LittleBigPlanet on the Commodore 64 – Marcos Healey’s Unique Demake

One of the most fascinating retro projects of recent years is underway: LittleBigPlanet, the iconic PlayStation 3 platformer, is being reimagined for the Commodore 64. Even more remarkable, the developer behind this demake is none other than Marcos Healey, co-founder of Media Molecule and creative director of the original game.

How Did the Idea Begin?

• Healey first experimented with a C64 prototype even before the PS3 version was released, jokingly showing it to Sony producers at the time.
• In 2023, after leaving Media Molecule, he revisited the concept as a personal hobby project.
• His goal is not to create a full port, but to capture the essence and charm of LittleBigPlanet within the technical limits of an 8-bit machine.

Gameplay and Technical Innovations

The project is evolving steadily, with Healey sharing regular progress videos on his YouTube channel. Key features so far include:

• Sackboy’s movement set: running, jumping, and interacting with platforms.
• Physics Ball (a new gameplay element):
  • Players can stand on it and bounce higher by holding the jump button.
  • Sackboy can balance on it for “clown-style” gameplay.
  • The ball rolls down slopes (or falls off edges) and now has a true world position, meaning it can move across screens.
  • This opens up new gameplay possibilities, such as crossing dangerous spike pits.
• Speech bubbles: cleverly designed to extend beyond the C64’s screen borders.
• Music experiments: using Goat Tracker to create C64 renditions of classic tunes.

What It Will Not Include

• There will be no full level editor like in the PS3 original.
• Instead, the focus is on delivering a streamlined platforming experience that captures the spirit of LittleBigPlanet.

Why Is This Project Special?

• It’s rare for an original game’s creative director to personally develop a retro reinterpretation of their own work.
• Healey’s philosophy is clear: “A good song will be a good song on an acoustic guitar.” In other words, a strong game concept transcends hardware.
• The demake is both a tribute to the C64 community and a demonstration that creativity knows no technical boundaries.

You can follow the latest development updates on Marcos Healey’s YouTube channel.