Astro Bot [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

The sense of joy I felt when playing Astro Bot was simply unrivalled, with this not only arguably the best game that’s available on the PlayStation 5, but also one of the best platforming adventures that I have ever played.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Before getting into the meat and bones of this review, I will note that I’m going to try and avoid spoilers for both the mechanics of levels and the characters you encounter when playing. This does mean that there are a lot of details that I won’t reveal, but honestly? You’re better off simply experiencing it all for yourself, especially if you’re a long-time PlayStation fan. The less you know before going in, the better, but I will say this: Astro Bot is a 10/10 game and a must play for everyone who owns a PlayStation 5. If you were tempted to buy it, stop reading this review and just BUY it… you won’t regret it.

The narrative of Astro Bot is simple yet endearing, with the titular hero loving life as he flies his way through space in his PlayStation 5-shaped spaceship… bliss. Disaster strikes when an alien creature attacks his ship and steals its components though, all whilst blasting his little robotic allies across the far-reaching galaxy and sending him crash-landing down to an abandoned planet. After awakening thanks to a DualSense-powered refresh, Astro journeys across the galaxy to not only re-build his ship but also save his buddies along the way.

What follows is an absolutely joyous adventure that’s packed with excellent platforming mechanics, gorgeous worlds to explore, and a whole ton of PlayStation-themed easter eggs and surprises that’ll keep a massive grin on the faces of players that have spent time with Sony’s consoles over the last thirty-years. It’s such a feel-good experience, and whilst I’ll admit that some of the throwbacks will be appreciated more if you’re a little older, there’s something here for everyone.

The core gameplay of Astro Bot is a real treat, with Astro able to run, jump, hover (with his special foot lasers), and unleash a cool combo of punches to any baddies that get in his way. The controls are intuitive and accessible enough to ensure it’s easy enough for just about anybody to pick up and play immediately, with a sense of familiarity found even if you didn’t play the brilliant Astro’s Playroom that came pre-loaded on your PlayStation 5.

“Astro Bot isn’t only the best game on the PlayStation 5, but it’s also one of the best platformers of all time.”

It’s when building upon that original experience in Astro’s Playroom that the gameplay of Astro Bot really shines, with players frequently utilising a variety of gear that grant Astro special abilities across each level. Each brings something unique to the fray that plays into that level’s design, whether it’s when using a robot dog to smash through objects, a PlayStation VR-shaped time stopper to slow down time, a monkey that helps you climb up banana obstacles on walls, the elephant that’ll suck up special substances to create unique platforms, or the octo-balloon (a personal favourite) that inflates Astro and sees him float upwards, just to name a few. They each add a whole new dynamic to the levels you play through, with the platforming challenges you face continually evolving and testing the player in different ways.

What makes these abilities feel more special is the sheer creativity and unpredictability found in the level design. It was rare that any two levels would feel the same in Astro Bot, and whilst they do ultimately boil down to going from point A to B, the path you follow is full of surprises that ensure that the fun never stops. Each level is absolutely stunning too, with different themes used that are absolutely oozing in personality and little details that help bring everything to life.

Each level brings with them different bots to find (more on that in a bit), puzzles pieces that unlock additional features, and even hidden pathways to bonus levels, whilst players also get the opportunity to unlock special challenge levels that really up the ante. Astro Bot isn’t especially challenging in itself and there are plenty of checkpoints to ensure you don’t lose progress, but some of the challenge levels will really put your skills to the test. It’s always satisfying though, especially since they often utilise some of the more unique platforming mechanics of the game in more methodical and rewarding ways.

Of course, whilst Astro Bot is an outstanding platforming adventure in its own right, what really makes it shine is the way that it embraces the rich history of the PlayStation platform. Each level you play through brings with it a variety of bots to rescue along the way, and whilst a lot of these are just ordinary bots, over 150 of them are based around characters that have appeared on PlayStation consoles from across the generations. It was always an absolute delight to encounter one of these, with so many familiar faces to meet that span so many different titles. Again, I don’t want to spoil too much here (though if you’ve been on social media at all over the last week I’d imagine you’ll have seen a lot of the cameos already), but you’ll definitely see some fan favourites and even a few little surprises…

Check out some screenshots down below:

Of course, with Team Asobi at the helm, it wouldn’t be enough to just have cameos. Certain characters also have levels dedicated to them where players utilise the special abilities of some of the PlayStation’s most iconic leads. I absolutely LOVED these levels, with the look, feel, and abilities you use really bringing together the best of both the Astro Bot gameplay loop and the titles that they represent. The Gatcha Lab from Astro’s Playroom also makes a return, allowing players to unlock special items for the cameo characters. These aren’t just cosmetic additions though, with the player then able to utilise these items to share small yet charming interactions with these characters that really see their personalities shine through. Again, I don’t want to spoil anything here, but let’s just say a Metal Gear Solid villain’s item and a certain prince’s ball stood out as some of my favourites…

There’s simply so much to say about Astro Bot that I could write thousands upon thousands of words singing its praises. Heck, I haven’t mentioned the unique gyro controls that add more finesse to some sections of levels, the brilliant DualSense implementation that makes every aspect of the world more immersive, the epic boss encounters that utilise multiple creative phases as you take on gigantic opponents in set-piece filled battles, or the OUTSTANDING soundtrack that’s just… perfect. It’s just a very special adventure and one that I’ve loved getting to be a part of.

Developer: Team Asobi
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed)
Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/astro-bot/