Astro Bot Review – An (Actual) Return to Form for PlayStation

What is Astro Bot?

Astro Bot is a 3D platforming game developed by Team Asobi and published by PlayStation Studios.

Back in the earliest days of PlayStation, they were known for iconic platforming games such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. But in 2020, PlayStation released Astro’s Playroom as a pack-in title. This game featured an adorable little mascot character for modern-day PlayStation, Astro Bot. Fast forward to 2024, and PlayStation revealed that the little bot would be getting its own game, aptly named Astro Bot. Boasting over 80 levels, larger-than-life bosses, and banger music, this game is one of, if not *the* de facto PlayStation 5 game. A simple, fun reminder of the PlayStation of old, flawless in every aspect of the experience it offers.

Developer & Publisher // Team Asobi, PlayStation Studios
Platforms // PlayStation 5
MSRP & Release Date // $59.99, September 6th 2024
Reviewed On // PlayStation 5

A Galaxy-Wide Adventure

Astro Bot opens with Astro piloting the PlayStation 5 in space, but is abruptly grabbed by a big green alien. This alien rips out the heart of the console before wrecking the rest of it and leaving the console and Astro stranded on a random desert planet. From here, Astro has to seek out his fellow bot crew and the missing pieces of the PlayStation before saving the heart from the Alien and beating him once and for all.

As far as the story goes, this is it. It’s not Shakespeare, and doesn’t really focus on story beats of any kind. It’s just Astro Bot going from level to level, repairing the PlayStation 5, and eventually fighting the big green Alien. Obviously, there are little cutscenes when entering a solar system to show how mean the Alien is, but it does not go further than that outside of its spectacular ending that was a real rush and felt cinematic.

Astro Bot focuses strictly on the gameplay side of things, with so many levels that all have unique layouts to them.

Mellow and Intense Levels in Astro Bot

The levels in Astro Bot can be separated into a few categories: mellow, fun, and intense. But they always have a unique quirk to them. One icy level with sprinkles and a pig to throw around at certain things in the environment is different than another icy level that relies more on skating and explosions. One level that lives rent-free in my head is one where you make a giant tree grow and jump into its mouth, then climb the branches with honey puddles you jump on. It’s very mellow and just fun to play.

Then we have the challenging levels, and there are quite a few of them. In certain galaxies, there are dedicated challenge levels themed after the PlayStation buttons. These levels can be very hard and always push a button or two. But they are nothing compared to the challenge levels Team Asobi added post-launch. You have timed trials that require mastery over mechanics and platforming on top of speedrunning. As well as levels that don’t have a timer but can feel immensely challenging, especially one that cycles through almost every little power-up Astro can use in the game in one long gauntlet run.

It also helps that Astro is very simple to use. Astro can jump, hover, and punch. With power-ups that appear in every level and can make Astro dash, jump high in the air, punch from farther away, and even control time. Some of these power-ups take the form of little animals, like a dog that hooks on Astro’s back or frogs that do the far-away punches.

The game keeps it simple and fun, which is exactly what makes the game feel just right; it has challenge if you want it, and ways to mellow out or have fun when you need it too.

A Historic Collectathon

Within every level of Astro Bot, there is a collection of Astro’s crew hidden in every level. These can be simple blank slate bots, or characters that resemble characters in PlayStation’s history. You can have characters like Jak from Jak and Daxter, Crash from Crash Bandicoot, Spyro from Spyro the Dragon, Dart from The Legend of Dragoon, and even obscure characters like Alundra from Alundra.

Every level has loads of these little bots that fill the home camp where you can walk amongst them, unlock accessories for them with coins, and even use them to unlock parts of that map. For example, you can whistle and call the bots to raise rocks, make bridges and ropes to get little things in that environment like Pikmin. Not only that, but the home camp is also the hub for little cosmetic outfits and color swaps for the little glider Astro uses.

You can unlock so many different outfits like a knight outfit from Demon Souls, Parappa from Parappa the Rapper, even gold and chrome outfits for Astro, just by playing the game. It’s a great little incentive to replay levels for more coins to earn them.

Astro Bot and the Big Bad Bosses

Astro Bot is filled with an assortment of bosses that all have unique quirks to them. The first boss of the game is a horilla that requires you to use the dash dog to deal any real damage to him. The game lets you use your knowledge of each power-up they give you for each boss. There are even some random bosses thrown into different levels. Like a giant skeletal pirate and even a towering snowman. Both really test timing and platforming and are genuine surprises.

Finally, the best part of Astro Bot is no doubt the PlayStation game-themed levels. These levels either range from nostalgia or iconic franchises from modern-day PlayStation. You can have Ape Escape, or Loco Roco, then find yourself in Uncharted and God of War-themed levels with unique gameplay and music for each one. Such as throwing the leviathan axe around, shooting an auto-targeting pistol, and using a butterfly net to capture Apes. It’s all ridiculously fun and feels like a genuine celebration of PlayStation as a whole.

A Technical Marvel

When it comes to Astro Bot on a technical level, it’s very polished. There’s not a single issue I can recall having throughout my multiple playthroughs of the game over the years. It runs at a silky smooth 60fps, loads quickly, and the game looks sleek, colorful, and cute.

The music in this game is very nostalgic, upbeat, and fun. The song in the first level of the game is a very techno track with some hip-hop flavoring to it. As well as the song that plays in a particular mushroom-heavy level that feels very mellow, and watching the mushrooms dance with it shows how much love was put into the game overall.

Not only that, but the game fully utilizes the DualSense controller to its limits. From limit sounds from the controller’s speaker like coin chimes, bot ‘whee’ sounds when you collect them, and little taps from Astro’s feet, accompanied by the haptics making you feel the taps as well. It is such an integral part of the game that it feels immersive.

A Fun New Era Classic

While PlayStation still makes very high-quality experiences, like God of War, Spider-Man, and even Ratchet and Clank, it’s amazing to see so much love and effort go into an entirely new character like Astro. Astro Bot may have made his debut in the Rescue Mission VR game back on the PlayStation 4. But seeing how far the series has come with Astro’s Playroom and now this game shows that PlayStation believes in the little bot as their mascot, and you owe it to yourself to play it. Every single second of the game is nothing but fun, and the game never overstays its welcome. Team Asobi has something special on their hands with Astro Bot, and I cannot recommend it enough.