As a longtime lover of platformers and someone who has spent countless hours navigating colorful worlds filled with secrets and challenges, I found Astro Bot to be an absolute joy from start to finish. The game’s tight mechanics, creative level design, and charming aesthetics made me feel like I was on a thrilling adventure through a vibrant digital playground.
With the fanbase that the Astro Bot IP has garnered over the course of the last decade or so, you wouldn’t expect it to have managed to do so without ever having seen a proper, full-fledged console release. As its popularity has grown, however, so, too, has the demand for a more prominent presence for the IP in PlayStation’s first-party lineup- which now seems to be on the verge of coming true. After already having endeared itself to the masses with the incredible VR platformer Astro Bot Rescue Mission and the ever-so-delightful pack-in tech demo Astro’s Playroom, the franchise is ready to finally have its time in the sun. Enter: Astro Bot, a brand-new 3D platformer that sees the adorable robot mascot star in his own full-fledged console game for the first time. The results? Unsurprisingly charming.
Anyone who has played either of the games mentioned earlier would likely anticipate a similar experience. Interestingly, Astro Bot draws quite a bit from Astro’s Playroom, specifically in its focus on incorporating PlayStation-related appearances, easter eggs, and secrets. Similar to the free 2020 PS5 launch game, Astro Bot heavily incorporates elements from the PlayStation universe, featuring references from the most well-known to the deepest of tributes, carefully selected from the rich history of PlayStation gaming
Astro Bot draws extensively on various aspects of PlayStation, incorporating not only well-known and widely appreciated references but also lesser-known gems carefully selected from the rich tapestry of PlayStation’s past
In Astro’s Playroom, there are various forms of the bots you rescue throughout the game, and they’re quite special. For instance, some of these bots resemble popular characters that have made significant contributions to the history of PlayStation, such as Ratchet, Jak, Kratos, Solid Snake, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, and more. However, this is just a small portion of what’s available. In total, there are around 300 bots hidden across the game’s multiple levels, with an impressive 150 of them being VIP bots – these are the characters from PlayStation games
Astro Bot’s love and dedication for PlayStation also shines through in other ways- including the game’s core premise, which sees Astro having to find and rescue bots so together they can repair their mothership, which is basically just a giant PS5 flying through space. The ship parts that you find throughout intergalactic journey are, like in Astro’s Playroom, named after actual console parts, while Astro even has a smaller ship that he uses to transport himself around the galaxies that is shaped like a DualSense. There are even minigames and fun little interactions tucked away throughout the experience that will tug hard at your PlayStation nostalgia- but I’ll leave those unspoiled.
By the way, let’s talk about the DualSense controller. Yet again, Astro Bot serves as a remarkable demonstration of its unique functions, making it seem almost awkward how much superior it is compared to most games released for the console over the past four years. For instance, the haptic feedback adjusts according to the surfaces you walk on, and the gyro controls allow you to maneuver Astro’s ship at the start of levels. Moreover, many abilities in the game are designed around motion controls and adaptive triggers. In essence, Astro Bot consistently sets a high standard for how to effectively utilize the DualSense. It’s quite uncommon for games to make good use of its features, but they truly enhance the gaming experience in Astro Bot. Interestingly enough, Astro’s Playroom was already on that list, and now not only has it been matched, but even surpassed by Astro Bot
“Astro Bot is packed with PlayStation winks and nudges that you’ll love if you’ve ever had any affinity for the platform. It is not, however, overly reliant on that aspect, because even though that is clearly a really important part of the game, Astro Bot is also an incredible platformer in its own right.”
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Undeniably, Astro Bot abounds with subtle references, humor, and tributes to PlayStation (some may even call them playful jabs), which will delight any player who has a soft spot for this gaming platform. However, it is not solely dependent on these elements, as it also stands out as an exceptional platformer in its own right. The game’s quality is most evident in the way it plays and feels. To put it simply, the movement within the game is superb, with each jump, punch, hover, and action executed with the precision and responsiveness that one would expect
In a nutshell, Astro’s fundamental set of moves is enhanced by over a dozen distinct abilities scattered throughout the game, each offering a fresh taste to the gameplay experience. One ability allows you to inflate and hover through the air like a balloon, while another sees a dog hop onto your back acting as a propeller to push you forward. Another grants Astro the power to vacuum up gooey substances and subsequently create temporary platforms, and yet another equips him with spring-loaded boxing gloves, extending his combat range. Each ability stands out remarkably from the others, and each is also delightful to experiment with and play around
“Astro Bot does an amazing job of designing entire levels using different skill sets in endlessly innovative ways. When you think you have a complete understanding of how a certain skill is used, the game effortlessly generates new uses for you to master, seamlessly blending simple mechanics in increasingly clever ways.”
Indeed, the design of the levels plays a significant role in this, given how skillfully they are constructed around the skills they provide you. Drawing inspiration from games like Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Galaxy, Astro Bot excels at creating entire levels that utilize various abilities in incredibly innovative ways. Even when you believe you’ve grasped how a specific ability functions, the game ingeniously devises new methods for you to employ it, seamlessly blending straightforward mechanics with growing ingenuity. The game’s ability to do so while generally striking a perfect balance in terms of difficulty deserves high praise (though it should be noted that more challenging experiences can be found for those seeking them)
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In terms of Astro Bot’s enemies and combat, it’s noticeable that things aren’t as impressive as they initially seem on paper. The game offers a variety of distinct enemies, each posing unique threats and challenges, requiring different strategies to defeat. However, in practice, the combat feels too casual and straightforward, making it feel like an unimportant aspect of the gaming experience at times. Many enemies are defeated quickly, so they often fail to showcase their unique traits. On the other hand, Astro’s tendency to be defeated by most enemies with a single hit can make the combat seem excessively challenging, despite this not being the case. This results in an oddly frustrating and underdeveloped part of the game. Fortunately, the boss fights are significantly better. From the epic battles against major bosses at the end of each galaxy to the numerous smaller bosses and minibosses scattered throughout the other levels, every encounter is a delight to experience
From the enormous, grandiose showdowns known as the main events, to the numerous, minor hurdles and sub-hurdles that occur at various stages, each of these challenges is an exciting opportunity
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Astro Bot beautifully encapsulates the charming and delightful experiences of a meticulously crafted 3D platformer. From the get-go, it justifies the long-standing anticipation for this robot to star in his own complete game, while simultaneously positioning him alongside beloved PlayStation platforming icons such as Sackboy, Ratchet, Crash Bandicoot, and more – all achieved with a single game! Astro Bot is an outstanding platformer that never ceases to provide joy, and I, for one, eagerly look forward to Sony and Team Asobi creating more exceptional Astro platformers in the future
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
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2024-09-05 15:11