When Astro Bot’s Playroom was released, there was one resounding criticism: where is the full game? Effectively a tech demo that came preinstalled on all PS5s, this sequel to the PSVR-exclusive Astro Bot Rescue Mission was all about showing off the new DualSense controller. Sure, the game was amazing, but it was a very strange use of the new mascot and face of PlayStation. We were all left wondering: when will it be Astro’s day in the sun? Well, that day is finally upon us, and it has been well worth the wait!
Travelling through space on a flying PS5, having a great time, Astro’s ship is suddenly attacked by an alien who wants the console’s ultra high-tech innards for itself. Astro’s crew of 300 bots is scattered throughout the galaxy and the PS5 crashes on a desert planet.
But all hope is not lost. Astro is repaired by the Dual Speeder (your DualSense) and sets about exploring more than fifty planets across half a dozen galaxies, each time sending bots back to the desert planet which quickly becomes your home base with all the usual trimmings — the gatcha machine, costume changing and an all new animal safari park.
Each planet is a self-contained level and follows a different theme, some with cute nods to iconic franchises. Some of the bots you rescue are iconic in their own right, too — the level where you find Crash Bandicoot also has crates of Wumpa fruit and a platforming section that hits you right in the childhood.
Playing through the game with my wife next to me, I was excitedly explaining the core mechanics of God of War Ragnarok, when I was asked to freeze some water to make a platform. My excitement only grew with each additional nod and easter egg thrown in by Team Asobi.
From the jungles to sandy beaches, Halloween-inspired to winter-themed, the level design is breathtaking throughout. You can spend hours exploring each level, either on your own or with a partner or child who helps point out the interactive elements or collectables on screen. It really is impossible not to get sucked in and love every second of this game.
Outside of the core levels, there are additional bits of gameplay squirreled away, from an entire galaxy of secret, hidden planets to smaller (but incredibly tough) challenges found by crashing through an asteroid belt while flying between levels. Not only does this game reward exploration and play, it positively revels in it. I was not expecting to sit there for 15 minutes, with sweaty palms, trying to nail a perfectly timed platforming level with zero checkpoints, but that’s exactly what I did at one point. It reminded me of my time with the PS1 and I loved every second of it.
And none of this is to say anything about the sound and graphics. It is abundantly clear that not only is Astro the new and unrivalled PlayStation mascot, but he is PlayStation. The world he lives in is obsessed with PlayStation’s icons and lore, and his games show off every element of how powerful the latest console or periphery is.
There is no way, with all this in mind, that Astro Bot wasn’t going to be polished to within an inch of it’s life. It’s so clean that you can pretty much see your reflection in Astro’s face. The graphics are flawless, the audio is the same incredible set of earworms that you know and love from the previous titles, and the gameplay is simply exquisite.
As increasingly common, and very welcome, Team Asobi has put a lot of effort into accessibility with this release. The flying and gyro sections can be set to analogue sticks and there are various haptic and visual aids that can be set to make your time with Astro even easier.
And for those playing with younger kids, or those who don’t want the stress of combing every inch of a level for a hidden secret, you’ll be pleased to know that your second run of each level comes with an optional buddy — a mechanical bird that senses the collectables you’re missing and points them out when you’re near.
