Astro Bot Review

I’ve now experienced using an elephant’s trunk to blow honey bubbles, jumping on them to reach chickens hiding in eggs, and even sucking out egg yolk with that same trunk – and I can happily say, it’s been a blast! For 30 years, Sony has delivered incredible PlayStation games, but they never had a mascot platformer to rival Nintendo’s Mario.

Crash Bandicoot gave it a shot, Jak and Daxter had a good run, and even Knack made an effort. But now, Astro Bot has finally arrived as a true contender. With vibrant levels & unique abilities, Astro shines as the main star, bringing in familiar faces from PlayStation’s history. Astro Bot is a fun-filled, nostalgic platformer packed with charm.

If 2020’s Astro’s Playroom was a playful museum, then Astro Bot feels like a thrilling theme park, offering exciting surprises at every turn. Even though it might not always reach the same creative heights as classic Mario games like Super Mario Galaxy or Odyssey, it nevertheless offers new & enjoyable experience that is unique. With their creative stages that capture spirit of vintage platformers, Team Asobi has created visually breathtaking experiences that never come across as cheap tricks.

Astro Bot has some really memorable stages, such a time-bending casino, a fun stage modeled like a Japanese bathhouse with a smart sponge system, and a level where the flooring and walls change depending on whether a day or night button is touched.

The latter stands out for its brilliant use of 3D space and feels like it was pulled right from the pages of Fez. Playing Astro Bot feels like stepping into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory – a place of pure imagination, where creativity and joy are everywhere, but without the risk of child endangerment! Instead of dangerous chocolate pipes or fizzy lifting drinks, you’ll find sinkholes that lead to treasure and an inflatable friend who helps you reach floating platforms.

Each level feels like an adventure, filled with surprises and fun mechanics that keep things fresh and exciting. Game’s design is full of playful experiments that create a sense of wonder at every turn. Whether you’re bouncing around in bathhouses or exploring shifting landscapes, Astro Bot is a joyful experience that brings out the magic of classic platformers in a whole new way.

Way it fizzes and pings in perfect tune with the action on screen makes it feel like popping candy has secretly made its way into your controller. With its plethora of capabilities that allow you to become fully immersed in the game, Astro Bot is the greatest demonstration of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller. Adaptive triggers press under your fingers, giving you a pulsing feedback. Raindrops feel like a light tickle on your palms. The motion controls are so smooth that I found myself accidentally swaying while steering Astro’s ship.

To fully enjoy the experience, I’d also suggest turning up the volume on your controller’s speaker if you usually have it muted – the audio details are not to be missed! Music may not have a catchy tune like GPU song from Astro’s Playroom but the soundtrack is still enjoyable and consistent. Every sound & vibration is perfectly timed with action, making game even more fun and immersive.

Some Levels Are Linear but Others Are More Challenging and Fun

The soundtrack perfectly matches the levels, which may seem simple at first but soon reveal hidden secrets and depths. Most levels are straightforward and linear, but some go beyond that, offering complex, puzzle-like areas to explore. These sandbox-like sections give players the chance to hunt for collectibles, adding more depth. While it doesn’t reach the vastness of Mario Odyssey’s open levels, Astro Bot still has enough hidden corners to explore and enjoy.

Finding of more levels within already-existing levels is even more thrilling. Like buried treasure, these secret warp points take you to new places like the “Lost Galaxy.” Through the course of Astro Bot’s approximately nine-hour voyage, new environments are introduced via this innovative design that resembles a Russian doll, guaranteeing surprises.

It’s a fun, constantly evolving adventure that never gets stale.

One of the best surprises in Astro’s journey is the new powers he gains along the way. His basic movements, like jumping, double-jumping, and hovering, are smooth and well-tuned. However, the real excitement comes from the special abilities he gets in each level. A standout is the Twin Frog gloves, which allow Astro to swing using their sticky tongues.

They can provide a fun combat aspect by firing back bullets at adversaries. Another great feature is the mouse function, which allows you to explore big places like shelves and leaves by shrinking Astro to a little size. It really feels like you’re in “Toy Story” mode, searching for hidden discoveries.

