Sackboy: A Big Adventure: PS5 Review

Developed by Sumo Digital
Released by Sony Interactive

There is no denying that Sackboy is one of the essential PlayStation characters.

And so it is that the PlayStation 5 launch title Sackboy A Big Adventure comes with both the level of expectation from the platform and also a mission to create cuteness in the next generation world.

This time Sackboy finds himself sucked into a world of trouble when new monster Vex appears and sucks out all the little adorable sack creatures into his own world.

From there it’s very much the usual Little Big Planet game modus operandi - collect all the little bubbles, collect cosmetic bubbles and generally avoid being caught by the bad guys.

That’s nothing new here but what is new about this Sackboy game is how it retains its charm in the next gen world.

While Astro's Playroom may have stolen the jump on what the DualSense controller can do, Sackboy uses it to the best of its advantage even though sometimes it feels a little like it’s lacking in its own creativity and imagination. Which is not something you'd ever expect from this franchise.

Instead of using the controller to create gimmicky moments what Sackboy manage to do with the controller is more about providing a level and atmosphere of immersion.

From popping bubble sound effects to keep music to various sounds coming at your controller from you at all levels and on all fronts, the game certainly dials up the cute for anyone diving in at any level. It also allows for characters to walk through grass, across other environments and for you to enjoy the subtle sounds of either swishing grass or hearing the ground beneath your feet from within your controller.

It’s fair to say the creative side of the Little Big Planet franchise is sorely missed this time as it's simply a well-executed platformer, but the size and scope of the levels mean replay is about obsessive completion rather than inventive necessities and multiplayer online with your pals.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is so nicely executed that it’s hard not to fall for its charms.

If you love the Little Big Planet series on the PlayStation before chances are you’ll still love it even more this time around. 

Sure there’s been a bit of tooling quietly done in the background, but given the final result, the cloth creature’s future in both PlayStation’s world and gamers’ hearts is still secured.

A review key for Sackboy: A Big Adventure was provided by PlayStation New Zealand.