Astro Bot on PS5
With a long legacy of amazing gaming experiences and a leader in the industry, the PlayStation brand has plenty to offer players in the past, present, and future. And while genres such as action adventures and open-world games have become the go-to for many, there hasn’t been a platformer that has made its mark, that is, until now. Team Asobi continues its remarkable run of excellent titles with Astro Bot, easily its magnum opus and a 3D platformer that is amongst the best the genre has ever seen.
If you have enjoyed Astro Bot Rescue Mission or Astro’s Playroom, you already know that you are in for a treat. Taking all of the lessons learned, the developers have put together an adventure that not only showcases their love for all things PlayStation, but also their innate understanding of the platform, its features, and just how to make a brilliant game that captures the attention from start to finish.
Following the events of Rescue Mission, the adorable Astro and his fellow bots are once again besieged by Space Bully Nebulax, who destroys the PlayStation 5 serving as the mothership, and scattering the crew and vital components across space. With the help of a trusty DualSense speeder ship, players will embark on an extended and extremely enjoyable adventure to gather friends and parts alike, leading to a climatic showdown for the ages.
It is by no means an epic story, but that is not needed when the gameplay, level design, and the unique puzzles and references are already of such high quality. Across various galaxies, planets, and 80 levels of platforming and combat, the real astounding thing is no two levels feel alike. The constant surprises and exciting twists Team Asobi has in place for players keep you wanting more, and while Astro can only jump, punch, spin, and hover, this seemingly simple formula is enhanced by power-ups that add another layer of fun to the proceedings in Astro Bot.
This could be in the form of springing punching gloves, making it possible to take down tough walls and enemies, or even swing from one sticky platform to another. Or perhaps a chicken masquerading as a booster pack, allowing Astro to boost vertically into the skies and explore new areas. Even when you encounter a familiar power-up during your travels, the levels are so well put together and take advantage of these tools in various ways that it never feels fatiguing.
Furthermore, it is never just about reaching the end of a level. There are plenty of stranded bots to rescue, many of which are iconic characters from the long history of PlayStation, as well as puzzle pieces that come in handy back on the hub world, and this requires players to stay sharp and make the most of the environment and the powers available to them. Secret paths and hidden areas will often house these collectibles, and with over 300 bots to rescue, there are so many opportunities to get players curious and explore. It is also the perfect way to tug at players’ heartstrings, and it works as a treat for the entirety of the game every single time you recognise a rescued bot.
Gather enough bots, and you will unlock the way to face off against the bosses that are holding the mothership’s parts captive. Among the already impressive lineup of levels, the boss fights are often on another level, again showing off the team’s mastery of making the most out of the features of the PlayStation 5, and the unique nature of Astro Bot. These visual spectacles are made even better because you become an active participant, and the humour and pure joy on display are top-tier.
Best these foes, and you will stumble upon unique bots that celebrate many of the gaming giant’s first-party games. In turn, this unlocks special themed levels focused on them, which are on a whole other level, adding a distinct Astro Bot twist to instantly recognisable characters and their universe. Wielding the Leviathan Axe as a Kratos/Astro hybrid will never get old, and seeking out treasures and shooting down your foes as Astro and Nathan Drake join forces brought plenty of laughs during our time, too.
The way Team Asobi has gone about making Astro Bot accessible is also laudable. Missing a few bots, puzzle pieces, or even a secret exit to alternate levels? Jump back into a stage, and for the low cost of 200 coins, players can be joined by an avian companion who will guide them towards these hidden items. And when you discover what you have been missing, you will likely also marvel at how brilliant the studio has been in designing their levels once more.
From time to time, players will be required to head back to the hub world, and this is a place where the love for all things PlayStation is truly brought to life. Serving as its own level with collectibles and secrets, the way to progress is to gather as many bots as you can, opening up new areas within the world and progressing the overall story. Puzzle pieces are used to complete images, which are then transformed into buildings that serve a variety of functions.
One allows Astro to change its overall look, another paints the DualSense speeder in all sorts of colours, and there is also a safari where the wide variety of animals that call the galaxy home can be admired. Most important of them all is the gacha machine, where your hard-earned coins can be spent to obtain items from paint jobs, costumes, to the diorama pieces that complete a bot’s place in the world. By the time you are done, the entire hub world becomes a living, breathing testament to the history of the consoles and the games, and with each bot being interactable, you can spend hours just reliving legendary moments with illustrious characters.
And if it wasn’t already clear, the visual and audio direction of Astro Bot is simply stellar. Everything in a level looks pristine and refined No one game comes close to mimicking the immersion of feeling everything on your DualSense controller through haptic feedback, the adaptive triggers, and the speaker. When all of it comes together, accompanied by a lively, vibrant score that matches each level perfectly, it is easy to see just how captivating the entire game is.
It is no exaggeration to call Astro Bot a perfect game, with the only nitpicky thing to call out is that it can be a little too easy. Sure, there are shorter, one-off levels that amp up the challenge considerably, and but with practise, nothing is truly that difficult for this new adventure. Over the 12-15 hours with Astro, you are absolutely going to have a ball of a time, but just set your expectations right when it comes to testing your platforming and combat mettle.
From its first reveal to finally putting down the controller and collecting the Platinum trophy for Astro Bot, it has been a delightful experience that infuses lovely nostalgia with a perfect package of gameplay, design, and a true celebration of the genre and the history of PlayStation. Even with our high expectations, Astro Bot has smashed them to pieces en route to becoming a powerhouse that rivals the all-time classics. This is one of the best games of the year, and everyone who can should find a way to play it.
Astro Bot is available for the PlayStation 5 for SG$79.90.
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Summary
The perfect celebration of all things PlayStation, Team Asobi marks its return with Astro Bot, a 3D platformer worthy to be called one of the genre’s best.
