One of the games announced during Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal event on June 11th, 2020 was Sackboy: A Big Adventure. The 3D platformer sees the return of Sackboy, whom Sony fans will recognize from Media Molecule's popular and successful LittleBigPlanet franchise. Since Media Molecule is hard at work supporting Dreams, Sumo Digital is taking the reins for this game.
There are many reasons to be excited for the adorable character's return to the spotlight, but plenty of fans have their own reservations about the game, too. Everybody wants it to be excellent, but there is nothing wrong with being cautiously optimistic.
10 Worried: Difficulty
Platformers live and die by their difficulty. If it's are too hard, it will turn off more casual gamers or young kids who may have been attracted to it for the aesthetic. But if it is too easy, then more hardcore players will be bored. Hopefully the game has a difficulty curve similar to Super Mario 3D World. The first few worlds are cakewalks, but the challenge lies in collecting the hidden stars in each level. Eventually, however, just getting through a stage becomes a fight.
9 Excited: The Dearth Of 3D Platformers
3D platformers are not as plentiful as they once were. The Nintendo Switch has plenty, but only a handful of multi-platform platformers come out each year. To see such a pure entry in the genre come to PS5 is a treat for Sony fans. LittleBigPlanet was always 2D with three lanes of movement, so it is cool to see Sackboy break from those restrictions for a full range. Despite the switch to full 3D gameplay, the same level of creativity from the prior games is expected to return in full force.
8 Worried: Graphics
The unique art style Media Molecule crafted for LittleBigPlanet already looked so pretty on the PS3, so it's easy not to appreciate the advancements made since the 2008 debut. Hopefully people don't dismiss it because it is not as eye-popping and realistic as other PS5 games shown during the presentation. One should remember that good graphics do not necessarily mean realistic.
7 Excited: Co-Op
The debut trailer cleverly reveals the game's cooperative feature by slowly showing more variations of Sackboy joining the fun. Almost every genre and game is better when friends can join in. Just think about games like Super Mario 3D World or Rayman Legends. The only issue is accidentally killing each other, but smart game design can prevent these inconveniences. The feature should also be good for playing with less experienced friends.
6 Worried: Getting Lost In The Shuffle
Sackboy has been out of the spotlight for a while, with his last appearance being 2014's LittleBigPlanet 3. Fingers crossed, people have not forgotten about Sony's adorable mascot. For those who are not aware of Sackboy in the slightest, hopefully the childish aesthetic does not put people off. Sony readily embraces the colorful, and audiences should similarly welcome it.
5 Excited: Art Style
Media Molecule's art style for the LittleBigPlanet series immediately catches the eye and lends itself to the in-depth level editor. For a 3D platformer, the aesthetic presents limitless creative possibilities for the levels in Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
Regardless of graphical prowess, this world always looks gorgeous. Pop in the original LittleBigPlanet and it still visually impresses. If the music retains the same playfulness as the earlier games, the title will be good vibes through and through.
4 Worried: Enthusiasm For The Series
LittleBigPlanet 3 came out in 2014, making for a six-year gap since Sackboy starred in his own game. How many Sony fans still remember the character, and does his return excite them the same way it did 10 years ago? Hopefully this does not come as a detriment. Like many series, it can be difficult to revive hype if it has been dormant for so long. For Sackboy: A Big Adventure, the change in genre could either generate or destroy hype.
3 Excited: Return Of Sackboy
For people who fondly remember their days creating and playing levels in LittleBigPlanet, the trailer for Sackboy's return came as a pleasant surprise. It was accentuated by the smart reveal of the character, with the developer faking out the audience by showing a mysterious figure in a tiger costume before Sackboy ripped off the clothing to show his face. Along with the character comes a quirky and delightful sense of humor all ages can enjoy.
2 Worried: Floaty Platforming
One criticism of the series has always been the floaty controls. Once the player grows accustomed to them, they become less of a problem, but with a new series this is something Sumo Digital should address. If the game is fully focused on platforming and leaves the level editor at the wayside, the jumping needs to be as precise as possible. Similar jumping to the original trilogy will result in a detriment to the experience.
1 Excited: Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital is tackling this 3D platformer. The company has been around since 2003 and has a large number of projects under their belt. Along with helping out on a plethora of AAA projects, the studio also made LittleBigPlanet 3 and LittleBigPlanet PS Vita. Considering their experience with the series, fans can rest assured knowing the series is in good hands.