‘Astro Bot’ Review
Developer: Team Asobi | Platform: PS5 | Playtime: 10:55 | Platinum: 19:00
It’s a nice feeling when you play a game and get to sit there and think “Yeah, this is Game of the Year”. The feeling is especially sweet when you’ve been waiting on a game since it was rumoured, you’ve played the previous titles and 3D Platformers are your favourite genre. Long story short, Astro Bot is a Phenomenal game.
Moderate gameplay SPOILERS follow, Reader discretion is advised.
In fact, my only gripe with the game which is barely a gripe so I'll get it out of the way early is the games premise, as it’s the same as VR game and similar to the free pack in game - the weird alien thing (which does have a name but I forget) disrupts the Mothership and scatters the Astrobot’s, maybe taking some parts with him. Sure Mario has Bowser kidnap Peach, Donkey Kong has his bananas stolen on the weekly so I’m not against the idea but Astrobot hasn’t got the legacy they have and frankly the villain design isn’t that good.
That’s literally all the negative I have, onto the positive!
Despite it being prominent in the marketing, the little Fennec Fox plays no role in the game other than decoration for the games hub world. Known as The Crash Site, it’s a round desert with 4 smaller spots to explore after bosses. The area is fairly barren, but that’s by design. As you save more bots from the levels, the more the area is populated. By the end of the game, 200 odd of the 300 bots you save will be decorating the space in a wave of Playstation nostalgia. You’ve got modern first party, nostalgic characters, third parties that have their homes on PS consoles and even some real deep cuts (I like to think I’m quite well versed in games but there was still some that stumped me). Using the coins found in levels (the currency collectible) you can use the returning Gacha machine to give each of the bots their respective props. Every single one of these is incredibly charming, from Lara Croft being chased by a T-Rex to Alucard snoozing an alarm clock to Claire fumbling about with a keychain of keys. Every new prop was worth checking out and I couldn’t get enough of them.
I mentioned levels so let’s move onto them. There’s been plenty of comparisons to Super Mario Galaxy in terms of creativity but it also works for describing the level setout. If you’re not familiar with the game then it’s like this: You have a level select map, completing one of the couple avaliable levels unlocks the next ones which unlocks the boss. Being able to challenge the boss requires a certain number of bots being collected. The requirements aren’t the harshest I’ve seen but they’re not as lenient as the games accessible feel might suggest. On top of those, there are smaller levels based around powerup gimmicks, combat stages (two different types, for some reason) as well as more difficult platforming challenges. There’s plenty to do in each section.
Levels are all quite unique too, I can’t think of a single repeated theme (beyond kind of more broad concepts) - You’ve got ideas repeated from the VR game - Japanese, Construction site etc but also have really cool and unique ideas like an oasis in a globe for example. Even basic levels like beaches or jungles were more interesting thanks to the creativity on display by Team Asobi. Each level (I think, if not most) comes with one of a range of powerups that allow you to navigate - from Grippy claws to a bulldog that let’s you dash forward. Each level has many section that take great advantage of the powerup. The perfect fusion of of level and powerup come in the post boss bonus stages seen in each world - I won’t spoil them but they’re all the best the game has to offer. Of course there’s the bonus world and final challenge to do if you’re feeling up for it (Compared to Sackboy’s Ripsnorter level, this was a cakewalk).
I’ve said this in every Astro Bot game I’ve reviewed but it proves true every time - these games are joy and fun incarnate. The smiles and whimsy the game elicits from the player is constant from begining to end. If I got to play no other game this year, I’d be happy that it was Astro Bot.
