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- Astro Bot has the potential to be one of the best first-party releases on the PS5.
- It offers everything great about Astro’s Playroom and cranks those elements up to eleven.
- Astro Bot also pays tribute to popular PlayStation characters, serving as a nostalgic experience.
Gaming giants have always had some very popular mascots. When you think about Nintendo, Mario pops into your mind, Sonic for Sega, and Master Chief for Xbox. But for PlayStation, the mascot hasn’t always been the same. They’ve changed over the years and different console generations.
For the PS1, there were Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. However, we can’t decide on one for the later ones. Many characters like Kratos, Nathan Drake, Aloy, and others exist, but Astro Bot is the real unofficial mascot.
The little guy first appeared in 2018’s PS VR game Astro Bot Rescue Mission and instantly became a fan favorite. While he didn’t get a full-fledged game, PlayStation brought him back later for the PS5 in the form of Astro’s Playroom.
This was a tech demo that showcased the capabilities of the PS5 and the DualSense controller. However, fans ended up loving the character, and the gaming giant has finally announced a full Astro Bot adventure this year. I think it could be PlayStation’s dark horse.
Why it matters: Team Asobi’s latest platformer is already shaping up to be a massive release. Its success could also help PlayStation overcome the lack of a huge first-party lineup this year.
An Insanely Fun Space Adventure
Astro’s Playroom features different terrains and atmospheres that demonstrate how good the DualSense controller is. The latest entry takes that up a notch and offers 80 levels of fun in a space setting with a lively world.
Astro’s Playroom gave us a glimpse of the IP’s potential. While it wasn’t planned that way, the tech demo became a fan favorite when PS5 was released. So, a similar title built on a much bigger scope was a no-brainer.
I, for one, can’t even imagine how fun Astro Bot will be, considering Astro’s Playroom was already so enjoyable despite its size. With the full experience taking everything up a notch, I’m more than excited about it.
The game features 50 planets that you’ll traverse using your Dual Speeder. Each planet offers something different: fun, danger, enemies, and countless activities. Astro also gets loads of new, very cool powers.
The planets comprise different terrains, ranging from sandy beaches to lush jungles and piping-hot volcanoes. We can be sure that, just like the last entry, each location will be well integrated with the DualSense, making the experience fully immersive.
From what we’ve seen in the trailers and previews, some of my favorite abilities include the Monkey Climber and Barkster, the Bulldog Barker. In short, Astro Bot seems like PlayStation’s way of officially announcing a new mascot.
The Nostalgic Factor
Looking at Astro Bot took me back to the time when I used to play platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro on the original PlayStation. While a new Spyro entry may be in the works right now, there is a distinct lack of such experiences today.
Team Asobi’s upcoming platformer clearly leans into the nostalgia factor. It also features easter eggs for various PlayStation characters and even teases Bloodborne despite the lack of a remake or remaster for this title.
Some easter eggs from the trailer include Kratos and Atreus from God of War, Aloy from Horizon, Nathan Drake from Uncharted, Spike from Ape Escape, and Ratchet from Ratchet and Clank. Characters from Shadow of Colossus also show up.
This platformer is shaping up to be a love letter for Sony fans. It offers nostalgia, great gameplay, plenty of platforming opportunities, fantastic new abilities, and everything the fans wanted for the series.
Furthermore, you can already sense the hype by the fact that Astro Bot had the most-watched trailer from the recent State of Play. It also beat Doom: The Dark Ages to become the most-wish-listed game.
Seeing how nearly everyone who owns a PS5 is looking forward to the platformer, I believe it could be the gaming giant’s dark horse for 2024. It could do wonders for the PS5, just like Hi-Fi Rush did for Xbox.
Astro Bot even has an advantage as it provides plenty of fan service and isn’t part of a brand-new IP. The game is currently up for pre-orders and will release on September 6, 2024.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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