Sackboy: A Big Adventure

This article is about the video game. For the character, seeSackboy.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Developer(s)	Sumo Digital
Publisher(s)	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Writer(s)	Mark Llabres Hill Dean Wilkinson
Composer(s)	Lena Raine
Series	LittleBigPlanet
Engine	Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)	PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Windows
Release	PlayStation 4 WW:12 November 2020 PlayStation 5 NA/OC:12 November 2020 WW:19 November 2020 Windows WW:27 October 2022
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player,multiplayer

Sackboy: A Big Adventureis a 2020platform gamedeveloped bySumo Digitaland published bySony Interactive Entertainment.A spin-off of theLittleBigPlanetseries, it followsSackboy,and features 3D platforming as opposed to 2.5D in previous entries. It was released forPlayStation 4andPlayStation 5in November 2020 andWindowsin October 2021.

Gameplay

Sackboy: A Big Adventureis aplatform game.Unlike previousLittleBigPlanetentries with2.5Dplatforming, it features a range of perspectives and 3D movement.Players control Sackboy on world maps which give access to a multitude of platforming levels and bonus content. As Sackboy completes each stage new ones unlock allowing him to progress further. All levels contain collectable objects called Dreamer Orbs which must be collected en-masse to progress to the end of the game.

Sackboy’s move set is greatly expanded from previous entries and players can now slap at will, roll around, nosedive, pick-up objects and flutter jump, to name a few. Moves can be chained together to create combos that allow skilled players to travel greater distances. Each level in the game employs a series of interactable objects that require at least one of Sackboy’s moves to progress. Sackboy also has access to multiple stages where he can use new powerups. The Grappling Hook, now called the Clawstring, returns fromLittleBigPlanet 2,allowing Sackboy to grab onto object from afar, the Whirltool is a boomerang-like device that can be thrown to defeat enemies and break objects and finally the Plasma Pumps allow Sackboy to hover in the air and fire energy blasts.

Content creation

The game does not feature any Create Mode akin toLittleBigPlanetentries, only making certain nods to it through collectables. Players can still customize their Sackboy via ZomZom’s Shop. ZomZom is a travelling haberdasher that returns after his appearance in LittleBigPlanet 3. In his shop players can buy new costumes, try on collected outfits and even paint costume pieces. Costumes created by the player can be saved and are then available to choose when a level is entered.

Multiplayer

The game is fully playable in both local and online multiplayer allowing up to 4 players to experience the game together. There are stages in each world that require multiple players to enter and are specifically designed so players must work together to progress. The game originally did not ship with online functionality. The feature was added in a patch a month later on 17 December 2020.

Plot

In Craftworld, in the village of Loom, the Sackpeople are enjoying their lives when the villain Vex (Richard E. Grant) rips through the sky and begins to suck everything up with his machines in order to enslave the Sackpeople to make his Topsy-Turver machine to take over Craftworld with his evil Uproar. Sackboy manages to avoid being enslaved and steals the plans to the Topsy-Turver, escaping into a rocket. He uses the plans to travel all around Craftworld with the help of an elder sackperson, Scarlet (Dawn French) and tries to prevent Vex from getting the final materials he needs to finish the Topsy-Turver and take over the world, solving many of the issues Vex caused and gathering Dreamer Orbs along the way.

Later on the journey, Vex ambushes Sackboy and steals the latter's Dreamer Orbs, revealing that he manipulated him into gathering them to fuel the Topsy-Turver. Encouraged by Scarlet, Sackboy ventures to the center of Craftworld, where Vex intends to replace the Tree of Imagination with his machine. There he confronts Vex again and rendezvous with Scarlet who reveals a plan to destroy the machine when Vex suddenly knocks her unconscious. Venturing into the Topsy-Turver, Sackboy confronts Vex once more, defeating him and destroying the machine. Afterwards, Scarlet knights Sackboy as a Knitted Knight as peace is restored in Loom and Craftworld.

Development and release

Sackboy: A Big Adventurewas developed bySumo Digitalwho previously developedLittleBigPlanet 3,and published bySony Interactive Entertainment.It is the most recent installment in theLittleBigPlanetseries.

Sackboy: A Big Adventurewas announced at thePlayStation 5reveal event on 11 June 2020.The game was released for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 inNorth AmericaandOceaniaon 12 November 2020 and most other regions on 19 November 2020. AWindowsversion was released on 27 October 2022.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	PS4: 83/100 PS5: 79/100 PC: 81/100

Review scores

Publication	Score
Destructoid	8/10
Easy Allies	8.0/10
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Eurogamer	Recommended
Game Informer	8/10
GameRevolution	8/10
GameSpot	7/10
GamesRadar+
Hardcore Gamer	4/5
IGN	8/10
PCMag
Push Square
Shacknews	7/10
Video Games Chronicle
VG247
VideoGamer.com	8/10

Sackboy: A Big Adventurereceived "generally favorable" reviews across all platforms according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref
2021	British Academy Games Awards	British Game	Won
		Family Game	Won
		Multiplayer Game	Nominated
		Music	Nominated
	24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards	Family Game of the Year	Nominated
		Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design	Nominated
2022	British Academy Children's Awards	Game	Won