With the fanbase that the Astro Bot IP has garnered over the course of the final decade or so, you wouldn’t anticipate it to have managed to take action with out ever having seen a correct, full-fledged console launch. As its reputation has grown, nevertheless, so, too, has the demand for a extra outstanding presence for the IP in PlayStation’s first-party lineup- which now appears to be on the verge of coming true. After already having endeared itself to the lots with the unbelievable VR platformer Astro Bot Rescue Mission and the ever-so-delightful pack-in tech demo Astro’s Playroom, the franchise is able to lastly have its time within the solar. Enter: Astro Bot, a brand-new 3D platformer that sees the lovable robotic mascot star in his personal full-fledged console recreation for the primary time. The outcomes? Unsurprisingly charming.
In fact, anybody who could have performed any of the 2 aforementioned video games could have anticipated as a lot. In actual fact, there’s lots that Astro Bot borrows from Astro’s Playroom in particular- such because the emphasis it locations on PlayStation-related cameos, easter eggs, secrets and techniques, and extra. Very like the free 2020 PS5 launch title, Astro Bot leans closely on all issues PlayStation, packing in all the pieces from probably the most outstanding and well-liked references to the deepest of cuts, lovingly plucked from throughout the whole lot of PlayStation historical past.
“Astro Bot leans closely on all issues PlayStation, packing in all the pieces from probably the most outstanding and well-liked references to the deepest of cuts, lovingly plucked from throughout the whole lot of PlayStation historical past.”
That takes many various varieties. As in Astro’s Playroom, most of the bots that you simply rescue all through the sport are robotic variations of well-liked characters who’ve had necessary roles to play within the historical past of PlayStation, from beloved first-party icons like Ratchet, Jak, and Kratos to beloved third-party characters like Stable Snake, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, and plenty of others. And that’s barely even scratching the floor. Of the 300 bots which might be scattered all through the numerous ranges within the recreation, a whopping 150 are VIP bots, which is what the PlayStation characters are known as.
Astro Bot’s love and dedication for PlayStation additionally shines by in different ways- together with the sport’s core premise, which sees Astro having to seek out and rescue bots so collectively they will restore their mothership, which is mainly only a big PS5 flying by area. The ship elements that you simply discover all through intergalactic journey are, like in Astro’s Playroom, named after precise console elements, whereas Astro even has a smaller ship that he makes use of to move himself across the galaxies that’s formed like a DualSense. There are even minigames and enjoyable little interactions tucked away all through the expertise that can tug arduous at your PlayStation nostalgia- however I’ll depart these unspoiled.
Oh, and talking of the DualSense, Astro Bot is as soon as once more a spectacular commercial of the controller’s distinctive capabilities, to the extent that it’s virtually embarrassing how significantly better it’s at that than most different video games which have launched for the console because it got here out 4 years in the past. From the modifications within the haptic suggestions based mostly on the surfaces that you simply’re strolling on to with the ability to use the DualSense’s gyro controls to manage Astro’s ship to start with of ranges, to skills constructed across the movement controls and adaptive triggers, the sport as soon as once more units an extremely excessive bar for methods to correctly make the most of the DualSense. Very not often have I performed video games the place the DualSense’s options are used effectively sufficient for them to truly stand out as one thing that actively makes the gaming expertise higher. Funnily sufficient, Astro’s Playroom is excessive on that list- and it’s not solely been joined, however even surpassed by Astro Bot.
“Astro Bot is filled with PlayStation winks and nudges that you simply’ll love for those who’ve ever had any affinity for the platform. It’s not, nevertheless, overly reliant on that facet, as a result of though that’s clearly a extremely necessary a part of the sport, Astro Bot can be an unbelievable platformer in its personal proper.”
Again to the sport’s adoration for PlayStation although, as a result of there’s nonetheless lots extra to speak about on that front- as a result of the bevy of easter eggs and VIP bots discovered all through the sport, as glorious as they’re, aren’t even the spotlight. Now and again, Astro Bot will both throw you into total ranges which were impressed by different PlayStation franchises, or offer you skills which might be based mostly on them. For example, the early hours of the sport shall be an absolute deal with for Ape Escape followers. One degree sees you operating round with a large web in your hand as you attempt to chase round and catch mischievous and playful monkeys. One other, in the meantime, arms you a capability that provides you monkey arms that can be utilized to seize onto particular ledges and scale heights.
Clearly, then, Astro Bot is filled with PlayStation winks and nudges (and sometimes outright pokes within the rib) that you simply’ll love for those who’ve ever had any affinity for the platform. It’s not, nevertheless, overly reliant on that facet, as a result of though that’s clearly a extremely necessary a part of the sport, Astro Bot can be an unbelievable platformer in its personal proper, interval. Initially, that shines by in the way in which the sport performs and feels. Significantly, the motion right here is superb, with each single soar, punch, hover, each single motion feeling precisely as exact and responsive because it ought to.
