The world of LittleBigPlanet was on track to greatness on the PS3. The first and second entries in the series were incredibly well-received and were adored by fans for their creation tools and community level player. The third entry didn’t quite hit the mark, and the kart racing spinoff was almost instantly forgotten.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the newest entry in the series, and it went in the direction of a 3D platformer. Fans are happy to see Sackboy make a glorious return at the start of the new generation of consoles, but there are positives and negatives that come with a new beginning just like this one.
10 Best: The Gameplay
When it boils down to the core gameplay, Sackboy: A Big Adventure delivers in spades. Platforming is responsive and weighty, which is crucial for this type of experience. Levels are well designed, and the actual platforms are laid out in a way that feels nearly rhythmic. Since the LittleBigPlanet series before it was based on 2D platforming, its only fitting that Sackboy: A Big Adventure has a clear understanding of what makes a platformer work.
9 Worst: Visuals Are Lackluster For a Next-Gen Title
An issue with this incoming generation of titles is that the jump in visual quality doesn’t seem substantial enough for a pricy upgrade just yet. This is extremely present in Sackboy: A Big Adventure, where the graphics are completely fine and serviceable, but they aren’t wowing any players. The fact that this game is on both PS4 and PS5 furthers pushes this graphical issue. Sackboy: A Big Adventure unfortunately doesn’t bring a big punch as a launch title.
8 Best: PS5 Upgrade
A practice that many cross-generation games should be following, Sackboy: A Big Adventure offers a free upgrade to a PS5 copy if you buy the game on PS4. This is excellent news considering some games are charging a fee to upgrade to the PS5 version, for virtually the same game.
A free upgrade makes jumping to a new console less of an awkward process, especially if there are a few games that you can’t wait to get your hands on but you have to wait to jump on a next-gen console. Sackboy: A Big Adventure had this in mind and gamers are grateful.
7 Worst: Striking Similarities
While this doesn’t affect the quality of the game itself, players have been drawing similarities between Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Super Mario 3D World. They are both platformers, the camera placement is almost identical, and 4 players can play simultaneously. While this is not a game-killer by any means, some players who were either not fans of Super Mario 3D World or were tired of that formula were discouraged to see how similar Sackboy: A Big Adventure turned out to be.
6 Best: Long Live Couch Co-Op
In a world where local multiplayer has been dying out, thankfully Sackboy: A Big Adventure is against this mindset. 4 player cooperative play is available for every level, and although there is no online play as of launch, this sort of game is built for sitting next to your best friends and running through levels together. The jolly vibes that this game has only helps with making it a very friendly environment.
5 Worst: The Familiar Story
With a new focus in gameplay, unfortunately there wasn’t much of a new focus in the story. While slightly more cinematic than previous LittleBigPlanet entries, Sackboy: A Big Adventure’s story boils down to nothing more than “bad guy does bad things, go on quest, save world.”
Fans certainly weren’t expecting Pulp Fiction, but they were hoping for something with a little more staying power that would be just as memorable as the gameplay.
4 Best: The World Design
Ever since LittleBigPlanet began, its style was so charming and wholesome that it immediately captured players and made them lifelong fans. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is no different in this department, with every level brimming with life. Every character and environment is made of yarn or cardboard combined with cardboard and construction paper. It feels like a grade school art project, and it brings an unforgettable charm.
3 Worst: Full Retail Price
Gamers have been debating for years about how to value a game. Should it be based on length, replayability, graphical excellence, or genre? Especially in 2020 where games are more expensive than ever, the conversation is definitely loud. Sackboy: A Big Adventure has launched at full retail price, which may be a turn-off for some gamers, as the game is only a handful of hours long. It all depends on how a gamer measures a game against its price tag, but a full retail price is always something to consider the worth of the product.
2 Best: Finally, Sackboy Returns
LittleBigPlanet 3 released in a very similar way as Sackboy: A Big Adventure did: as a cross-generation title between the PS3 and PS4. Ever since, the series has been incredibly quiet for the entire generation. Fans were concerned that after the latest rocky period, the LBP series was over. Thankfully that’s not the case, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure brings the series back in a big way. Hopefully this marks many more titles in the series, and maybe even a LittleBigPlanet 4 could come down the line.
1 Worst: The Old Style Is Gone
While the game functions well as a 3D platformer, many fans were disappointed that the classic LittleBigPlanet formula was not continuing in Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Players loved the 2D side-scrolling gameplay combined with being able to play literally thousands of user-created levels with friends. While seeing Sackboy again may be enough for some, many were sad to see this new direction take center stage.
NEXT: 10 Things to Consider Before Upgrading to The PlayStation 5
