Mario's Castle

LittleBigPlanet Karting isn't the game you might expect. While Karting comes from ModNation Racers developer United Front Games, it isn't just a rehash with Sackboy thrown in. In fact, it has the potential to improve upon its predecessor in nearly every way, making for a wholly authentic LittleBigPlanet experience.

It's easy to compare LittleBigPlanet Karting to United Front's previous efforts at first glance. The ModSpot (ModNation's customization hub) has been replaced by LBP's trademark Pod, now transformed into a gigantic cardboard spaceship that allows up to four players to customize their karts and characters at the same time. And while building tracks, dressing up characters and toying with basic racing mechanics like weapons and drifting feel familiar, what sets Karting apart is the world in which it's immersed. This game feels like LittleBigPlanet.

Many maps exist as a homage to classic LittleBigPlanet environments, recreating settings like The Gardens with meticulous attention to detail. Driving past the castle or the king and queen makes you feel like you're right at home in LBP's universe, and even the game's karts are inspired by LBP2 themes like The Wedding or Victoria's Lab. The team at United Front describes the game as a "karting adventure" rather than a racer as levels are built around the platforming mechanics LittleBigPlanet is famous for.

On a track inspired by the World's Fair called Future Perfect, players encounter the Grappling Sponge that's traditionally used to traverse the world of LittleBigPlanet. At several key points during the race, players are required to grapple across large expanses, climbing through the environment to progress and occasionally even finding elevated shortcuts. Mechanics like this help the gameplay feel more like exploration than simple racing, recreating the sense of wonder that made LBP so fun to play in the first place.

Like any good LittleBigPlanet game, Karting features a wide array of customization options, allowing players to create tracks, characters and even weapons from scratch. Customization is controlled through the same Popit menu found in LittleBigPlanet, and everything from steering wheels to horn sounds to chassis can be replaced while customizing karts within the Pod.

This is one example of what makes Karting unique. While plenty of games feature a track creator or allow characters to be dressed up, LittleBigPlanet Karting gives players access to the same level editor as the game's designers. Nearly every element of a course can be controlled, from the frequency of weapon spawns to the appearance of the track itself. This fits perfectly in a franchise famous for letting players build things from scratch.

ModNation Racers was a great game that was held back from its full potential by a few flaws. While LittleBigPlanet Karting still has a long way to go, it's already an incredibly promising step up for United Front and a great new direction for the LittleBigPlanet franchise. Plenty of new details have yet to be revealed, so it's probably a safe bet to expect more info at E3 in June.