SackBoy: A Big Adventure is one part Yoshi’s Craft World, one part Super Lucky’s Tale, and based on the LittleBigPlanet series originally released in 2008 for the PS3. Unlike the previous games, this game would be a spin-off from the 2D sidescrolling-like levels to make way for fully-fledged 3D platforming adventures. This also was one of the launch titles for the PS5 even though for this review I’ll be looking over the PS4 version for this review. All I can really say right now is that this game was a ton of fun and a nice spin-off title for fans old and new to the franchise.
In the world of the Imagiosphere there lives the ever-creative planet of Craftworld. A place where imagination and creativity rules. However, an evil force known as Vex interrupts the peaceful planet and causes chaos and fear among the sackpeople. Vex then sucks up every one of the sackpeople and forces them into enslavement to build his own dastardly empire. One of the sackpeople named Sackboy escapes Vex’s reign of terror and goes on a quest to stop Vex and his evil plans to take over Craftworld. Along the way, he’ll get help from many of the Imagiosphere’s many residents including a wise elder named Scarlett who helps Sackboy in his many misadventures.
The story in this game is simple enough to understand but its execution is what makes this game much more entertaining. For example, the cutscenes of the game are shot to make it look like a cinematic experience. There are even some twists in the overall narrative to make the journey Sackboy goes on, even more interesting than it had any right to be. One of the best examples of this remark is with Richard E. Grant playing the villain Vex, as he is so involved and passionate about his role that it makes his character very memorable with a lot of one-liners and evil laughs to go around. You’ll also come across some friendlier faces along the journey as those characters also have loads of personality depending on the world you visit. After you finish the main story, you’ll be able to play another side story that is entirely optional but beware that the game does increase in difficulty.
There are five known worlds to visit and each of them has different challenges that relate to the theme of the specific world you land upon. The gameplay is mainly a 3D platformer and it takes the elements of what made the original LittleBigPlanet games a success and uses those same mechanics but in a 3D space. You’ll also have the addition of powerup weapons at your side and depending on the level, each of those powerups is useful for solving puzzles, defeating enemies, and getting across areas much more efficiently. The controls are precise and the levels only keep getting harder which may force you to slow down and rethink your strategy. You will also be able to unlock costumes when you’ve collected enough prize orbs at a certain level and in order to get across certain levels, you’ll first need to collect power orbs which can be found in certain areas of a level.
You can even gain more power orbs by completing knitted knight trails which are separate time trials that test you on your platforming skills and maneuvering. some of my personal favorite levels are when they take copyrighted music and have the level match in beat with the specific song which is really clever from a gameplay and musical standpoint. The game looks gorgeous and is oozing with the same amount of visual splendor that made the original games a success. Each world is full of details and takes advantage of having a crafted world that is full of knick-knacks and paper mashy. There are also little levels of detail that look good on the PS4 like the stitching on the sack people and on Vex or the little sticking up fuzz along the edges of Sackboy in his original form.
I can honestly say that Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a wonderful spin-off to an already successful franchise that tries something completely new and yet is something familiar at the same time. If you’re a fan of the LittleBigPlanet series, or you like games such a Yoshi’s Craft World, this is a great game to pick up and play. It’s unsure where the franchise will go next but games like this one definitely show there is more to be done in Craftworld than we originally thought.
(Final Grade B+)