They’re mostly the type who crave more colorful games and want to go back to 3D platformers. These players are also situs hk pools happy to see how we treat the PlayStation heritage. Even within a level, an ability is used in several different and creative ways, but always stemming from its singular mechanic featured in that level. It ramps up the platforming and combat sequences via an approachable but challenging incline and chains these little moments together in such a way that there’s never a lull in any level. Whereas many platformers may drill down on a key feature or small set of features, Astro Bot displays confidence by often disposing of exciting new tools shortly after introducing them. It expresses iteration in cycles of five minutes each, rather than iterating on one idea for five or more hours, which I find both refreshing and bold.
Astro Bot crams in nearly two dozen boss encounters, some that repeat in certain ways, but all of them are truly special events. From flying atop a bird as you smash away at its helmet, to a Djinn or a Gorilla, these fights are simple in their design, but due to the wondrous abilities and the slick controls, are engaging and often magical. That said, the final battle is likely the weakest, coming across as the less creative design of the entire bunch, which is a shame since the game goes to great lengths to show us Nebulax between each world. Still, the other fights are very impressive and constantly shine.
Everyone should be able to play this masterpiece, but maybe the PS5 should actually get more games to play. Speaking of the use of DualSense, the game uses all of the controller’s features to the max. It adds so much to the in-game experience that this game might actually be the perfect demo to showcase what a PS5 and DualSense can do. The use of adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and gyro controls makes the game perfect for the console. It’s been quite a rough few weeks for Sony and PlayStation fans out there, and it’s great to know that it’s not all doom and gloom as Astro Bot is here to save the day. As a casual fan of platformers, Astro Bot blew me away and reminded me of the nostalgia and fun that is to be had with the genre.
All these features enhance the sensory experience of the game and showcase the power of ninth-generation technology. While there’s plenty to like about the hub, which we’ll get into later, the main attraction is the game’s range of levels, which are as varied, playful, and fun as you’d hope. Each galaxy contains four or five main stages, a boss, and a special last level themed around specific PlayStation franchises. On top of that are numerous shorter challenges — tougher platforming or combat trials to test your skills — and a selection of secret stages to discover.
As Astro, you’ll strap on the ability and intuitively understand it. Stranded in space following an attack from a googly-eyed alien, Astro’s mission is to repair their ship and rescue all 300 pals scattered across five main clusters of planets, each composed of individual levels. Naturally, the story is not the focus here, and yet I was so immersed in the 15-hour game that I beat it in two long sittings. It may be 2024’s most immersive game, and it achieves that without a line of dialogue.
It’s a generous package, and what’s most impressive is the sheer variety it offers. Environmental puzzles and exciting set pieces await players in Astro Bot’s dozens of stages that can take anywhere from a couple minutes to a quarter of an hour to complete. Fans of PlayStation history will be very tempted to spend more time on each stage thanks to the many nods to past franchises and moments. Longtime gamers will find rescuing the bots in Astro Bot to be an absolute treat. It’s exciting to see who will pop up next, especially since there are a few very unexpected cameo bots that I won’t spoil here. Some of the cameo bots even have a direct impact on Astro Bot’s gameplay.
But on top of all those references, there’s a phenomenal game that forges its own identity and boldly does its own thing. It needs to be said that there’s a real emphasis on Astro Bot in not being punishing; there’s absolutely no penalty for losing a life, and the moment you grab a collectible, it’s yours — even if you respawn, you already have it. That might be disappointing to some, but it’s an intentional design choice that works in the game’s favor, as Astro Bot is much more focused on the “experience” and wants players to have pure, unfiltered fun. There are optional challenge levels that open up later on, however, for anyone who might be craving that.
I only hope my friend is ready to collect some well-deserved trophies of his own. That’s not to say its win has no element of surprise to it at all. Games nominated in the Family category rarely win Game of the Year; the only other time it’s happened was when It Takes Two took the top prize in 2021. The Game Awards voting jury generally prefers games aimed at an adult audience, with more “mature” themes and presentation. The jury also favors games with strong narrative elements, which Astro Bot just doesn’t have.
What could have been a 30-second moment turned into a 20-minute one as I gleefully interacted with every detail I could, just as a kid might. This focus also affected the platformer’s story, as the game has fewer than 13 minutes of cutscenes. Astro Bot is back in action later this month with five new challenge levels. How a baby robot went from tech demo to iconic Sony mascot–and put its studio on the map in the process. On the cute side of things, Astro reacts to his environments with endearing animations like shivering in the cold, quivering in fear and tapping his tiny metal feet in excitement, and his bot friends are similarly expressive. When Astro boops his head on an impassable ceiling, he makes the sweetest little flinching motion.
Astro Bot’s abilities, such as high jumps, hovering, and special gadgets, allow for creative movement and problem-solving. Each level presents new challenges, from navigating tricky terrain to overcoming environmental hazards. Astro Bot is a platforming adventure game where players take control of a small but agile robot exploring vibrant, interactive environments. Each level is designed with unique obstacles, hidden secrets, and creative mechanics that require precision and quick thinking.
A work made that overflows with love from the first minute of play to the last and that keeps you smiling all the time. Simply put, this feature makes collecting all bots and other secrets in the game trivially easy. It’s a lovely idea, and we hope it finds its way into other games that could use it similarly in years to come. Other abilities, like the Monkey Climb has you scaling walls with long extended arms. The Frog punch is similar in appearance, but has you punching like the cast of Nintendo’s ARMS. Strapping a penguin to your back will allow you to swim faster, whereas a dog on the back of Astro can propel him further.
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The contrast between Astro Bot and Concord this week alone is absolutely wild. One level allows you to explore a recognisably domestic world but you can drastically change size, bashing through doorways one minute and wriggling through a gap in the skirting board a minute later. Another lets you transform into an ultra-heavy version of Samus Aran’s morph ball thingy, and has brilliant stuff for you to do once you have. These levels feel so Nintendo-like because they get everything out of their ideas. If you’re small but you can become big, can you blow stuff up from inside?
And an expansion or two like Elden Ring’s or Destiny 2’s The Final Shape. But if we’re talking about full games, GOTY-potential games, Astro Bot is on top. When it’s all done I’m left with that strange feeling of being very well cared for. But when I close my eyes I see the tumbling fruit, the hundreds and thousands, the gems stacked so high I can kick through them as if I’m wading through autumn leaves. I think, more than anything, of all the glorious bits and pieces.
The small robot must save fellow bots from danger, totaling 300 bots to rescue throughout the game. It can be tough to critically gauge how ‘good’ a platformer is sometimes. With the exception of the truly bad ones, most of them achieve a decent baseline level of fun, because fun is all they’re going for. You can enjoy them in the moment, and it’s not until afterwards you realise it’s an empty sugar high. Across that lifetime of experience, I think Astro Bot is worthy of a medal. The levels in Astro Bot feature a staggering amount of interactive elements from jump pads, blocks, and platforms through to what appear to be decorative objects like plants, trees, and even animals.