The star game of the new mascot and image of PlayStation
Image credit: PlayStation / Sony Interactive Entertainment promotional art.
Source: PlayStation
Summary
- Name of the game: Astro Bot
- Launch date: September 6, 2024
- Developer: Team Asobi
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platforms: PlayStation 5
- Genre: 3D Platform / Adventure
- Context: Spiritual sequel to Astro's Playroom and direct heir to Sony's platform legacy. It is a title that celebrates the history of PlayStation through levels inspired by its most iconic franchises.
History and narrative
Astro embarks on a mission to rescue his fellow bots lost in six different galaxies. While the game doesn't have a complex narrative, it serves perfectly well as a cute and charming thread for the entire adventure. It doesn't focus on telling you a deep story, but rather on paying homage to PlayStation history, just as Astro's Playroom did.
In my case, I did want to defeat the final alien because it appears out of nowhere to bother our little robots, like a bully. The idea is to recover the parts of the bots' ship, which is a PS5, following a similar logic to the previous game, where you completed worlds and got one of the five PlayStation consoles. Here the same thing happens, but with parts of a PS5.
The characters, although they do not speak, convey a lot of charisma with expressive animations. The universe is full of references to PlayStation classics, which will delight fans of the brand. It is, without a doubt, a love letter to more than 25 years of console history. I've been fortunate enough to get my hands on all five consoles, and I can say that it's fascinating how nostalgia works so well in this game.
Gameplay
The gameplay is based on classic 3D platforming, with an emphasis on exploration, precision and creative use of DualSense. The game introduces gadgets such as jetpacks, an elastic frog and a robot dog, each with unique mechanics.
My favorite, without a doubt, was the one about turning you into an almost indestructible metallic heavy ball, and how it applies to every level where it appears. In second place, I would put Astroesponja, which gave me a lot of laughs. Each of these gadgets feels great and serves their function very well. I think some will be more enjoyable than others, but they all add variety, making it not just about running, jumping and punching, but a more strategic and interactive approach that makes the levels more fun.
The controls are extremely responsive and smooth. The utilization of DualSense (adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, microphone, etc.) is exemplary and central to the experience. It is admirable to have a game that implements all of these features so seamlessly. That said, the interaction with the controller is very similar to Astro's Playroom. In fact, I couldn't blow the controller, which was a novel mechanic that doesn't appear here. Many of the ideas come directly from Playroom, only here they are expanded upon.
In the time trial modes, I felt that some mechanics are not well exploited. For example, you have to go fast, but there are tools that, by design, don't allow you to do that at all, and this happens in at least a couple of levels. There are also gadgets or mechanics from the previous game that come up very little, while the new ones are repeated more. It makes sense, but I would have liked a better balance, because they all bring something different.
The learning curve is very accessible for beginners, with clear mechanics and natural tutorials. In short, intuitive gameplay for anyone. The bosses and mini-bosses are very well done, generally simple, but entertaining. My favorite was the battle against the octopus, and among the mini-bosses I highlight the genie and the three little birds that you have to suck to defeat.
At the end of each galaxy, there is a tribute level, such as one from God of War where Astro fights as a Kratos bot. These sections stand out a lot for their creativity and variety. Personally, I didn't like the homage level where Astro is a ball, but the best one without a doubt is the Uncharted one. They really surprise.
Graphics and visual design
It has top-notch graphic quality: detailed models, vibrant effects and smooth animations. The game runs at a stable 60 fps in 4K resolution, and some views are beautiful for the kind of game it is. I especially remember the level where you have to relieve the temperature of a volcano, and the water that forms there, how it looks left me impressed, to the point that I even wished I was there.
The art style is cartoon polished, very colorful and stylized. It reminds me of Pixar for its visual charisma. Enemy and boss designs might look simple, but they serve their purpose, as the game focuses more on level design than characters. Still, the bots representing iconic PlayStation characters are very creative and humorous. They make you want to rescue them all just to see what animation they have or how they are characterized.
