cleared via entering the computer world and hacking through the programming. You enter through special teleporters with what has to be the coolest transporter effect ever! Period. Escaping your captors will be no picnic in the park though as there is a healthy variety of challenging, yet fun platforming goodness ahead of you. Can you do it? Can you escape your captors? Find out in Bercilak's Escape from the Moon.
Tread Carefully [1P]
bySneakySteve1983
One Player Puzzler. Move around the board one square at a time clearing all of the tiles. The aim is to get from the red tile to the green tile but the green tile will only be accessible once all of the white tiles are gone. Left stick to move. L1 and R1 rotates the board.SneakySteve1983 brings us yet another wonderful puzzle level, where you need to plan ahead thoughtfully in order to avoid a cataclysmic failure which may haunt you for the rest of your existence. Well, ok, you'll lose some points, but surely that's enough to make you try harder! Guide your piece through increasingly different grids, making sure you plan your route so that you don't back yourself into a corner. The difficulty is ramped up when some of the grid starts to behave differently, and you need to start doubling back along the darker blocks in order to get them to disappear. Wonderfully simplistic, this level is yet another addictive challenge which will give those brain cells a better workout than your rusty multigym!
A new puzzle level from SneakySteve1983 is always a treat and this one is no exception - it just oozes class. The concept is simple but wonderfully elegant. You need to find a path from A to B but a path that involves stepping once, and only once, on each white tile and twice on the special grey tiles. You’ll soon find yourself scratching your head and treading gingerly, planning your moves several steps ahead. Fortunately, there’s a reset button for those “aarrgh” moments when you realise there’s, quite literally, a gaping hole in your plan! The elegance of the gameplay is matched by that of the visuals which are cool, slick and beautifully pared down. Together they make for a perfectly crafted puzzle – another gem for fans of SneakySteve1983 to savour.
Mission imPAWssible!
byMnniska
Oh, darn! That silly dragon have lost his cat Susan in an evil tower of doom amd gloom! Use your newly-gained doublejump powers to explore and conquer! NOTE: This level will eat your heart, poop it out two weeks later and then eat it again. In other words, this is HARD! Ace level for free hearts! [Pics or it didn't happen.]“No! Mnniska, it's too much! I can't take it any more – I already have 130 on the counter, can I please just take a break, have a cup of cocoa, maybe come back later when my eyes aren't too blurry? Well, ok... maybe one more try...” Take a sackbot, give it a double-jump mechanic and build a devious platformer around it. Mission imPAWssible one of those offerings which will test your LBP elitism to its limit. Only the bravest, sharpest, most tactical players will survive this level!
Ouch...ouch...OUCH! I don’t know what ended up more wounded, my Sackboy’s cloth hide or our joint pride, lol! This is certainly a level to separate the true ninja Sacks from the rest of us mere mortals. The double jump mechanic, activated by the awesome Pink Headband of Power, works perfectly - which is a jolly good thing given the number (and size!) of the spikes covering almost every available surface! The precision of their placement and the design of the different obstacles is immaculate, all of which means that although this level is bone-breakingly hard, it is not unfair. The theme and characters have all the usual Mnniska charm and quirkiness and I’m grateful to those players who’ve uploaded photos of the wacky prizes on offer for finishing with a low death count – something I never got close to myself (finishing, that is!!!). So you’ve been warned: this is a level to make grown men (and women) cry but give it whirl anyway. You can’t possibly do worse than I did!
Steampunk Skallywags 2: Mad Man's Mansion
byL1GhTmArE
"So you think you can come in my fortress and make it out alive?! We'll see about that!¨ [Medium to Hard Difficulty] Big thanks to @Velvet--Audio for making a beautiful track that will meet you in level 2. He's the best! Also a great thank you to all my testers and for all the stuff you found wrong and for making me tweak to perfection (hopefully). I hope you enjoy!
We take another journey into L1GhTmArE's complex mind in the second installment of Steampunk Skallywags 2. It seems we have a trend of challenging levels in this spotlight, and this level is certainly not an exception to the rule. As ever, the platforming here is tight, and a certain amount of competence is definitely required to see everything on offer here. With so much amazing detail and beautifully crafted scenery taking up every visible nook and cranny, you might find yourself too distracted to realise that... Oh. I'm dead. Well, back into the fray I go! And trust me, it will be worth every second!
Wow!I was overjoyed when L1ghtmare posted this level and nearly fell out of my chair trying to get to my PS3 to play it. We're greeted right off the bat with stunning visuals as we enter this fortress and the audio track is just amazing, as it really helps to set the almost ominous mood, couple that with all the contraption sounds of stamping, clicking and grinding and we have a masterfully made level. The details go far my friends and I defy you to find a blank wall anywhere. The gameplay mechanics are nicely balanced with challenging sections that at times require just the right timing in order to proceed. L1ghtmare has incorporated a vast array of unique contraptions and platforming elements that will leave you speechless as you run, jump, swing and bounce your way through the gorgeous Steampunk Skallywags 2: Mad Man's Mansion. Man! I loved this level. I'm going to queue it up again, you should too.
