Controlling your little man (or woman) is at first confusing given that you never need to adjust his motion on the Z-axis. What this means (after we asked the man demoing to explain) is that when you jump up to a platform you don't need to push back or forward at the same time the game just moves it in the right direction for you. It's essentially the same principle as a true 2D game like Mario or Sonic where there is no Z-axis - but takes a few minutes of getting used to because of the pseudo-3D look used in LBP.
One of the most exhilarating moments in the demo comes when we jump on a skateboard at the top of a ramp and have to gain enough momentum to get the board moving. One character jumps off and gives it an ineffectual little push and then we both have to move backwards and forwards in an effort to move it to the edge of the slope. You can't help but crack a smile at the little rag-faced blighters as you vocally urge them on like you might cheer a child in a race or a dog fetching a stick.
In short, we reckon Sony is on to something here. LBP has enough charm, style and apparent customisation options to capture the imagination of gamers young and old. Our only reservation following this short demo is that the levels aren't overly challenging as there's no point where you can fail or die. But that all comes down to the imagination of the level creator (you) and anyway, it means we walk back to our table with a warm glow and a smile, our mood positively changed for the good. Thanks LittleBigPlanet, you've just made our evening.
For previous LBP coverage and a video click here.
