Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet series has always been a bit of an anomaly to me. Having played all three games on the PlayStation 3, I grew to really adore its colourful style, creative freedom and lovable mascot in Sackboy. However, I can't say I absolutely loved them. I found plenty of joy in tackling online levels from other players as opposed to mustering up the will to make my own fun, but that's exactly what drew me to the idea of Sackboy: A Big Adventure from developer Sumo Digital. With a focus on being a polished, vibrant platformer in exchange for its trademark sandbox style, there was potential here for a great adventure/platformer. I'm pleased to say it was the correct choice, because Sackboy: A Big Adventure might be one of the most delightful games of the year.



Playing as the titular Sackboy, your job is to traverse a variety of levels facing off against numerous enemies in order to finally face the dreaded villain and jester, Vex. The story isn't really going to win awards for being the most original and innovative, but everything else around it - from the wonderful gameplay to the inventive, colourful worlds - really drives the game home and makes the entire experience worthwhile. Sadly, the core story isn't that engaging and it's made stranger by some iffy voice-acting at times. It made me wonder if they shared the same cast with Bugsnax.

The story isn't really going to win awards for being the most original and innovative...

Sackboy: A Big Adventure features a handful of themed overworlds consisting of jungles, oceans, and more that I won't spoil. Each overworld ends with a climactic boss battle before you're allowed to move onto the next world, occasionally sprinkled with mini-bosses, mini-games, and plenty of collectibles. You can't progress to the next world without first collecting the required amount of blue orbs, which are usually found in secret areas and locations in each level. This encourages exploration and using every tool at your disposal in order to find the orbs, which is fantastic for a platformer that you'll be tackling over and over again in order to improve your times and find every hidden secret it has to offer.



Sackboy is gifted a number of tools and weapons to use depending on the level. The grappling hook is good for latching yourself onto far-to-reach ledges, while the boomerang destroys obstacles and damages enemies. The gameplay isn't vastly intricate, instead favouring simplicity to bring out the best of its fun factor. Some tools are actually quite inventive too, such as translucent creatures that you can carry to mark invisible platforms and ledges. The bosses and mini-bosses also test your knowledge of the game, forcing you to utilize everything you've learned thus far. They're not the most immediately challenging encounters you'll ever face in gaming - especially just coming off of Demon's Souls - but they're creatively designed, entertaining and require you to use your brain power in order to defeat them.

One level - and a favourite for many, I'm sure - is the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars-themed "Uptown Funk" which is designed to the beat of the song...

Collect-a-thons is the name of the game in Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Apart from the blue orbs cleverly hidden in certain hidden areas of the levels, you can also collect regular orbs and bells that offer currency to use in purchasing new outfits for Sackboy. Some of them are hilarious, including (and my personal favourite) the Viking attire, which gives Sackboy a cartoonishly massive beard and wooden sword. While the outfits are meant to be original creations, with some nods to the likes of Elvis Presley, Little Red Riding Hood, and more, I wish they added some nostalgic PlayStation references. It would've been great to unlock more iconic PlayStation mascots and heroes for costumes (considering this was already present in LittleBigPlanet), but I digress. The amount of outfits and cool customizable options on offer here is enough to put a big smile on your face.



Sackboy: A Big Adventure boasts some of the most weirdly endearing and delightfully entertaining levels I've played in a platformer yet. One level - and a favourite for many, I'm sure - is the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars-themed "Uptown Funk" which is designed to the beat of the song, with platforms and even enemies bouncing joyfully to the beat. Another level also includes David Bowie's "Let's Dance", another terrifically inventive and head-bopping level. There are plenty of these creatively designed levels to encounter, and I won't spoil many of my other favourites to keep the surprise. You simply complete each level in order to progress to the next, but with the requirement to collect blue orbs and gain golden trophies, you'll certainly be playing a lot of these levels again, giving it plenty of replay value and extending its overall playtime greatly.

While out and about in Sackboy's numerous worlds, you'll come across mini-games, some of which reward players with more currency to buy outfits. You'll also be able to tackle certain levels that require online co-op (which are also completely optional), but at the time of writing, it was near impossible to find potential allies online so it's hard to recommend these segments. Other than that, you're also given time trials, side objectives and more to prolong your stay in Sackboy: A Big Adventure - dare I say, making every penny worth it for the 15+ hours you'll be spending with it.



Finally, a special mention needs to go out to the soundtrack of Sackboy: A Big Adventure. While some of it is original music, most of it consists of remixes or familiar tunes taken from big pop or rock songs, made to be more chipper and upbeat. You'll find yourself humming to songs covering Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough" or Kool & The Gang's "Jungle Boogie", which just adds to the whimsical and wonderous nature of the game. Each level, whether you're platforming through slightly challenging sections or fighting off a variety of clumsy creatures, is tailored to the beat of the song or perfectly reflects it. Finding these little musical Easter eggs is a blast, and kept me going throughout the entire game as I constantly looked forward to the next level and its bizarre musical choices.



Sackboy: A Big Adventure is easily one of the most charming and delightful games of the year, and another knockout launch title for the PlayStation 5 - and that's saying something considering it has to compete with Astro's Playroom. The levels are all creatively designed and endearing, the customizable choices for Sackboy is reminiscent of LittleBigPlanet, and the music is top-notch. It won't be the most mindblowing platformer you'll play, but for what it's worth - and with the added benefit of the PS5's fast loading times and terrific DualSense features - Sackboy: A Big Adventure makes for a must-play adventure simply oozing with fun.

*PS5 Review code provided by PlayStation