As the others have said, the visuals in this level are top-notch - just superb in their intricacy and depth. The same attention to detail has been lavished on the sound effects and the custom music adds great atmosphere. To be absolutely honest though, I was so focussed on the gameplay that I almost didn’t notice any of that (sorry, L1GhTmArE!). Now that was partly because, as a pretty average player, I’m going to have to concentrate like nobody’s business just to get through some of the platforming sections but it’s also because the gameplay is so good that the rest sort of pales in comparison. It’s an absolute masterpiece of design which puts the spotlight remorselessly on the player’s timing skills. It’s wonderful, maddening and addictive all at the same time. Now I just have to see if I’m brave enough to replay it with the scoreboards back online...
- Backlog Spotlights:
Knight vs Knight vs Demon Beta
byAlic44
Knight vs Knight vs Demon is a 2 to 4 player fighting game, and an attempt to bring side scrolling close combat to LBP. Choose from eight different champions, six battle arenas, and use a variety of new moves carefully balanced to make your friends cry as you knock them off the nearest cliff. "On the Battlements" arena and all new costumes (Lady Warrior, most Demons) are by Adriexdoom, mad inventor and good friend. There's a lot here to test, so any bug reports will be greatly appreciated! Thanks, all.So wait.. hang on. I'm a knight, or... a demon... and he's a demon.. or... a... Who's against who here? Simple answer: Everyone is out to get you. So grab your sword tightly in one hand, your shield held firmly in your other sweaty palm and into the battle arena you trot! I had an absolute blast in this level, rushing around and clomping (yes, that is now officially a word...) my husband's rather anticlimactic demon (his fault, not alic44's) around the head with my weapon. He was thrown from the ring more times than I could count! Suffice to say, I won, and I thoroughly enjoyed every last moment. Wait, I'm meant to review the level right? Well gosh darn it I've run out of space talking about how much fun I had! Oh. Never mind. This'll work!
There’s some very impressive sackbot AI on display in this level – the hit detection, reactions, blocking moves and attack animations are all brilliantly executed. Ria is right, though, what you take away with you is the fun you had smiting the demons or pushing them off cliffs in the story mode or whacking your friends in the versus mode. There are some cool battle arenas to try out – my favourite has to be the Gory Goblin Inn with the shaggy mountain goats you can bounce on and the chandelier you can swing on. The comments from the Queen at the end are a nice humorous touch too – “Don’t sit there, dear!”. So grab some friends and have a blast in this medieval Super Smash Brothers!
Space Escape Pinball
byjwwphotos
Can you defeat the flying patrol pads to gain access to then complete your ESCAPE? Complete missions for extra points, combo targets for bonuses and other secrets to discover in the fun and outrageous take on Pinball LBP style. Hope you enjoy playing as much as I did creating. :)Back in my youth (youth as in 5 years ago), I would consider myself a fairly hardcore fan of Pinball. Knowing this, you can trust me when I say that this is an incredible Pinball game. Space Escape was just as much fun to play as most real pinball games out there, if not more fun. While launching your
ballsackbot throughout the wildly colorful confines of Jwwphotos' level, you'll undoubtedly find yourself "pinning" this game to your Queue for playing over and over again as have I.
The challenge was set. 157,220. Dang Bio! Looks like your pinball skills are certainly better than I had them pegged! It's been a while since I last played this level to give my verdict, so I guess I'd better head back on in and figure out how I'm going to get that friend high-score... Enter a mad world where the ball in pinball is... well.. you! Flip, bounce and fire your alien sack around this stunning pinball machine, aiming to the best of your ability to get the top scores and, should you be highly skilled enough, the secret escape mission. With just one look, it is really plain to see how much effort has been poured into this creation – come on folks – step up! It's time we show Bio what we can do when we put our, err... thumbs to it. End result? 25000 exactly. Sigh.
I have played a lot of pinball tables in my lifetime, both at arcades and on LBP, but none quite like this one. First, there is no ball! Jdubs made a sackbot be the "ball" and watching this little creature being bounced around the table is a pure delight. Second, the lights and sounds will draw you in and before you know it you'll be just as addicted as I was. The gameplay mechanics are phenomenal and not only can you rack up points by hurling your "ball" around the table, but there are also challenges that you can unlock, one of which is a hidden pinball game. Did you hear that? A pinball game....within a pinball game! How cool is that!? For probably the smoothest pinball table in all of LBP queue up Space Escape Pinball. Oh, and in case you're wondering, that name at the top of the boards? Yep, it's mine.
Our more observant readers may have noticed this level was already Spotlighted in Episode 58½. Nearly seven months on, I still haven't played it, which clearly makes it worthy of an MmPick.
That's right. Now there are more quality levels in the MmPicks we reconsidered our position, but there's something weird about this level that makes my browser crash every time I click the MmPick button for it, so, Mr. John William William Photos (if that even is your real name), you'll just have to pretend it's MmPicked.
Huh? You told me you just didn't like it.
You really don't know when to keep quiet, do you, Tom?
Oops. Umm... what he said... with the crashing and stuff... yeah.
