Review | Astro Bot

A short review

Astro Bot is a platform game developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, released four years after its sequel, Astro's Playroom. You might remember Astro's Playroom as the charming, free-to-play game bundled with your PS5, showcasing the incredible features of the DualSense controller. Astro Bot was released for PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2024, in celebration of PlayStation's 30th anniversary.

Team Asobi initially focused on demonstrating new console and accessory features, but with Astro Bot, they’ve moved to the big leagues. This is a full-fledged game—beautiful, fun, and packed with personality. If you want a game that showcases every capability of the DualSense controller, look no further. It’s technically flawless and brimming with PlayStation love, making it a delight for fans. Whether it's a treat for your life, your generation, or your inner PlayStation fanboy, I’m not sure—but I had an absolute blast!

Though, I will say... tilting your DualSense while flying? That part, I hated. Everything else is pure joy.

It's all fun and games until you need to tilt your dual sense while flying! I hated that. Everything else is pure love.

Story and the characters

There’s not much to say about the story itself. In short, you need to recover stolen parts of your PlayStation 5 (which is also a spaceship) by conquering challenges across different planets and levels. However, what truly stands out is the journey and characters—PlayStation "stars" from iconic series and games dating from the PS1 era to the present.

You’ll be rescuing bots (there are 300 to find!), who in turn help you access new areas in the hub where you can store your collectibles. The amount of detail and nostalgic charm is astounding. Seeing the protagonist from Suikoden wielding a rune transported me back in time! The game feels like a heartfelt love letter to PlayStation fans. However, if you’re not deeply connected to PlayStation’s legacy, some of these moments may feel a bit lost on you.

Game design, exploration

The game features a central hub from which you access various galaxies. Within these galaxies, you’ll find secrets, usually hidden levels. Each level is about 10-20 minutes long, but every moment is a joy.

I love how cleverly hidden paths and secrets are integrated. Finding all the puzzle pieces and rescuing every bot can be tricky, but it’s not too challenging. If you struggle to find a secret or bonus level, you can pay 200 coins to summon a bird that helps reveal hidden areas when you're nearby. Overall, the level design is excellent, and the controls are very responsive.

Each level requires a unique approach, often relying on special transformations. For example, one power lets you inflate like a balloon to reach higher areas. I won’t spoil more, but it’s all a ton of fun. My only complaint is the limited number of gadgets—I expected more variety.

I’m certain everyone will find something to love here, whether it’s the overload of cuteness or just the sheer joy of lounging on a cow. I know I did!

I'm certain that every one of you will find something to love here. Maybe it's simply the cuteness overload, or resting on a cow - I don't know, I just loved my time in this game!

Combat

There’s not much to say about combat. You’ll face various enemy types (though not too many) and need to master how to defeat them. Combat is straightforward—you’ll punch, jump, fly, and use gadgets to your advantage.

The real highlight is the boss fights. Though they’re a bit easy, they’re incredibly fun and engaging, just like the rest of the game. The combat isn’t overly complex, but it fits perfectly with the game’s style. Combining platforming with combat keeps things interesting.

I especially enjoyed the themed levels at the end of each galaxy. They are a heartfelt tribute to Sony's biggest exclusives, executed in the best possible way.

I especially loved the themed levels at the end of each galaxy.  It's a pure love letter to every big excluzive Sony had, and this game bring that up in the best possible way.

Side Content

This might seem like a strange section for a platformer, but some of the most fun comes from collecting bots and bringing them back to the hub, where you can interact with them. You can even buy gadgets for the bots, which trigger unique animations if you kick them. The amount of care and research put into representing every bot from PlayStation's history is impressive.

Hidden challenge levels (representing the iconic PlayStation symbols: Triangle, Circle, X, and Square) provide extra challenges for players who find the main levels too easy. Especially the final challenge—that one is tough!

Conclusion

If you don’t mind spending 15 hours on a $60 (€70) game and you love PlayStation history and platformers, Astro Bot is a no-brainer. It will keep a smile on your face the entire time. The game is technically polished and easily one of the best in that department.

On the flip side, the game doesn’t introduce anything groundbreaking, and if you aren’t into PlayStation nostalgia, it might not hit as hard for you. As a big fan of Super Mario, I know Nintendo did a lot of this 20 years ago, but this game stand on its own for sure.

So long, friends—see you in the next Team Asobi game!

So long my children, see you in the next Team Asoby game!