Astro Bot review: platformer perfection

After various tech demos and a VR game, the cute PlayStation mascot is getting its first big PS5 game. And it has it all. Astro Bot is quite simply brilliant. It’s a masterpiece that puts a big grin on my face and keeps me glued to the controller even after the credits have rolled.

If you have a PS5 and like platformers, you definitely need to try this unique game.

The PS5 mothership needs my help

Astro’s «mothership» – an oversized PS5 with rocket propulsion – is attacked by a nasty alien. The console crashes. Individual parts, such as the GPU and fan, are hurled into the vastness of space and land on foreign planets. And along with them, the inhabitants of the mothership, these cute little bots.

My job is to find and rescue the machine parts and 301 lost robots. I do this in over 80 levels, or planets, spread across seven galaxies.

A number of bots and collectable items are hidden in the bigger levels. I also sometimes find hidden exits to undisclosed levels. Searching the wonderfully quirky game worlds for secrets is great fun.

This is partly due to the excellent level design, which wows with original ideas and plenty of variety. One time I might be jumping on invisible platforms through a haunted house; other times I can be fighting my way through a toy level where I switch between day and night at the touch of a button. No two levels are the same, which keeps me constantly on my toes.

In addition to the larger levels, there are smaller challenge planets that play like ultra-difficult speedrun sections. There’s not much to discover here. I just have to make it to the finish somehow.

If I’ve missed a bot or an item, I can go back at any time and tackle the level again. Alternatively, a cute little bird with a radar can help me search for the secrets I’ve not yet uncovered. I’m incredibly driven to find and unlock everything, even after the credits have rolled. I won’t rest until I’ve saved all the bots!

A love letter to PlayStation

Astro Bot is teeming with references, puns and cross-references to other PlayStation games. Around 150 of the bots are guest appearances from iconic PlayStation series. This includes characters from current blockbusters, such as The Last of Us and Ghost of Tsushima as well as previous lesser-known franchises – along with those from third-party publishers.

Some PlayStation games get entire levels rather than just bot guest appearances. These special sections are waiting for me at the end of each galaxy. Astro looks different in these and adopts the game mechanics of the respective PlayStation legend.

For instance, I fight my way through a snowy region from Norse mythology dressed as Kratos. Equipped with his iconic ice axe, of course, which I hurl at enemies. The whole thing is accompanied by an electronic remix of the God of War theme. Amazing.

The other PlayStation levels have also been designed with incredible attention to detail. You’ll also find a few surprises there. But no spoilers – I’ll let you try them for yourself.

The bots I rescue on my adventure start to assemble at the PS5 mothership crash site. It’s worth dropping by regularly. The more bots I collect, the more I can explore the area around the wrecked console. I also keep unlocking new functions at the crash site, such as a changing room with new outfits or a gacha machine with special items.

Sometimes I just return to the crash site without a specific goal in mind. I walk through the rescued bots and discover characters from PlayStation games I grew up with. It feels like an interactive PlayStation museum. A wave of nostalgia washes over me and I shed a tear or two. So many wonderful memories of so many excellent games united in one place. It’s quite simply fantastic.

OMG that feels good

Astro’s moveset is relatively simple. The little robot can jump, hover for a short time with its laser feet and attack opponents with its fists or spin them around. Crazy power-ups in some levels supplement this basic foundation. For instance, I use a robot dog as a jetpack, beat up enemies from a distance with cactus boxing gloves and transform myself into a metallic ball to roll over deadly obstacles.

I have to use the power-ups to kill lots of enemies in creative ways, such as pulling monsters, sucking them dry or literally crushing them. The game doesn’t explain exactly how power-ups work or how I use them to defeat enemies and bosses. I just understand intuitively.

Some of the items are so damn good that I wish there were entire titles with these game mechanics. One of the reasons for this is the almost perfect control scheme, which showcases flawless precision as well special effects that are implemented so impressively.

I’ve never played a game with such good controls and that feels as satisfying as Astro Bot – not even Super Mario. The game lets me feel every step, every jump and every attack with haptic and visual feedback as well as sound effects. As a result, Astro’s actions have a lot of weight and impact.

The controller vibrates constantly and makes noises. When I press the adaptive triggers, they creak and offer resistance. I feel Astro grab an enemy by the tail and fly away with the jetpack to tear him apart. I feel every left and right hook that the robot dishes out with its boxing gloves. And I feel the deadly nails I roll over as a metallic ball. It’s really quite a spectacle.

OMG it looks amazing

Astro Bot also bowled me over in terms of visuals. The game is consistently smooth with impressively razor-sharp picture quality. All the physics simulations are particularly striking. Astro repeatedly fights and whirls his way through hundreds of objects that fly around in a realistic way, causing chaos.

The fantastically staged boss fights are also chaotic, with huge monsters, countless particle effects and numerous smaller enemies, which all make for wonderful-looking scenes.

I never cease to be amazed by the detailed depiction of different materials. For example, if Astro lands on an inflated balloon, it bulges inwards realistically. It just looks incredibly cool.

The soundtrack is just as brilliant as the visual presentation. This is down to Kenneth Young, who was also involved in the music for Little Big Planet. Occasional robot voices accompany electronic sounds with catchy melodies to create an upbeat atmosphere.

I want more

If you’re looking for an excessively long gaming experience, you won’t find it in Astro Bot. It took me about 14 hours to finish the game and then another four to unlock the platinum trophy. I think it’s a perfect gameplay length. In a world full of bloated AAA games that artificially extend their scope, Astro Bot is refreshing and to the point.

In fact, I enjoyed Astro Bot more than any other game released this year. Personally, I’d rather finish a title wanting more instead of feeling jaded. And according to Creative Director Nicolas Doucet, I’ll soon be getting more. Team Asobi is planning to release a free DLC later this year with additional challenge levels and a speedrun mode. I can hardly wait.

Astro Bot is released on 6 September 2024 for PS5. Sony kindly gave me a copy of the game to review.