Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the latest spinoff of the LittleBigPlanet series, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The game is a 3D platformer adventure which follows Sackboy through various themed levels.
The game’s soundtrack is a standout feature, consisting of both original score and licensed music. Many of the tracks are instantly recognisable and have been cleverly edited to play in sync with where you are in a level: listen out for adjustments in the the sound and levels in response to something happening in the game.
“The songs are constructed to loop in areas and naturally move to the next part of the song as you progress.
All sound effects in the level are tuned in the correct key, so it doesn’t clash.
When the player goes into a bonus room in the Undersea level, the music continues but is positionally placed ‘outside the door’, as if you were standing outside a club. Even when the door opens the sound travels back through, acting as if it’s diegetic to the actual level.
With the Undersea level we found Superorganism track worked really well as it was chill, woozy, laid-back and the sound effects complemented the antique shop décor of the undersea world. Spot how, during the midpoint when Sackboy jumps on the floaty pad we go to the bridge with the woozy lilting guitar. Works nicely!
With the Moonlandingz track the level design is a twisted, warped mix up of all other levels. The track works perfectly to sound menacing (but not too scary). Watch how elements of the level are synced in time to the beat!” James Marshall – Music Supervisor
