Astro Bot GBAtemp review
PlayStation 5
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): September 6, 2024
- Release Date (EU): September 6, 2024
- Release Date (JP): September 6, 2024
- Publisher: Sony
- Developer: Team ASOBI
- Genres: Platformer
Game Features:
I don't think there's a single PlayStation 5 owner who doesn't know Astro Bot; Sony's de facto mascot has technically been around since 2013 with the Playroom VR demo, but found proper success with his subsequent VR game, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, and the beloved PS5 tech demo, and love letter to all things PlayStation, Astro's Playroom. Now the lovable little android is back with another full-length game to celebrate the PlayStation's 30th anniversary, and to bring some classic, platforming fun to the console! Does Astro Bot give us an experience worthy of Astro's, and the PlayStation's, legacy? Lets jump in, and take a look!
A Grand Adventure Unfolds
Astro's latest adventure begins with the PS5 Mothership being attacked by the returning Space Bully, Nebulax. Nebulax steals the CPU of the mothership, causing massive damage and forcing a crash landing on a desert planet; scattering the various PS5 hardware components, and Astro's crew of 300 bots, across the galaxy. Armed only with his skills, his trusty Dual Speeder, and some friends made along the way, it's up to Astro to travel the galaxy, rescue his crew, and reclaim all of the hardware necessary to repair the mothership. All in a day's work for our adorable little Bot.
A Gameplay Blast from the Past
This inciting incident is what frames the gameplay of Astro Bot. Your main objective is to traverse the galaxy, and collect all 300 Bots that have been scattered throughout the 80 levels, along with coins, puzzle pieces, and unlocking the occasional lost galaxy portal or two. All the fine tenants of a traditional 3D platformer, which is what the game is at its core. You jump around, find your collectables, solve puzzles, smash enemies, beat up bosses, take on challenge stages, and have fun along the way. It's simple, but in the best way. I found that, as tends to happen with platformers, the level difficulty ranges from “hilariously easy” to “punishingly difficult,” with many of the optional challenge levels really putting your accuracy, sense of timing, and inevitably (because of how often you’ll die), pattern recognition to the test. With that said though, I never found any of the levels in Astro Bot to be impossibly difficult, just some that are more challenging than others. It really is a consistent, scaling, and fair level of difficulty for the most part, and for the majority of the 80 levels this game has to offer, the focus is definitely on fun more so than being overly challenging; which I’m all in on. This is especially apparent in the lack of a life counter, meaning that death is only a temporary setback, and your ability to overcome any challenge or level is really only limited to how patient and ready to put in the work you are.
Those in-level collectables directly tie into the progression of the game, as with all great platformers; certain areas and levels are directly locked until you have enough bots to help you out, puzzle pieces unlock new areas in the primary hub such as a Gacha machine, and spots where you can change Astro’s costume and glider color. Coins, meanwhile, can be used to unlock new additions to your hub world, as well as matching props for the various VIP bots, which are special bots that are designed after iconic characters from PlayStation history. In a lot of ways, this gameplay makes Astro Bot incredibly reminiscent of many of the great platformers of days gone; Super Mario Bros, Spyro the Dragon, Banjo-Kazooie and the like. The focus is on that classic style of collection and gameplay that just hooks you, and leaves you enthralled for hours, especially with the fun and interesting level designs that are almost 100% interactive and filled with fun little moments and easter eggs.
Those who played Astro's Playroom (which I would hope is all of you PS5 owners out there), may notice that Astro Bot looks and plays remarkably similarly to its predecessor; and this is true, at the core, though with slightly different story circumstances between the two games. This rings true for the most part, though there are a few areas where they differ; beyond just simply having more to do and an element of exploration added outside of each level, the different suits that Astro can wear to get past specific level obstacles have been replaced with companions that give Astro whole new abilities, each of which correlate to the gimmick of that level. This setup not only gives Astro some new buddies to play with, but adds some much needed variety to the levels, ensuring that there's always something shaken up to avoid monotony. Another addition to the game is Bird Bot, a new resident of each world you've completed once; pay 200 coins, and Bird Bot will help you hone in on any collectibles you’ve missed… by leading you directly to them. I'm sure there are those who will decry this as a terrible addition that makes the game too easy, but honestly? I found it extremely helpful, partially because I'm a busy adult who doesn't want to spend hours combing through the same level because I missed one little item. It's functionally the same as looking up a guide anyway, just baked into the game. It's also entirely optional, for those who just simply aren't interested in the help.
A final note I wanna touch on with the gameplay front is the integration of the DuelSense controller. In addition to the standard methods of control shared across most every game, Astro Bot takes full advantage of the full scope of possibilities from the DualSense in a way that most other games don't. Whether you're using the mic to whip up a wind storm, using the gyroscopes to steer the Dual Speeder, or just enjoying the rumble of haptic feedback and correlating sounds as Astro traverses across different types of landscape, Astro Bot takes full advantage of everything this controller can do, and does so in a way that feels far beyond gimmicky - rather, the integration helps me get immersed in the game. Even something as simple as walking across a metal plate, with each step giving a small rumble that coincides with the sound of feet on metal through the speaker, just adds so much to each level. And while the motion controls aren't perfect, and can in fact be a bit tough to manipulate, I'm unable to deny that it's a net positive addition.
A Love Letter to a Legacy
Something that Astro Bot wears on its sleeve is an absolute love for PlayStation, and rightfully so; the game does, after all, coincide with the brand’s 30th anniversary. But the level of that love runs super deep. The game is filled to the brim with references, easter eggs, collectables, and just overall love that all focuses on PlayStation. I touched on the VIP bots a bit earlier, but 173 of the collectable bots are dressed as gaming characters integral to the history and legacy of PlayStation, with many of them having further unlockable props that give them a little scene in the hub world that just adds so much fun and personality to their inclusion. Each galaxy even ends with a special level based on iconic PlayStation games, where Astro takes the role (and receives the abilities) of that game's protagonist as he explores these special levels, and takes down the final boss to each galaxy. Even the obvious, like the PS5 Mothership and Astro’s DualSense glider just feel like such an intentional and welcomed choice to celebrate the brand.
All of this is to say that, fitting as it is for one of the few PS5 exclusive titles, Astro Bot feels just as much like a love letter to Sony and the PlayStation brand, as it does a return to form as a classic platformer. The game is functionally a giant 30th birthday party for the brand, with so many classic and favorite characters here to help us celebrate. In a lot of ways, for those who grew up playing the older PlayStation systems, Astro Bot is more than just a fun, classic style platformer; it’s a blast from the past, and a reminder of just what made you love these systems in the first place.
Ultimately, Astro Bot may not be the most complicated game. It may not have the most advanced graphics, or a huge number of dialogue choices and branching storylines. But it’s just purely joyful and, importantly, fun. It’s a blast of a game that stuffed itself full of approachable but appropriately challenging gameplay. It’s keeping one of the most classic genres of video games alive in such a great way, and it does so with open love and celebration for Sony and the PlayStation. I mentioned before how the game feels reminiscent of those classic platformers of the past, but at the end of the day, Astro Bot is just as fun, if not more fun, than those platformers we all grew up playing. And Astro himself has easily become a mascot worthy of sitting amongst the giants, such as Mario and Sonic themselves. I’m desperate for more games that just want to be a source of unfiltered fun like this, and can’t wait for my next adventure with Astro and his crew.
Verdict
- Insanely fun gameplay
- Immersive use of the DualSense controller's features
- Great love letter and anniversary gift to PlayStation
- Motion controls sometimes finicky