Astro’s fundamental moveset is, in the meantime, bolstered by a over dozen distinctive skills to be discovered all through the sport, every of which brings solely completely different flavours to the gameplay. One capability allows you to puff up and float by the air like a balloon, whereas one other places a canine in your again that acts like a lift to push you ahead. One lets Astro suck up gelatinous liquids after which use them to type non permanent platforms, and one other equips him with spring-loaded boxing gloves, giving him larger attain in fight. Every capability feels drastically distinctive from the others, and every can be nice enjoyable to make use of and fiddle with.
“Astro Bot does an unbelievable job of constructing total ranges round completely different skills in endlessly inventive methods. Simply if you assume you’ve acquired a full understanding of how a sure capability works, the sport effortlessly conjures up a brand new means so that you can use it, masterfully combining easy mechanics in more and more intelligent methods.”
In fact, the extent design is tremendously accountable for that as effectively, due to how effectively the degrees are constructed across the skills that they hand to you. Closely taking cues from the likes of Tremendous Mario 3D World or Tremendous Mario Galaxy on this space, Astro Bot does an unbelievable job of constructing total ranges round completely different skills in endlessly inventive methods. Simply if you assume you’ve acquired a full understanding of how a sure capability works, the sport effortlessly conjures up a brand new means so that you can use it, masterfully combining easy mechanics in more and more intelligent methods. The truth that it manages to take action whereas virtually all the time discovering the proper stability the place issue is anxious can’t be praised sufficient (although there are a lot stiffer challenges to be discovered for individuals who go searching for them, as effectively).
And if the extremely tight platforming, endlessly inventive skills, and top-notch degree design aren’t sufficient for you, every degree can be brimming with tiny little particulars and interactions to find and be delighted by. As such, though you’ll be able to run by most ranges fairly shortly, the sport does reward you for letting your curiosity information you and exploring and attempting to work together with each nook and cranny in each degree. From hidden secrets and techniques and collectibles to even charming little visible flourish with no precise mechanical impression, Astro Bot retains arising with methods to reward your curiosity, and does so in methods which might be assured to carry a smile to your face. If there’s one tiny challenge that I’ve with the extent design, it’s that the checkpoint placement might be mildly and sometimes irritating.
The place Astro Bot’s enemies and fight are involved, issues are considerably much less spectacular. On paper, the sport does boast a considerable amount of completely different enemies to come across and combat, and on paper, they do carry distinctive threats and challenges, and demand completely different methods to be overwhelmed. In follow, nevertheless, Astro Bot’s fight is so easygoing and easy that that a part of the gameplay expertise usually finally ends up feeling like an afterthought. Most enemies die in a short time, which suggests they could not even get the prospect to indicate what’s distinctive about them. Conversely, the truth that Astro tends to die to most foes in a single hit may make the fight really feel artificially tough at instances, though it clearly isn’t. It’s an oddly irritating and underbaked a part of the sport. Fortunately, the boss fights fare a lot, significantly better. From the massive set-piece battles in opposition to the most important bosses that finish each galaxy to the numerous smaller bosses and minibosses that you simply encounter all through the opposite ranges, each single certainly one of these encounters is a pleasure to expertise.
“From the massive set-piece battles in opposition to the most important bosses that finish each galaxy to the numerous smaller bosses and minibosses that you simply encounter all through the opposite ranges, each single certainly one of these encounters is a pleasure to expertise.”
Visually, Astro Bot is unsurprisingly a deal with to behold. Clearly, it’s not the technical masterpiece that Sony’s massive blockbuster releases are usually, nevertheless it nonetheless appears extremely sharp, with its brilliant, vibrant, and vivid artwork design being bolstered by top-notch tech. Extra importantly, the sport runs with near-perfect body price. That’s an extremely necessary factor in a platformer, and in my time with Astro Bot, I’ve had no complaints on this entrance. In the meantime, simply nearly as good because the visuals and efficiency are the audio aspect of the expertise, with a soundtrack that’s fill of songs which have buried their means into my mind and are refusing to depart.
Astro Bot completely captures the acquainted and pleasant joys of a well-made 3D platformer. It immediately proves precisely why so many individuals have been determined for the robotic to get his personal full recreation for therefore a few years, whereas additionally sending him straight into the corporate of nice PlayStation platforming mascots like Sackboy, Ratchet, Crash Bandicoot, and others- and that’s simply with one full recreation! Astro Bot is an excellent platformer, one which by no means runs out of how to carry you pleasure, and I, for one, can not look ahead to Sony and Group Asobi to observe up on it with extra equally glorious Astro platformers.
This recreation was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