Shawneboi manages to fulfil my every desire from a simple, fun platformer here - very tight gameplay, only increased in its fun factor by the presence of lots of friends. The toxic waste that surrounds you is your ultimate enemy – but fear not, as later on in the gameplay you get your own back with your trusty creatinator (mwahahaha). Great use of powerups, and a really satisfying Tower-of-Whoop-style race at the end combine to make this a fantastic level to enjoy alone or with a party.
From the eye-popping green and violet colour combination to the superbly paced gameplay, there’s a real vibrancy to this level by shawneboi. Your path twists and turns through the sewers with new and varied obstacles around every corner. There’s some great bouncepad and grappling hook action, a perilous ride on a teetering barrel and some (shocking pink!?!) bio hazards to get rid of. Cleverly placed bubble combos keeping the momentum going until you reach the final race section where the pace ratchets up a gear and you zigzag upwards and weave in and out the layers in pursuit of that perfect multiplier. Exhilarating stuff! So if you’re up for something both challenging and fun, look no further than Viohazard, a level I had fond memories of and which it was a huge pleasure to replay...and replay...I just know I can get that final mulitlpier, if only I practise enough!
Who would of thought that a level set in a toxic waste site could be so much fun? I loved the look and feel of this level. It's falling apart, yet very sleek looking at the same time. There are half decayed walls and tubes and an ever flowing river of toxic slime just waiting for you dive into. Now don't be put off by that, because this level, despite all the radioactivity, is very cheerful. The environment draws you in with it's rich colors and well balanced mixture of fast paced platforming and before you know it you're racing up a mountain of sludge trying to get that top score. Don your hazmat suit and dive into Viohazard!
Also from the Showcase...
Played everything in the Spotlight and still looking for more?
These levels stand out from the crowd for a variety of reasons, so be sure to check them out!
- [LBP2] Grab that cursor, exercise your memory centre and pair up the sackboys in Match em Up (Move Optional) by SneakySteve1983.
- [LBP2]The creativity abounds in this "solid" platfomer. With an extravaganza of moving contraptions you'll be thrilled you visited Solid Cogs by BossVeg.
- [LBP2] With his tremendously imaginative use of stickers Trindall creates a whole host of different ghosts and ghouls to keep you on the run in his fun and fast-paced Halloween platformer - Darkhallow Homecoming.
- [LBP2] A cool little platformer with some excellent gameplay elements will have you smiling all the way
through Tomorrow Never Comes by michael7227.- [LBP2] We revisit a hauntingly beautiful setting, armed with our Move Controllers, and marvel at the new gameplay in Heart of Darkness - Remake by Arnald23.
- [LBP2] In the latest in this first class level series you’ll face some ingenious platforming and a more puzzle-based form of gameplay. Everything about the level just shouts quality so dive in and enjoy A Perfect World 4 by Unexpecter.
- [LBP2] The stunning silhouette visuals in this level provide a gorgeous backdrop for a heart-wringing and beautifully told story. You won't want to miss Wandering - Part 1 - The Little Biggest Fire by lindsey2011.
- [LBP2] The thrills and chills continue in this spooky level. Battle monsters while partaking of stunning visuals and great gameplay in Sackboy's Haunted Halloween Forest by MTJohnson1977.
- [LBP2] Did Halloween come and go too fast for you? Is all your trick or treat candy gone already? Well dive into How the Cookie Crumbles by TheFirstAvenger- and feast your eyes on some great Halloween themed platforming. You'll be glad you did.
- [LBP2] A silhouette platformer with a dust-filled atmosphere, don't take too long to admire the beautiful lighting in this level, or you may find yourself spiked! Through the Dust by rjn15.
- [LBP2] Step into a beautiful world where your main task is to seek out the Shrine of Worship. With minimal gameplay but plenty of eye candy, be sure to feast your eyes on The Stone Bridge by SX_Shookie99.
- [LBP2] A delightful level to play. mcdonald1967 has incorporated clever gameplay and challenging obstacles within a cleanly designed environment. Don't miss out on Trace of Wood by mcdonald1967.
- [LBP2] A richly detailed environment, cunning puzzles, good gameplay. What more could you want? Go visit Nectar's Valley: The Village by Dan930930.
- [LBP2] Strange, unsettling dreams are the starting point for an intriguing and well told story. Add some nicely crafted environments and you have the seeds of what looks like a promising new level series in Fantasy - Chapter One by Cruntles.
And last but not least, levels of note from our ever-shrinking backlog!
- [LBP2]Ever wanted to visit a moon base and battle giant fire breathing plants? Well now you can! This level has some great unique and engaging gameplay and is guaranteed to give you a good time. Be sure to queue up Sick Thoughts 4 "The Moon Base" by dingobread.
- [LBP2] still on the run, our intrepid hero ventures into the mountains to try and win his freedome. Great visuals, great action, great level. Go play The Great Escape Part (2): On The Run by FooXz.
- [LBP2] For you Dr. Who fans we have a great story from SlurmMacKenzie. The Doctor has become detached from his body and you, playing as the Time Lord's soul, must puzzle your way through this complex in order to retrieve it. Very original gameplay can be found in Dr Who: Lost Soul (1P Only) by SlurmMacKenzie.
Shawneboi