Clever reimaginings even well-known powers from past Astro experiences. Consider Monkey Climber as an example. You can now throw pebbles and pound the ground with satisfying force thanks to help of a miniature robot ape with enormous hands which improves on Playroom’s climbing feature. The game keeps introducing fresh ideas and gadgets right up until the very end. While some powers are reused more often than I’d prefer, they’re given new contexts and slightly different uses in later levels. For instance, the Twin Frog gloves make a comeback in a cave-like setting, where their swinging ability shines even more as you pull enemies from the ground.

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be a huge variety of enemies, with many looking similar but dressed differently to match their environments. They’re all defeated using basic jump and hit combos. However, as you progress, more creative foes are introduced. A standout is anthropomorphic playing card that throws clubs and spades at you which you can jump on to move closer and deliver a powerful attack. These new enemies add depth and keep the combat fresh as game progresses.

Astro Bot is filled with light touches of irony and slapstick humor, keeping the playful tone alive from start to finish. One of the fun elements is appearance of over 150 familiar faces from PlayStation’s vast library, with characters like Lombaxes, tomb raiders and even a certain rapping dog popping up. Real treat is spotting some lesser-known characters, like Mister Mosquito, in this quirky world. You never know where you’ll find them—imagine rescuing a tactical espionage hero in a dessert-filled land called Creamy Canyon, a far cry from the cold, industrial settings of Shadow Moses. These little moments of humor and surprise make the game feel fresh and fun throughout.

Many PlayStation characters make quick, charming cameos while a few take on more significant roles. I won’t spoil all of them, but Kratos from God of War is one that really stands out. You get to wield his famous Leviathan axe in a level designed around his world, with a frosty blade that boomerangs around the scene. These moments are where Astro Bot truly shines, blending nostalgia with fresh ideas, letting you briefly step into iconic games in a miniaturized form. It’s like experiencing old classics in a new way, with remixed heroic soundtracks and gameplay that feels familiar yet exciting. These sections are some of the highlights of the game, though I do wish there were a few more of them.

From the very start, you can see the love and reverence Team Asobi has for PlayStation’s history. The game begins by letting you select a save file using one of three original PlayStation memory cards, and you’re immediately placed on a PS5-shaped mothership. The story itself is light—the mothership crashes on a desert planet after an alien attack, and Astro must travel the galaxy to recover its lost parts and rescue his crew. It’s simple, but it serves as the perfect backdrop for Astro’s fun-filled journey through a world full of nostalgia and creativity.

From the very first frame, it’s clear how much love Team Asobi has for Sony’s console history. Astro Bot doesn’t rely on a deep story; instead, it’s all about guiding a cheerful little robot on fun adventures. Though the game lacks heavy storytelling, it still sparks nostalgia as you encounter familiar characters from PlayStation’s past, like reconnecting with old friends.

Crash site hub world is filled with areas to explore and as you progress, you’ll get to customize your ship and outfit. Return of the gacha machine is a fun way to spend the coins you collect, rewarding you with collectibles like mini-dioramas & memorabilia that fill up the hub. This feature not only visualizes your progress but also adds charm as the PlayStation-themed bots find their way back home. While it’s not a brand-new feature, it remains enjoyable and satisfying.

I completed the main story in around nine hours but had only collected 206 out of 301 possible bots. After finishing the main levels, there’s still plenty to do, like finding the rest of the crew, expanding the hub, and uncovering secrets hidden among the stars. It took me another nine hours to 100% complete the game and earn the platinum trophy. Though the main levels aren’t too challenging, some obstacles and enemies did take a few tries, but generous checkpoints ensured I never lost too much progress.

For an extra challenge, there are trial-like stages hidden throughout the overworld. These stages are full of fast-paced obstacles, enemies, and tricky jumps designed to test your skills. These are the hardest levels in game without any checkpoints especially the last one. It’s a relentless ordeal that makes you apply all you’ve learned, making it an enjoyable and demanding experience.

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Conclusion: Astro Bot Review

Astro Bot kept me smiling from start to finish. With its creative levels and fun abilities game is full of joy and never feels dull or repetitive. While anyone can enjoy it, longtime PlayStation fans will love the nostalgic nods throughout. Team Asobi has truly embraced the “play has no limits” spirit, creating a platformer that can stand alongside Nintendo’s best which is the highest praise I can give.