With so many options to choose from when it comes to the world of video games, sometimes, you just need something wholesome and pure, and that’s exactly how we felt as we played through several levels in an early preview of Astro Bot, the Team ASOBI-led sequel to one of the best PS VR experiences to date that builds on the critical reception of the PS5 technical showcase, Astro’s Playroom.
Fresh off its surprise reveal in May, the high bar that had been set previously seems to have been gone even higher, with the titular, adorable mascot given a much more fleshed-out adventure to strut his stuff. And that’s just the trailer itself. In action, though, and it all becomes an even more enjoyable process.
Across four different levels and two harder challenges, the basic platforming controls of Astro Bot made us feel instantly at home, jumping and punching as we navigated moving platforms, scurrying enemies, and short, intuitive puzzles. Arriving in a new area is always a visual treat, and once you get going, there is almost always something interesting to discover around every corner.
Never too long and almost perfectly paced, there is a linear path that will get players to see most of the sights in any given level. But, then, the game throws in a new gadget or tool that works within the context to bolster the fun factor even further. In Construction Derby, for example, a handy magnet allows Astro Bot to attract iron bars, forming a ball of destruction that opens up a new path ahead.
For those who like to peek into every corner, that’s where collecting all of the stranded bots and missing puzzle pieces can truly shine. Beyond the usual vanilla bots that can be rescued, there is also a healthy handful of iconic PlayStation characters thrown into the mix of 300, making it a thrill to hunt them down and enjoy the quirky references here and there.
The DualSense, or Dual Speeder, remains an integral part of the adventure, adding another layer of immersion in both peaceful and hectic times, and acting as the in-game mode of transport as you jet from planet to planet, galaxy to galaxy. The haptic feedback, the rumble, and the various sounds all work in tandem to draw you further into this world.
The same goes for the various levels and their design. The platforming can be deceptively simple, and the flourishes and little additions that fill the world are always going to be plentiful and endearing. Nothing ever feels too forced or out of place, and even the new abilities rewarded to our hero goes down the same path. Froggy boxing gloves are great when going up against a giant octopus, but they don’t work elsewhere, so off they go as Barkster the dog takes centre stage as a jetpack for another level. Instead of having to worry about increasingly complicated abilities, that short burst of freshness is always addictive.
With over 80 levels to play through, just having the belief that each of them will likely be of the same or even higher quality than what was shown during this preview is enough to make us hope for Astro Bot to become a true pillar of the PlayStation experience. There is just something special about the way this plucky hero captures hearts and minds, and if it is a path to both the nostalgic past and the exciting future, we are all here for the journey.
Astro Bot will launch on the PlayStation 5 on September 6.
Pingback: Awesome New Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Controller Arrives in September ‣ SavePoint Gaming