Fans of 3D platform games can look forward to the new PC version of Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Sumo Digital and Xdev Software GmbH have officially stolen everyone's hearts once again by porting this little game to PC.
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At first glance, players might think that Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a LittleBigPlanet spin-off, and while it technically is, it's very different from the original games that inspired it. For starters, it abandons the level editor and community sharing aspects that were part of LittleBigPlanet. Play as “iconic PlayStation hero Sackboy, who returns in breathtaking action with a huge, fun, frenetic 3D multiplayer platform adventure and a whole new sackitude!”
History
I think nothing describes the story better than what PlayStation.com says about this adorable game:
“The nefarious Vex (a near-mythical being born of chaos and fear, no less) kidnaps Sackboy's friends and forces them to build his Topsy Turver. This evil and deadly device will transform the world of crafting from a fantastical land of pure imagination and innocent dreams… into a scorching, barren land of nightmares. Ooh the demon! But legend speaks of a prophecy from deep within the ancient order of the Knitted Knights, the legendary protectors of Craftworld. For only the brave, the fearless, the knights and, yes, the gallant can save the day in an almost overly dramatic race against time, filled with danger and peril. So many dangers. Go alone or with your bravest friends on a whirlwind adventure through the snowiest mountains, the leafiest jungles, the wettest underwater kingdoms and the most spacious space colony. Destroy Vex. Save the locals. Save the day. It's time to fulfill your destiny, Sackboy. From the woolly child prodigy and the Hessian hero… our knitted knight is born.”
As described above, Sackboy: A Big Adventure follows a relatively simple but gripping story in which Sackboy must save all of Craftworld and the Imagispheres from the evil Vex. Although a bit generic (the “they go on an adventure to save the world” trope), the story is captivating and ADORABLE and makes the childlike wonder and the story oh so endearing. The whole game is just a fun, non-stop platformer, complete with a cute story, that lets you make your way through adorable scenes made of cardboard cutouts, objects household items and other craft items such as leather, felt and drawing pins.
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Gameplay
This 3D platformer has the cutest and most creative level designs, with an emphasis on cooperative play, with three friends being able to join you on your gallant journey, but not punishing you if you don't play with your friends. My only complaint with Sackboy: A Big Adventure is that the controls can be a little imprecise on PC. It's clearly a game that plays much better on a controller, with its interaction and combat buttons scattered across the keyboard, seemingly at random, but this is a problem that is very easily corrected with customization of the game's bindings. keys. Some players might mistake the game's gentle simplicity for a lack of depth, but the gameplay is so fluid that it's a pleasure to go through the levels grabbing point bubbles, defeating bad guys, and smashing everything to find items to collect, x2 point boosters and unlocking secrets to find all the dreamer orbs.
Unlike other platformers, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is only occasionally frustrating, with unreliable camera angles that can cause you to lose a life from time to time, and somewhat imprecise jumping mechanics that can make the game unpredictable. where you are going to land. These are small issues, and the game's cuteness, smooth gameplay, and overall enjoyment make it impossible not to enjoy it.
The game ramps up the difficulty a bit, but it's very generous when it comes to returning lost lives and has a cute, frequent checkpoint system that makes dying less of an issue unless you try to complete each level 100%. In order to complete each level, you will need to find all the cosmetic items offered in each level, complete the entire level without dying, find enough points to get a gold medal (usually between 3000 and 5000 depending on the length of the level), and collect all dream orbs hidden in the level. Dream Orbs are also a very nice mechanic that allows you to pass more difficult levels, but you don't need a lot of orbs to progress, so you can easily continue without feeling the need to do everything 100% (unless you're me and try every level until you get it…oops). There are also fun mini-games in Sackboy: A Big Adventure that unlock Dreamer Orbs, ranging from a whack-a-mole mini-game to feeding a monster until it spits out the orb. Very cute.
That being said, the levels are quite easy to complete, making the game super accessible and something that platformers of any level can easily enjoy and enjoy. Time trials add a sense of urgency, but I never had to struggle with anything other than the timing of my jumps. So I felt very motivated throughout the game, and I felt like I was competent enough to complete it without having played a lot of platform games in the past.
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Personalization
One thing worth mentioning is the Zom-Zom Shop, where you can purchase and equip items to customize your little hero in more ways than can be mentioned. From body bag textures, different styled eyes, themed mouths, masks and headgear, jackets, pants, shoes, tails and gloves, to complete outfits. I can imagine that with you and three other friends running through the levels of Sackboy: A Big Adventure, it can be a little difficult to keep track of who's who, so customizing your character with a particular color or your own brand of cuteness is ideal . I recommend not buying items during the first few levels because if you rack your brains and interact with all the levels you will unlock a ton of items just by playing the game, but don't hesitate You don't have to go to Zom-Zom's tent to use the items you have collected.
If you see something you like in Zom-Zom's tent but don't have enough bells to buy it, keep an eye out for the purple genie lamp that appears on your world map, it's a little collection mini-game hosted by the man himself, which gives you a good quantity of golden bells. Additionally, there are small reappearing balloons that each contain a bell, so don't forget to interact with everything you can on the world map and in the levels.
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Final Thoughts on Sackboy: A Great Adventure on PC
I love this game. Sackboy: A Big Adventure has adorable level themes, from a yeti-filled ice temple to pink meadows to futuristic rocket labs, all connected by their blending stylistic elements in an interesting and frankly electric but wonderfully coherent game. The best part is that the game can crown a winner, so replaying levels with your friends to see who the winner would be would be a lot of fun in my opinion.
The replayability of this game is incredible. There's so much motivation to replay the game and try to unlock as many things as possible, but the game doesn't feel too repetitive.
The game has an INCREDIBLE selection of music. This is one of the first things I noticed and loved about this game. Each level has its own theme, and the music changes accordingly. The game not only features an original score, but also clever remixes and covers of adorable and recognizable classics.
In summary, I recommend Sackboy: A Big Adventure on PC to everyone, both experienced platformers and beginners. I think the game is playable for younger kids as well, there isn't a ton of reading involved, and once you get the hang of the controls the rest of the game is very accessible and easy to learn. This game really makes you want to play it until the end, it's a pleasure and anything but a chore.
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Review
Sackboy: A Great PC Adventure