The level design is visually spectacular. Some of them are so beautiful that they simply motivate you to keep playing, because each time they surprise you with something new. Although, due to a camera angle issue, sometimes it is difficult to appreciate certain visual details, and by going straight to the goal you can overlook interesting curiosities.
Compared to other AAA games, this one is no slouch in terms of graphic quality and creativity.
Sound and music
The soundtrack is very varied, from epic orchestrations to catchy electronic music. Each level has its own distinctive and memorable theme. Still, I have to say that the music in Astro's Playroom was more memorable to me, and I think it's because the sound effects in this game are so prevalent that they overshadow the music. If you set your DualSense to maximum volume, the effects sound so loud that the music goes unnoticed, which can affect your appreciation of the soundtrack.
Regarding sound effects, from Astro's footsteps to the sounds of the environment, absolutely everything has an effect. This reinforces the immersion and demonstrates the level of detail and love they put into the game.
Bots don't speak, but they use funny noises and sound expressions that perfectly communicate their emotions. Despite not having a voice, you empathize with them, it's something similar to having a pet: they don't speak, but their noises and looks say it all.
Difficulty and accessibility
I think that in terms of difficulty it is easy for anyone. There are levels that are a bit more complicated, but with a few tries they are achievable. It is perfect for children, but also offers optional challenges that can entertain more advanced players.
In terms of accessibility, it includes very good options such as text enlargement, support for color-blind mode, and a mode for people who suffer from motion sickness, which caught my attention. It also allows to customize controls. Very thoughtful in this aspect.
Additional content
The campaign can take about 10 hours, or less if you just go straight to finishing it, although I don't recommend it because each level is worth your time. If you go through all the content, it can take 20 hours or more.
It has very good replayability, with lots of collectibles, timed challenges and secrets to discover. There are speed challenges, puzzle rooms and an interactive museum area where you can see artifacts from PlayStation history.
Currently there are 5 additional levels and a Christmas one, all of excellent quality and free. In addition, more free levels have already been confirmed, which I appreciate very much as a player.
Technical Aspects
On PS5 it performs flawlessly: instant loads, no FPS drops, and minimal loading times thanks to the SSD.
I had a couple of bugs, curiously both in the last level, called The Great Challenge. In the part where the glass floor breaks when you step on it, it happened to me that Astro instead of falling, rose, and in another attempt, the camera was completely out of focus. But other than that, everything worked perfectly. Its optimization takes full advantage of the PS5 hardware, especially DualSense.
Value for money
Its launch price was USD $59.99, which is curious, since many games came out that year at $69.99. It seems to me that its value for money is more than justified. Its length may seem a bit short, but it has an impressive level of detail, and you can tell it was a project made with a lot of love.
It's cheaper than other AAAs, and offers a more polished experience than many more expensive games, so it's totally worth it. I bought it on a deal with $10 off and I must say it was completely worth every penny.
Trophies / Achievements
- Platinum obtained: Yes
- Percentage of trophies: 100%
- Estimated time: 15-20 hours
- Platinum difficulty: 3/10. It is easy, however, there are a few level challenges that you will have to repeat, nothing impossible and without seeing guides find some bots are well hidden, although not impossible to explore well and after a while you grab the logic of how the developers hid them.
Conclusion
Astro Bot is a masterpiece of the platform genre. It combines technical precision, creativity and nostalgia with outstanding execution. It is one of the most accessible and charming games of the generation, for both new and veteran players of the PlayStation ecosystem. A game that reminds us that fun is why we love video games. Despite how well I have expressed myself about the game in my opinion I would not have chosen it as Game of the Year (GOTY) because it seems to me that the game takes a lot from the previous one and improves it, as I understand the awards reward innovation and it was much more innovative for me a demo game like Astro's playroom than this one. No doubt it's a masterpiece, but I don't consider it the best game of 2024.
My final rating for Astro Bot is:
4.6/5
