Mm Picks 20 01 09

And now for something completely different... As anyone who's seen a Rube Goldberg machine will know, physics can be fun and very entertaining. Mix this this LBP and you get double the fun, that's a scientific fact! This level has so many examples of physical mechanics I couldn't even begin to explain. So, I'm just going to let you play and marvel at them. Now go play!

Usually, we don't pick levels that are already in the Highest Rated section (for obvious reasons) but I forgot to mention FeistyFrogs first Dino level. So it's really nice to see the sequel that not only has the reuse of the originals fun gameplay (the toppling trees, the man eating plants, etc) but also new totally original ideas like the rolling snake and the jumping fish. Truly a level the whole family can play and enjoy immensely. Well done!

After playing this level, read the title again, get it? Great title Blorf :) This level is based around what we call a 'motif', a motif is usually a simple game mechanic that is repeated and iterated on throughout the level. The motif here is the what we call a 'Hamster Wheel' and you use this to get through the level. Blorf has made an exceptionally fun and original level which has lots of variations and also has replayability (see if you can work out how to get the highest score?).

Not all the Picks are picked because of their gameplay, some are picked because of their artistic excellence. When I first saw Robot Town I instantly knew it had to be Picked, it's beautiful. It has this quirky, depressing, industrial look that is accentuated by the brilliant use of the Colour Correction tool. The gameplay is a little tricky in places but get to the end and you see a new idea that I've never seen before, Acid Rain. I won't say anymore, play it or watch the video. Brilliant idea.

It's great to see LBP getting some really great levels from our Japanese Creators. Judging by the amount of Hearted Levels this Creator has, theres a thriving community of Japanese Creators having fun in LBP making all kinds of whacky stuff. O-tera has a nice selection of levels, ranging from artistic (Ruins of the Dark) to funny (Knight & Fort) so check them them out too. Ruins of the Rollers is another semi motif level, based mostly on stone Rollers and great use of the Paintinator. If you want to play more Japanese levels try searching for '[JPN]' as many Japanese creators use this in their titles.

This weeks dark level pick is Terror Sub-Terra which is a mix of temple and mine type level. It has lots of little things that really impressed us, like the bats, the simon says puzzle (Mindloss - you need a 'repeat sequence' button in case the player forgets the sequence :) ) and the way platforms are all suspended by chains. Oh and we LOVE the dead Canary, genious!

Submitted via this very blog, UrbanDevills Ultimate Pinball had us all crowding around the PS3, snatching the Controller from each other to play it. The way he 'transforms' Sackboy into a Golf Ball is jaw droppingly good (can you figure out how he does it :) ). Not only that, but the Pinball is FUN, really fun, lots of moving parts, bonus mini games (via the top flipper) and even characters from his other levels (the awesome Dragon from his Mayan level, you should play that too). Tres fantasique!