Astro Bot review: an engrossing and joyful platformer that’s one of 2024’s best games
Platform reviewed: PlayStation 5
Available on: PlayStation 5
Release date: September 6, 2024
Sony surprised players with the genre-defining Astro Bot Rescue Mission back in 2018. Japan Studio’s PSVR captured our hearts with fun platforming and brilliant use of the DualShock 4 controller. While 2020’s Astro’s Playroom was a glorified tech demo for the PlayStation 5, it still had the charm and soul of its predecessor and left me wanting more.
And more has finally come. With Astro Bot, Asobi Studio has created one of the best modern platformers in history, and definitely one of the best PS5 games going. Now with no virtual headset required! Platform mascot giants like Mario and Sonic really need to watch out for Astro, as he can stand toe to toe with them. Astro Bot is also a celebration of PlayStation’s history, and the game brings plenty of nostalgic memories to the fore. The game makes me feel excited about Astro’s future but also makes me appreciate the past.
Astro Bot starts off with our adorable and lovely mascot Astro as he flies in a PS5-inspired spaceship but gets caught by a giant green alien that rips it apart. Crash landing on a desert planet, Astro now has to scour different galaxies to find all the missing parts and put the spaceship back together again. While Astro Bot isn’t a story-heavy game, the setup is simple enough for a family-friendly adventure that lets the most important aspect do the talking: the action and gameplay.
A journey across the universe
Astro’s unique abilities are built to complement the game’s colorful and astounding level design. From a chicken jetpack to clapping monkey cymbals, there’s always a sense of awe and wonder about how you’re going to progress through the levels or find a collectible with them. For example, there’s a level completely dedicated to a mouse ability that makes Astro small, and Asobi designed some really clever ways to hide collectibles.
There are a few instances where you have to crawl under something while in Astro’s small form, then switch to being normal-sized again to uncover the secret underneath. Another ability has Astro curl up into an indestructible ball like Samus and cross dangerous areas that he normally couldn’t like an entire path filled with spikes. Astro Bot constantly rewards you for thinking outside the box and keeps you engaged throughout each level.
Astro Bot’s ingenious level design makes every planet feel distinct and memorable. The sheer creativity in designing Astro’s abilities around each of the levels continually keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.
The main collectibles in Astro Bot consist of Astro finding other bots scattered throughout the universe’s levels. Some are plain, but many others are cameos from PlayStation’s first-party franchises and also quite a few third-party ones. There’s nothing more exciting than finding a cameo bot and discovering which franchise it's from. Astro can also find map pieces that help unlock new features, such as camera mode and a gacha machine. Don’t worry though, no real-world currency is involved. Instead, in-game coins are commonly spread around levels and can be spent on the gacha machine to purchase new cosmetics like costumes for Astro and skins for his ship.
One type of collectible I found annoying was the portals to Lost Galaxy levels, which act as a type of bonus level. In a few of the normal levels, you can find a portal that leads to a brand-new level in a separate galaxy. When this happens, the game treats the current level as complete, meaning you have to start it over even if you didn’t get to the intended normal end. It detracts from the game’s pacing a bit, especially if you’re trying to find as many collectibles as you can the first time around on a new level.
A little help
Astro Bot also takes advantage of the DualSense Wireless Controller to a huge degree. The haptic feedback feels lifelike as Astro jumps onto platforms with a thud. It doubles as an indicator of whether you’ve landed correctly, which is helpful for a platformer because you need to be as precise as possible. Elsewhere, every time Astro punches an enemy or shoots laser beams from his tiny legs, there’s a particular vibration that matches the action that runs through the DualSense, making the experience feel more immersive.
The adaptive triggers are put to good use too. For example, when Astro descends into a level riding his PS5 DualSense-shaped ship, you can hold down on the L2 and R2 triggers to fire off thrusters to move faster. Some of the collectibles can actually only be found this way, making it a compelling reason to start the level even earlier. A few of Astro’s new abilities, such as the frog-shaped boxing gloves, get a feeling of springy tension with the adaptive triggers when he’s punching enemies from a distance, too.
Fortunately, after completing a level at least once, on subsequent attempts you can spend a few coins that you’ve accumulated to summon a bird that puts out a signal when an undiscovered collectible is nearby. It’s a convenient way to mop up any remaining collectibles you missed the first time around and makes finding collectibles much less of a headache.
Astro Bot’s main campaign can be completed in between 10-15 hours. Completionists, however, might be looking at 20 or a little bit more hours to conquer everything the game has to offer, including finding all its collectibles. The game isn’t difficult by any means, but there are a few surprises at the end that might make you want to pull your hair out. So in rare instances, player skill is involved.
The relatively short run time for Astro Bot might leave some wanting more, especially since it’s a full-priced game, but those hours are filled with some of the best modern platforming gameplay ever. You won’t regret a single hour or penny.
Accessibility
Astro Bot has a good amount of accessibility options, such as the ability to change all the gyro controls to stick, in order to accommodate those who can’t perform motions. There are also plenty of visual aids like aiming reticles that can help players perform specific actions easier. Camera options allow you to do things such as recenter the camera.
Should you play Astro Bot?
Play it if...
You love platforming games and nostalgia
Astro Bot’s level design is unparalleled and surpasses its predecessors. It also expertly blends PlayStation’s legacy into a fun and family-friendly game. You won't find another game like this.
You enjoy games that embrace the DualSense's features
While some games implement the bare minimum with DualSense features, Astro Bot was made with them in mind. Asobi Studio went all out in trying to make the game as immersive as possible right down to the smallest details, and the results are a huge success.
You’re looking for a short and sweet adventure
Astro Bot bucks the trend of many developers and publishers wanting their games to last forever. Astro Bot only stays around for a few hours, but it’s an unforgettable experience.
Don't play it if...
You don’t want to feel joy
This might sound like a joke but I’m not really kidding: Astro Bot brings unbridled joy to anyone who plays it, so if you're after more serious affairs, you'll have to move on.
How I reviewed Astro Bot
I played about 22 hours of Astro Bot on PlayStation 5 with a DualSense Wireless Controller, and I’m currently on my way to earning the Platinum trophy. I played it through my PlayStation Portal as well when I was cleaning up the rest of the collectibles after beating the main campaign.
I played the game on an Insignia 50" Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD TV, using the Razer Leviathan V2 X Bluetooth gaming speaker. I also recently revisited Astro’s Playroom to check out the new content updates Sony added in, mainly finding the new collectible bots. Astro Bot takes all of Rescue Mission and Playroom’s ideas up a notch.
First reviewed August/September 2024
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