For 30 years, Sony has given us a vast library of top-quality PlayStation games, but there has never been a mascot platformer among them to rival the heights that Nintendo’s Mario regularly reaches. Packed with dozens of colourful levels and experimental abilities, Astro’s latest outing thrusts him onto centre stage, joined by a supporting cast of PlayStation’s past heroes to provide hours of pure joy. Bursting to the seams with charm, Astro Bot is an inventive, nostalgia-fuelled platformer of the highest order. ASTRO BOT is the award-winning, critically acclaimed platforming adventure, exclusive to PlayStation®5.
I can’t recall the last time I had so much fun jumping on platforms. Every action I performed with the little robot was not only incredibly satisfying but also addictive—almost like a drug. At this point, I should also mention the amazing capabilities of the DualSense controller. When our robot walks on a metal surface, we can feel it through the controller. When we launch our little ‘spaceship,’ we experience resistance on the triggers. All these features enhance the sensory experience of the game and showcase the power of ninth-generation technology.
They’re usually just tied up or waving for help or, in the case of Solid Snake, just hanging impotently from a tree. The characters make for fun rewards for completing a level, or finding a secret, but as a tribute to the games they originate from they’re almost entirely useless. Although half of the bots you’re rescuing look identical to Astro, just without the cape, the other 150 are all based on characters from other games. Or rather they’re normal bots cosplaying as characters from other games. These cameos are far more extensive than we expected and include not just deep cuts from Sony’s back catalogue but references to games from Activision, Konami, Embracer Group, Atlus, Bandai Namco, Capcom, and others.
An unconscious Astro and the mothership crash-land onto a desert planet while his crew and the mothership’s core systems are scattered across the universe. Astro’s Playroom is just pure, unadulterated fun, and Astro Bot somehow manages to better it in just about every way. Playing as the titular Astro Bot, it’s a title that finds you encountering a rude alien as you fly through space in your PS5 console-shaped craft. Soon your slick method of transport has been robbed of its important innards, causing it to crash land on a desolate planet. Now you’ve got the arduous job of visiting the star systems nearby, rescuing your robotic friends that got flung far and wide in the whole affair, and ultimately rebuild your ship.
Football Player – Pro Evolution Soccer
Astro Bot crams in nearly two dozen boss encounters, some that repeat in certain ways, but all of them are truly special events. From flying atop a bird as you smash away at its helmet, to a Djinn or a Gorilla, these fights are simple in their design, but due to the wondrous abilities and the slick controls, are engaging and often magical. That said, the final battle is likely the weakest, coming across as the less creative design of the entire bunch, which is a shame since the game goes to great lengths to show us Nebulax between each world. Still, the other fights are very impressive and constantly shine. Other abilities, like the Monkey Climb has you scaling walls with long extended arms.
Reviews
Proceed through the level like normal until you reach the large mountain. As you climb up using your monkey backpack, you’ll see a map carved on a wall with a red X near the skull. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Most of the Astro Bot cameo characters are pretty easy to identify, but there are a few VIP Bots who are obscure and thus can be difficult to place. For more PS5 game deals, check out the list of PlayStation console exclusives that are still up for grabs for major discounts this holiday.
Crash – Crash Bandicoot
Many hope Sony will simply let Team Asobi do its thing and are perfectly content giving the next game the time it needs. You must complete the Great Master Challenge in order to find and collect Chop Chop Master Onion Special Bot. As the name implies, this is one of the most difficult levels in Astro Bot, so be sure to check out our full walkthrough for tips on how to complete the Great Master Challenge. At the top, you’ll see a train of enemies and another hourglass.
Regardless, Astro Bot has that Nintendo feel of Mario’s best, and a controller that has features that are additive and immersive toward the whole experience. Each star system also has a level that’s specially themed around a popular PlayStation franchise, allowing Astro to make use of unique skills for a short while. Needless to say, Astro Bot keeps you on your toes, and sometimes challenges you to think outside the box in order to solve a problem or find a well-hidden secret.
It has the boundless cheer of a group of people coming together and trying to be their best selves. LUCK8 in all, Astro Bot is definitely one of 2024’s best games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it were considered to be the year’s best. If there were anything to criticize about the game, it may just be the game’s difficulty and its exclusivity.
Dualsense use are be fine, level design/movesets look done before. @nicc83 I would say around the hour mark if you just do the main levels and that’s it, but if you want to see and do everything, likely 20 hours or more. Obviously it depends on how much exploring you do and how much you’re bothered about collecting everything — it’s a very meaty 3D platformer in my opinion and a really nice length. It’s a perfect recipe for a 3D platformer, encouraging you to explore every nook and cranny in search of those adorable little droids. Team Asobi has a special treat for Astro Bot players today, as a new update is available for download now, and this adds new levels and bots for free. One power-up — which I won’t describe beyond saying it’s really cute since figuring it out is a big part of the fun here — truly captures the essence of Astro Bot.
One level even features a singing tree, and its song is something I’ll be humming for a long time. That, in a nutshell, is what the first minutes of the game look like. There’s nothing beyond familiar forms and frameworks, yet it still manages to bring a smile to our faces.
