‘Astro Bot’ game review: Sony’s genre-bending platformer sets a new standard

Astro Bot
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

What a few months it has been for Sony! After the excessive of Helldivers 2 and the low of Harmony, they’ve now soared to new heights with Astro Bot, a shock hit that seemingly got here out of nowhere. Simply as Nintendo has Mario, Sega has Sonic, and Capcom has Mega Man, Sony has had its fair proportion of mascots through the years, however none has captivated like Astro Bot. Whereas the corporate is not any stranger to blockbuster video games, few have matched the sheer delight that Astro Bot brings. It’s a refreshing, genre-bending platformer brimming with character, evoking recollections of PlayStation’s previous.

Within the recreation, Astro Bots reside aboard a large mothership that bears an uncanny resemblance to the PlayStation 5. Their peaceable existence is shattered when Area Bully Nebulax destroys the ship and steals its CPU. Now, it’s as much as the lovable Astro Bot to defeat Nebulax, get better the CPU, rescue scattered companions throughout the galaxy, and rebuild the mothership. The story might sound easy — very similar to the traditional Mario, Bowser, and Daisy setup — however it’s a good backdrop to launch the journey.

Astro Bot presents extra versatility than Mario, boasting a wider array of strikes than the mushroom-powered plumber, whereas retaining a few of Sonic’s velocity and fluidity. Astro Bot can punch, spin, double soar, inflate, broaden, and even manipulate time, amongst different skills. The sport brilliantly blends a number of genres, taking gamers by means of acquainted PlayStation landscapes like God of Conflict and Uncharted, whereas introducing flying missions the place you management Astro Bot’s speeder bike utilizing the PS5’s DualSense controller. It’s wild, however it works.

Designed to showcase each characteristic of the PS5, Astro Bot shines in its use of the DualSense controller, incorporating haptic suggestions, built-in audio system, and adaptive triggers to create an immersive expertise. From utilizing movement sensors to pilot jets to syncing visuals with controller haptics, the sport appears like an evolution of what was as soon as seen within the WarioWare collection in the course of the Nintendo DS period.

The galaxy-hopping gameplay evokes recollections of Tremendous Mario Galaxy, however that’s the place the similarities finish. Astro Bot builds on this basis with wealthy nods to PlayStation’s legacy. You’ll expertise God of Conflict-inspired ranges the place you wield Kratos’ axe, and the gameplay mechanics consistently shift, holding issues recent. With out giving an excessive amount of away, the sport will problem your information of PlayStation lore.

Whereas Astro Bot begins off mild and straightforward, it ramps up in problem as you progress. The problem sneaks up on you, particularly in boss fights, the place it appears like getting hit over the top with a mallet. The platforming is a masterclass in degree design, with every stage providing a singular theme and dynamic. The sport additionally does a unbelievable job of motivating you to gather every part, out of your misplaced Bot buddies to fixing creative micro-puzzles for cash. It hooks you all the way in which to a really satisfying conclusion.

If the advertising makes Astro Bot appear like one other Mario clone, don’t be fooled. It’s a severe contender for recreation of the yr, not only for its pleasant platforming but in addition for the way it showcases the total potential of the PS5. With loads of Easter eggs and cameos from PlayStation’s storied historical past, it’s a must-play for any fan of the platform.