Overview

Astro Bot, man an experience. When I saw this get announced I had this feeling like yeah sure it is going to be a good game, I mean I enjoyed Astro's Playroom, it was a nice bite-sized showcase of the Playstation 5's new features and the capabilities of the DualSense Controller, coupled with some nice platforming.

But I was not ready for how good Astro Bot is, and my guess is that you will not be either. Astro Bot is an exceptional Platformer that stands up there with many of the more memorable ones we have experienced in recent memory, with distinct and cleverly crafted worlds, a multitude of fun and versatile gadgets that never wear out there welcome. It is a showcase of the DualSense and PS5's strengths much like Astro's Playroom, but it doubles down on many of the ideas explored there and fleshes them out in this full blown platforming adventure, that is sure to win you over. To top this off it is a charming homage to many of the icons that have defined and orbited the PlayStation ecosystem through the years and it is such a treat that surely will make you crack a smile.

If you can't tell by now, I absolutely love loved Astro Bot and this is game is one that invokes the wonder and joy that this genre is known for, and is absolute win for Sony, because Team Asobi have made a game here that will be remembered as one of the highlights of 2024, and I'm here to tell you why, so let's get into my review for Astro Bot.

Gameplay

Platforming and Level Mechanics

So let's kick this off with the gameplay for Astro Bot. Astro Bot like any of the classic platformers will see you jumping from world to world that are stylized with a particular theme and gadget with how you'll explore the environment and also fight enemies. What you'll be doing when exploring these worlds and the real hook is much like how you search for stars in Mario 64, you'll be searching for the missing Astro Bots that have gone missing as your PlayStation mothership and are stranded on these various planets. It makes exploring every nook and cranny of this world feel so exciting and the puzzles and little hidden queues make unlocking each Astro Bot feel so satisfying.

Astro Bot is also when it comes to platforming one that strikes a fine balance with main worlds that feel welcoming and accessible to those new to the genre and challenging levels that will test your skills and overall understanding of the various gadgets available. The overall level structure and design each of these worlds is uniquely crafted to align with the theme that the world is going for, which we'll touch on later. But this overall theme of each world cohesively gels with these gadgets that I've mentioned, along with the way in which it'll have you platforming. On level for example will have you spraying water on a tree, to bring it to life, and the centerpiece of this level is focused around traversing and climbing this tree and uses methods and modes of platforming which lend themselves to this levels overall stylistic choice, but also provide structure. There are also secret collectibles and hidden levels that I won't go into too much detail or spoil here, but it ticks all the boxes for what any good platformer should have, and not only does it contain these attributes but executes on them brilliantly.

Boss Fights

Astro Bot has a handful of boss fights that are designed to be the conclusion of each particular zone that you go to throughout your experience. These bosses are all really fun to fight, and call you to use many of the different gadgets you've played with over the course of the experience to best the boss in a way that is insane. One thing that I love about the Boss fights in Astro Bot is how they increase in intensity. This is no real surprise, as with most platformers you usually have the three hits rule to score a victory, but what I love about Astro Bot is how it feels like a throwback to those platformers of old, sparking memories of boss fights in the old Crash games, where the arena will get smaller or there will be more lasers or flames to duck and jump while the enemy is chaotically trying to hit you. It makes these encounters all feel distinct and memorable, and like I've been emphasizing in this video, it brings to life that wonder you felt as a game, playing many of these types of games.

Game Systems

An Unlockable Hub-world and Unique Astro bots

One of Astro Bot's greatest strengths to me, that I think makes exploring these different worlds on repeat is how rewarding its progression systems are, and Astro Bot accomplishes this first and foremost through a hub world, that you're slowly seeing evolve with each adventure you set out on. You'll set out on your adventures collecting puzzle pieces and looking for missing Astro Bots and in turn you'll see new stores and facilities open with more puzzle pieces collected, and in turn you'll see all the different Astro Bot's you've discovered appear in the hub world, now let's talk about them for a sec.

There are 300 Astro bot's here to collect in this game, and half of them are unique bots that embody one of the characters and video game icons that have appeared on and influenced the PlayStation ecosystem over the years. There are some unique worlds, cantered around the universe of some of Sony's more recent standout stars. These worlds really do bring some of these Sony allstars worlds to life and offers up some unique mechanics. But overall this approach to collecting these Astro Bots and the various challenges and hidden locations where you can find them makes exploring feel that much more exciting and adds a level of wonder to what characters or franchises make make an appearance next.

The PlayStation Fanfare

If there is one aspect of Astro bot which I feel it absolutely nails it is the fanfare for the PlayStation ecosystem and the PS5. It is no real surprise at this point that the PS5 has been a much slower generation in terms of the titles that have released on the console and the push forward, that separates it from the PS4. Astro's Playroom was a great showcase of these features, and Astro Bot is a fantastic showcase of many of these features, and how the DualSense is utilised. But the biggest thing that sets apart Astro Bot apart is the PlayStation

Astro Bot feels like it has doubled down on the ideas, the mechanics and the showcasing of these features, but has wrapped itself in celebrating the long history of PlayStation and many of the classic characters and fandoms we have grown to love over the years. It is what makes the games progression feel so fun. I'm not just collecting random bots, I'm rescuing Jak from Jak and Daxter, Ratchet from Ratchet and Clank, or Leon from Resident Evil. It is such a charming game in its platforming presentation, and overall feeling, but it is a game that can not only play into the nostalgia for what we love, but also celebrate and pay homage to it.

As much of a celebration of Sony's long history with many of these games, it also is in some respects a somber reminder of many of these incredible IP's that we haven't seen a new game for in years. Overall though games like Mario may see you collecting stars, Crash Bandicoot collecting Crystals, but the concept of collecting these bots, which are miniature versions of PlayStation icons is something genius.

Sound and Visual Presentation

If there is one thing that Astro Bot absolutely nails it is it's visual and sound presentation, and I think that the overall design of these worlds is incredible. Take any facet of these worlds you step into from the reimagined tracks of iconic themes, and the electro chiptune soundtrack makes Astro Bot's aesthetic distinct and expressive, and you immediately associate it with PlayStation's new little robot mascot. The worlds here are all expressive and varied bringing each world and its centrepiece theme to life. The amount of colour, and use of sound, that even pops out of the controller really does create the atmosphere like no other. The vibrant colours, the creative enemy variants, and unique backdrops of these worlds really are up there with the greats, and honestly I don't say this lightly, but in terms of its use of unique features, themes and overall the world design, Astro Bot is up there with the likes of Mario Wonder, and Team Asobi have absolutely brought this universe of creative 3D Platforming to life.

Conclusion

Now to bring this whole video together Astro Bot is honestly a fantastic game, that taps into the sense of wonder and fun that platformers are known for, rivalling many of the juggernauts and putting out something that feels fresh, distinct, and celebrates the long history of the Playstation. This may be one of the shortest reviews I've done, because on the front of analysing the game, I can get technical but, when it comes down to it, Astro Bot simply put is a fun and delightful video game. It's platforming it feels nice and responsive, the amount of interactivity and varied different gadgets make each world feel refreshing in ways that can only be matched by Mario Wonder when we discuss 3D platformers of recent memory. The boss encounters are distinct and memorable, and that statement rings doubly true for the 100s of different charming Astro Bot interpretations of many gaming icons. Astro Bot is a phenomenal experience that showcases the capacities and quirks o the PS5, but more importantly the creative vision and imagination of the folks at Team Asobi, and they should absolutely be proud of this game, and I definitely recommend it, because Astro Bot is one of 2024's highlights.