Review of Astro Bot

Initial release date: September 6, 2024

Platform: PlayStation 5

Series: Astro Bot

License: proprietary license

Composer: Kenneth C M Young

Genres: Platform game, Adventure game, Fighting game

Developer: Team ASOBI

Astro Bot, a small platforming robot that bounces across various landscapes rescuing other bots in danger, was first introduced to the globe in 2018. This first entry in a future household brand, however, was solely a PlayStation VR game, so those who were not immersed in virtual worlds, such as me, missed out. Two years later, another Astro game debuted, but this time it was far more accessible. When every lucky PS5 owner booted up their new console, they were greeted by Astro’s Playroom, and the short platforming experience was almost universally praised for its use of the new DualSense controller and its delightful references to other important games in the PlayStation’s history. Astro Bot is back for the third time in Astro Bot, a new full-sized 3D platformer that is a joyful celebration of gaming in general.

Our hero Astro Bot begins their new adventure flying through space on a PS5-shaped starship, but an encounter with a terrible extraterrestrial sends them crashing onto an unfamiliar planet. With the ship now missing some critical components, it’s up to our lovely electronic hero to go from world to planet in quest of parts and other robots who can assist in repairing the console/intergalactic vehicle and putting an end to the alien threat. It’s a basic plot that throws you right into the action and onto a plethora of delightfully themed platforming landscapes.

If you’ve played Astro’s Playroom, you’ll feel right at home controlling Astro in this new adventure. Astro’s powers are nearly comparable to those from the last game, so you’ll be hopping, hovering, and spinning your way around the cosmos. It will only take you a minute to feel completely at ease maneuvering our protagonist through the game’s astonishingly different stages in search of collectibles, after which the real fun will begin.

Variety is the name of the game in Astro Bot, with each self-contained and mainly linear environment offering something fresh to explore. Whether you’re freeing a gigantic robot from its restraints or climbing up a singing tree, you can’t help but smile, and thanks to a variety of imaginative powerups, each new realm you enter seems thrilling.

Every time I received a new item in Astro Bot, I couldn’t help but assume that most games would have one great idea that propelled them to success. Boxing gloves are utilized with the left and right triggers to swing off various platforms and fling yourself off specific colored blobs. There’s also a watch that lets you halt time and hop across fast moving platforms, a dog jetpack that propels you forward at breakneck speed and can crash through glass, and monkey arms for climbing between banana-shaped anchor points. Each of these pieces of gear (and many more) are only available in a few stages, but they’re all so well-executed and enjoyable to use that I’d find myself trying to activate them on the next stage since they seemed like a natural extension of my moveset.

While getting from the start of a level to the end is the primary goal of Astro Bot, there are numerous hidden collectibles to discover on each world. As usual, Astro must rescue bots, many of them are costumed as iconic video game characters from the past. If you have even a small degree of interest in gaming’s rich history, the pure thrill of discovering a bot dressed up as a character you adore is unrivaled, and some of the deeper cuts made my heart soar. I’d love to discuss each and every one of my favorites, but doing so would detract from your enjoyment.

Astro Bot is best described with the word “joy.” Be it the satisfaction of employing your spin attack to spin around a nut-shaped enemy in a beautiful flourish, facing an extremely inventive boss, or successfully completing a hard platforming challenge level and receiving an intriguing new dressed-up bot as a reward. Each of the game’s five worlds culminates with a stage based on a popular PlayStation game, and you better know that every single one of these pumped pure, undiluted delight into my heart. Astro Bot made me feel more like a euphoric young kid than any other game I’ve played.

If I’m ever feeling sad in life, I know I’ll be able to brighten myself up in the Astro Bot hub area. The Crash Site is originally a barren wasteland with little to explore, but every bot you save will eventually settle in this little desert sanctuary. By spending money in the gacha machine, you’ll receive accessories for your dressed-up bots based on the video games from where they came, and when you interact with them from then on, they’ll react in a new unique way. There are also further mysteries to discover in this core region, which you can reach by instructing your bots to assist you in a Pikmin-esque manner once you’ve gathered enough of them. Swinging off a rope constructed of popular gaming characters to reach a new location, or running up a wall built of stacked gaming heroes, never fails to entertain.

One of the most noticeable aspects of Astro’s Playroom when it was launched as a pack in title was how expertly it utilized all of the DualSense’s functions, and Team Asobi has assured that this remains the case this time around. Running across glass, feeling your quick footsteps rumble across the back of the controller, and hearing the tinkling noises come from the speaker in your hands is still pure pleasure. The adaptive triggers are allocated to the special goods and are a joy to use, cementing the game as a whole as the ideal example of the technology.

No Astro Bot review would be complete without praising the stunning sights and sounds. The colorful environments are a visual treat, with jaw-dropping visual effects that ensure that some of the game’s more shocking set piece moments completely take your breath away. Everything from little sound effects to background music is expertly executed, with a few outstanding tunes worthy of even the most carefully kept Spotify collection.

There are practically no negative qualities to Astro Bot; it is simply a fantastic game. Some motion control components will not appeal to everyone, however they may be disabled in the options menu if you don’t like them. I’d also love it if the game notified you where games some of the more esoteric dressed-up bots came from, but that’s not really a criticism.

Astro Bot is unquestionably one of the best platformers of all time, with a plethora of unique stages, stunning visuals, and an absurd number of video game references that never fail to make me smile. The game’s originality and variety are incredible, and exploring planets for artifacts is a lot of fun. Astro Bot is a game that sets a new benchmark for 3D platforming and has become one of my all-time favorites.

Review Overview

Gameplay – 92%

Controls – 94%

Aesthetics – 95%

Content – 90%

Accessibility – 85%

Value – 93%

Overall Rating – 92%

OUTSTANDING!

Summary: “Astro Bot” raises the bar for VR platformers, offering a near-perfect blend of engaging gameplay, tight controls, and stunning visuals. The gameplay feels fresh, making creative use of the VR environment to provide a truly immersive experience. Controls are intuitive and smooth, allowing players to fully enjoy the intricate level design. Aesthetically, the game is a feast for the eyes with its bright and whimsical art style. The content offers a substantial amount of variety, keeping things interesting throughout. While accessibility might require some adjustment for VR newcomers, the game offers a fantastic experience for everyone. “Astro Bot” is a must-play and a valuable addition to any VR collection.