My apologies in advance; today’s update is a short one since I’ll be out of town most of the day.

So, Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet (LBP). Yes, the first one from 2008. After finishing Tearaway last week, I thought back on LBP, and how it never did click with me. I distinctly remember calling the controls imprecise garbage. At the time, I had most recently finished Super Mario Galaxy, which along with its 2010 sequel, were among my top games of that generation, and without question my favorites on the Wii. Going from Nintendo-quality platforming to LBP was a shock in the worst possible way.

I shelved LBP without giving it much of a chance, but it must have affected me on some subconscious level. I ended up buying the 2011 sequel — in Collector’s Edition form, even — and have yet to play that one. I grabbed the PSP version after 2011’s infamous PlayStation Network outage, and so there I was with 3 installments of the series, virtually unplayed.

Which leads me to this week. Absence may very well make the heart grow fonder, because even though the controls feel just as loose and the physics model seems to have a mind of its own sometimes, I’m really enjoying it. Time away from it has given me a new appreciation for what Media Molecule was able to do on the PS3 8 years ago. 8! For its age, it still looks fantastic, the soundtrack is infectiously catchy, and the whimsical, slightly off-kilter atmosphere of its world is refreshing.

Media Molecule might as well be called Material Masters. The look and feel of the game is so pleasant and convincing. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead!