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The beta for LittleBigPlanet is over and it looks like the first reviews are hitting the web. Eurogamer's 9/10 review and IGN's 9.5 review (video review is shown here) are both overwhelmingly positive. They also make sure to preface them by mentioning the significant hype behind the game and the hopes Sony has pinned on it by saying yes, the press has been in love with this game for a very long time and yes, their expectations were high but yes, this game has met them and in the case of the editing tools exceeded them. That's not to say the reviewers and beta players thought it was a perfect 10 in all areas.

Beta players had gripes about how floaty jumping seems to be and IGN's whopping multi-page review goes the distance in talking about all of the great features of the game. These things would probably be spoilers in other reviews but here it tells me that the game isn't just about stickers and platforming, it has a considerable depth to the toolset and a truly impressive level of platforming charm in the levels made by Media Molecule.

As someone who has been very excited for this game for so long I've been quite surprised at the extremely glowing reviews thus far and kind words paid the beta. Even one of our own site's long-time detractors of the PS3 really liked the beta. While some observers over at GamersWithJobs who haven't played the game have said that not having a clear point to the game will make it wear thin for them, others tasted the beta and came away wanting the full course meal ASAP. Wombat and CheapyD noted in a recent CAGCast that they were bored just about half an hour into the beta and felt the final game wouldn't keep their interest.

Goal driven it isn't, and it does strike me as a game designed not so much to be conquered but played, but even if all you want to do is platforming the dynamic duo over at Penny-Arcade noted that even the limited population of the beta had produced more levels than you could ever possibly play.

I've gone on far too long about two reviews and beta comments, but before I go back to waiting impatiently for the retail release, I'll just point out that CAG is running a contest with Goozex to give away an 80GB PS3 (that's a new 80GB PS3 not an old-style 80GB, so no PS2 compatibility at all) and a copy of LittleBigPlanet over here.

LittleBigPlanet is slated to hit retail on October 21st. Maybe with reviews hitting the net this early it'll sneak in sooner, but not as soon as I'd previously hoped. By the way if you want to preorder it, Gamestop has upped their preorder bonus from a Kratos costume to Kratos, medusa, and minotaur costumes along with a God of War level pack to boot.

From Aeropause.