The recent PS5 reveal event showcased a lot of new games, and one of these was the return of a button-eyed friend from years gone. LittleBigPlanet is making a welcome return, albeit in the form of a spin-off called Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
LittleBigPlanet was one of the standout series of the PS3 and PS4, providing a creation tool to users with an emphasis on cutesy, material worlds and light-hearted fun. The game's Sackboy mascot became an icon for the PlayStation brand as a whole, and although franchise creators Media Molecule instead turned their attention to the more comprehensive building tool of Dreams, LittleBigPlanet has still remained close to the hearts of fans.
Thankfully, LittleBigPlanet is coming back. Developed by Sumo Digital, who also handled LittleBigPlanet 3, Sackboy is getting the hero treatment courtesy of Sackboy: A Big Adventure. The game was revealed as part of the Future of Gaming PS5 event, and the inaugural trailer can be seen below featuring multiplayer platforming action.
Rather than creation-focused, Sackboy: A Big Adventure definitely seems to be more aimed at 3D platforming. In the LittleBigPlanet series there was always a core 2.5D story campaign for Sackboy and friends, but Sackboy: A Big Adventure seems to be a little more cohesive in nature, and even elements like boss battles have been added into the mix. It will be interesting to see if loose creation tools are also included in the game, but at the moment details are thin on the ground - including a lack of a concrete release date.
It's not the first time that LittleBigPlanet has seen a spin-off. LittleBigPlanet Racing released to middling reviews back in 2012 as an example of another kart racer that, while competent, couldn't quite compete with genre pillars like Mario Kart. However, Sackboy: A Big Adventure certainly seems to have more in common with the core franchise.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure was far from the only game to be revealed at the PS5 event. Major announcements also include Resident Evil 8 and the much-anticipated sequel to Horizon: Zero Dawn, while details about the PS5 console itself are bound to turn heads. Until hard facts about release date and price are announced, however, some may still be left waiting before they definitely go all in on the PS5 as their console of choice for the next generation.
Source: PS5 Reveal Event