Sackboy: A Big Adventure Review - Jump To The Rhythm

When developer Media Molecule introduced the world of LittleBigPlanet, I always considered the series a creative space first and a platformer second. Sackboy’s campaigns in the first three games felt to me like the developers’ way of showing players what was possible to create in their in-depth level creator. Finally, in Sackboy: A Big Adventure, we have a game solely focused on being just a platformer, and a smart platformer at that, as it challenges players while retaining the adorable art, inspiring music, and textured presentation in service of a typical tale of saving the world... in the cutest way possible.

In the realm of Craftworld lies Sacklings, a people and friends of the hero Sackboy who live simple lives in their homes until one day the menacing villain Vex invades their home to capture Sackboy’s friends and family and force them into building a device that will turn Craftworld, which was built of creativity, imagination, and dreams, into a dystopia fueled by various nightmares.

The adventure Sackboy deserves

Sackboy must then set off on an adventure to collect Dreamer Orbs, the only means to stop Vex’s plans. This trip sees Sackboy landing on a series of planets themed towards specific types of levels. One planet focuses on mechanics involving water, while you’ll get to play around with teleportation on another, using various tools to manipulate your movements from point A to point B. What’s great about Sackboy: A Big Adventure is that it’s never content to sit on one concept for too long as players are challenged to constantly evolve and adapt in order to progress.

The creativity of each level in this game gradually increases as you progress, which was a treat for me as a player as it made me utilize Sackboy’s basic movement in order to get all that I could from each level. Sackboy can jump, attack, roll in the air, and slam down to the ground to either destroy objects below or break cracks in the ground to free bubble orbs, earning points. Sackboy’s toolset is simple enough for any child to get into, but complex enough to be used in a more complex manner if one is interested in completing specific levels in the fastest way possible, or aiming for the gold in Trial stages. On some levels, stage-exclusive tools like a boomerang or a jetpack appear, and the glorious interplay between their mechanics and level design helps them to truly shine. 

The majority of the stages in Sackboy were a treat to play, as developer Sumo Digital designed unique stages that retain their freshness and charm time and again. But not all are cut from the same quality cloth, as you will come across some redundant-feeling levels that will make you wish you could skip past them. Thankfully, the few bad apples were not enough to leave a lingering bad taste or spoil the game as a whole.

The character animation is fluid and adorable during gameplay, and this level of quality is not only seen in the enemies that populate each level, but in the cutscenes that move the story forward.

During narrative-driven cutscenes, the quality is cranked up, and the execution will make any child or adult smile. The expressions of each character are over-the-top, but work well with the tone of the game. The movement of the villain Vex in particular really stands out, as he moves in a jester-like fashion to taunt the voiceless hero Sackboy, which is only equipped with basic facial expressions. 

What’s interesting is that it feels like Sackboy: A Big Adventure is Sumo Digital’s opportunity to put more meat on the bones of Craftworld by introducing more characters. Each world has a central character that acts like a guide to the player as they progress through that specific world, such as N.A.O.M.I., the AI that curates the interstellar world, and King Bogoff of Crablatis, who is always eager to find lost treasure. These characters not only liven up each level, but their personalities are a perfect fit for the worlds that they host.

This 3D platformer is filled with imagination, as if it were extracted straight out of a child’s mind. Cute cutouts of animals and other creatures fill the board, and as you navigate each space, levels move and bop to the beat of the music.

It’s an impressive title, as the presentation and design felt spot-on for a Little Big Planet spinoff. Sackboy: A Big Adventure can also be challenging, as I found myself dying many times, and not from cheap hits or poor design choices. It has enough difficulty that you won’t fall asleep at the wheel, or feel frustrated in trying to conquer it with a friend by your side. Difficult sections that might make a child struggle can be easily resolved with the help of a guiding friend, sibling, or parent, making this game ideal to play either solo or with up to 4 players, either offline or online.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is packed with content from challenging time trials, co-op only stages, to bosses that not only act as roadblocks, but also fun puzzles to solve. There are even more stages to conquer after you finish the main campaign. Completionists will be thrilled at how much time you can spend earning 100% on each stage, and solving secrets to uncover the Dreamer Orbs you missed during your first run-throughs.

Unlockable costumes can customize Sackboy into adorable or hilarious outfits to provide more flair as you churn through each level. Become a space Sackboy with a sword, a dragon sackboy, or mix it up by pairing the space sword with a fairy dress. Just like in LittleBigPlanet, you can outfit Sackboy to your liking with the costumes you pick up, or simply buy a set in the game’s costume store.

Music score oozes imagination

The music is the strongest element in this game as it features a mix, blending unique songs with covers of famous tunes like Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ and a new version of Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’. Each of the game’s songs has the capacity to warm the heart, as the music is designed to complement each stage. I’ve never appreciated a platformer's music quite like this, making Sackboy: A Big Adventure a treat for the ears begging to be played with quality headphones or a sound system. 

We know how crazy 2020 has been, but out of all the games I've played this year, Sackboy: A Big Adventure was the one I didn’t know I needed. It’s a fantastic platformer that appeals to players of all ages. You may feel uplifted, or encouraged, even. The game doesn’t reinvent the wheel for its genre, but the impressive execution, clever ideas, and extra effort behind this platformer proves that the world of Sackboy is a fun place to visit, and that the polish done to every aspect of the game makes it a must-buy for any enthusiast that owns a PS4 and PS5.

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9/10

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Highlights

• There are fantastic levels designed around it’s music

• A solid 3D platformer with fluid controls, making it fun to navigate stages

• Creative character and level designs 

• A decent amount of content that provides challenge and co-op fun

• There are rare apples that are straightforward and stale, ruining the momentum after a creative stage

What I’ve Played

• Completed the main story

• Collected 164 Dreamer Orbs

• Wardrobe now contains 40% of the game’s costumes

• Only mastered 5% of the stages in the game

[This review is based on a PS4 review code provided by Sony international Entertainment Singapore.]

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