Title: Sackboy- A Big Adventure
Developer: Sumo Digital
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Platformer
Available On: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Release Date: November 12, 2020
When the PlayStation 5 launched early last month, the console brought three very distinctive new games with it. Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Godfall, and Demon’s Souls all arrived alongside the PS5 on November 12. If there’s one thing Sony did well with this launch lineup, it offers a diverse array of games on Day 1.
You can check out our review on one of those launch titles. Demon’s Souls is a great-looking game that is frustratingly difficult. Likewise, Sackboy is a great-looking game. The big difference is that this title was built to be more about completing levels while enjoying yourself.
The degree of difficulty isn’t there. Instead, this game is all about taking in the sights and sounds. It’s about changing the appearance of Sackboy to fit your most recent desires.
Then you can settle in and settle down and relax as you jump from one platform to another. Slap on your headphones, and you can really get into a groove while you groove out to a soundtrack that might be among the best around. The big question is just how much you want to be challenged when you’re leading Sackboy through level after level.
Sackboy Makes Use Of PS5 Power
While Demon’s Souls and Sackboy: A Big Adventure could not be more different, there is one similarity between the two games. Both make good use of the technology available. The PS5 has long boasted fast loading screens and impressive visuals. That’s certainly delivered on in this game.
Everything in the latest PlayStation 5 installment in the Little Big Planet series is made to look as though it’s some kind of fabric. The developers did a hell of a job attaining that goal. On a 4K television, you’ll feel as though you should be able to reach through the screen and grab something. Sackboy himself is so cute and cuddly you just want to hold him in the palm of your hands.
That’s especially the case when you get to dress him up in any number of different costumes. Those costumes can be picked up playing through the levels, or they can be purchased in Zom Zom’s shop.
Those costumes all look plenty neat. They look photorealistic. They’re beautiful and can give you a laugh as you play the game. Of course, even going through the levels as the more base edition of Sackboy, the character is very nice looking. The game’s developers outdid themselves on a title in a series that has been looking really, really good for quite a while now. The PS5 definitely takes it to the next level.
Difficulty Disappoints
When playing a platformer, getting from one level to another offers a great deal of pride. There’s a real feeling of accomplishment when you make your way through the traps and puzzles. The problem with Sackboy: A Big Adventure is that the traps and puzzles in this game are not difficult enough to give a real sense of accomplishment.
Just in case you find yourself on a ledge you slip off, or falling enemies crush you, you have three “lives” at the beginning of every level. Usually, you can pick up another life or two as you make your way through the world. It’s nice that you can bank those lives, but if you’re careful at all, you’ll never need them.
To some degree, the lack of stress this PS5 launch title offers is a nice change of pace. When talking about the other launch games, this is absolutely a change of pace. Demon’s Souls is incredibly hard. You have to keep your eyes glued to the screen for every twitch from an enemy.
Godfall isn’t nearly as difficult, but there’s plenty of action. Slashing and dashing and fighting enemy after enemy. Sackboy is all about settling in, bouncing from one platform to another, and getting as many bells as possible.
There is some incentive to complete the levels as much as possible. You’ll be graded on your performance once you reach the end. Completionists can replay if they didn’t score high enough, so they have some bragging rights with their friends. However, it’s straightforward to get a very high grade on each run.
Even Sackboy’s endgame doesn’t offer a level of stress that contends with the PS5’s other launch titles. That doesn’t make the game bad, but it can hamper replayability.
Verdict: Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a beautiful game that takes full use of everything the PlayStation 5 offers. That includes the DualSense controller. The game is a very nice tech demo. Though you’ll find a more challenging platformer that doubles as a tech demo for the PS5 in Astro’s Playroom. If you’re looking for something to chill out on the couch and play, this is a fantastic choice. If you’re looking for something that’s going to challenge you, there’s better out there.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure Review- A Pretty But Unchallenging Platformer
Incredibly good looking
Great soundtrack
Inventive levels
Levels are quite easy
No real sense of accomplishment at end of run
