One of the biggest surprises at the Sony Press Conference this year, albeit certainly a welcome one, was the sudden and impromptu announcement of Little Big Planet 3 for the PS4. As well as bringing the create-your-own-game series into the next generation, LBP3 also plans to allow players to access all previously created levels from past titles, with updated visuals. The other big addition announced at E3 was the inclusion of multiple characters as well, and this was what the playable E3 demo focused on.

LBP3 includes three new playable character, bringing new gameplay possibilities in both playing levels and designing them. The first is Oddsock, an adorable socky dog who can wall-slide and wall-jump. The second is Swoop, a bird who can fly and glide around levels, and the final addition is Toggle, whose main ability allows him to switch between a big, heavy and strong form, and a small, fast and nimble one. The E3 demo included a level built around showcasing Toggle’s ability as much as possible.

Toggle’s power lends itself towards new puzzle possibilities. For instance, there are platforms that require Toggle to be in his heavier form to push them down, before switching to his lighter form to be launched up as the platform springs back into place, taking him to a higher level. As small Toggle, he can swim along the surface of water, but making him bigger lets him sink like a stone and explore the floor at the bottom. The sinking/floating mechanic also comes into play several times to launch Toggle around to reach various areas, similar to the spring-loaded platforms. When in his larger form, Toggle has the strength to easily drag around big objects, and even other players with ease, but there’s no chance of that happening with his smaller self. There are also smaller passageways that only small Toggle can pass through, and small Toggle is the only state in which he is affected by wind or air vents.

I’m looking forward to seeing how these new abilities affect the story campaign, which features an all-new villain on the planet of Bunkum. Look for the game to be hitting store shelves in November, later this year.