Astro Bot is a love letter to video video games, with out an oz of cynicism to be discovered. The love right here is pure, which comes by way of in each second of it. Mix that with an unbelievable quantity of creativity and pleasure, together with platforming that may go toe-to-toe with the perfect of the style. Each a part of Astro Bot is unbelievable, coming collectively in an expertise that’s nothing wanting magic.
Astro Bot
Developer: Crew Asobi
Worth: $60
Platforms: PlayStation 5 (reviewed)
A replica of the sport was bought for this evaluation
In an age the place Marvel and Star Wars are crammed with meaningless cameos and nostalgia bait, it feels exhausting to not be cynical about Astro Bot‘s pitch. A 3D platformer all in regards to the console you’re taking part in it on, with a smattering of cameos from characters throughout video video games feels just like the fantasy of company executives. However that’s not likely what Astro Bot is. Astro Bot is a love letter to video video games, crammed with references as a result of the individuals making the sport have a love and reverence for video video games, not as a result of they assume nostalgia sells. This love and care is present in each inch of Astro Bot, making a joyous romp of shade and creativity that may convey a smile to even probably the most cynical individual’s face.
The premise is easy: an alien has stolen the CPU of the PS5 mothership, scattering the remainder of the elements, and the numerous bots aboard, throughout totally different galaxies. Your job is to undergo totally different ranges, accumulating hidden bots and puzzle items, all to revive the PS5 and crew of bots so you may get well the CPU. What this seems to be like in follow is a collection of ranges, every uniquely totally different from the final, crammed with collectibles to assemble.
Every degree is comparatively brief, providing someplace between 5 to seven bots to gather. A lot of them are generic bots, however every degree additionally provides a couple of cameos, often ones that make sense in context. For instance, Lara Croft may be discovered on the Egyptian tomb-themed degree. All of those cameos have cute names too, associated to their video games however nothing too on the nostril. Most bots are hidden not directly, however nothing that’s going to make you sit there scratching your head. These hidden secrets and techniques are the lifeblood of Astro Bot. Not solely is there pleasure find a brand new bot, however fixing a small puzzle and getting rewarded retains the momentum of every degree shifting ahead, as there may be often one thing attention-grabbing to search out as much as the top of every degree.
Generally you’re given particular instruments for a degree, like long-range punching gloves or the flexibility to decelerate time. These instruments are used sparingly, with many ranges not having one, and those that do are constructed with that software in thoughts. As an alternative of constructing large playgrounds to platform by way of, each degree is extremely tight, by no means supplying you with a second to lose curiosity. The creativity of Astro Bot isn’t restricted to only the sport both; it breathes new life into the DualSense controller, making excellent use of a part of it. The rumble at all times matches the terrain you’re strolling throughout, utilizing the controller speaker to maximise the impact. You would determine the distinction between steel, sand, and grass together with your eyes closed, making the expertise really feel transcendence.
The adaptive triggers really feel chunky, including a powerful mechanical feeling to each motion utilizing them. One thing so simple as a gacha machine crammed with new unlocks feels partaking as a result of you may really feel the pressure of pulling the machine and cracking open your newest prize. This reverence for the PlayStation 5 {hardware}, together with sensible particulars like feeling each bot you acquire in a degree in your controller, shockingly by no means looks like pandering. After finishing a galaxy you get well a part of the PS5, which you need to clear up and reinstall. For somebody whose PlayStation 5 solely will get turned on for exclusives, this shouldn’t work, however the small particulars in the best way the controller feels mixed with the love and infectious care put into these moments all make this really feel particular and enjoyable.
Your entire collected bots are returned to the desert planet you crash on, the place you may work together or dance with them. Each cameo, PlayStation owned or not, has a small distinctive animation you may see in case you get their related merchandise from the gacha machine. Each character is handled with equal love within the desert world, however sure properties get a little bit additional love within the type of an entire degree.
After beating the boss in every galaxy, the character you save will take you to a different degree, themed totally round their franchise. I gained’t say which franchises get this remedy, however I’ll inform you that every includes a distinctive gameplay mechanic that could be a ton of enjoyable, including a novel dynamic to the sport that the remainder of the instruments don’t. Even ranges primarily based on franchises I haven’t performed, or I don’t even like, nonetheless really feel extremely particular due to an intense give attention to the small print and ensuring that each second feels enjoyable.
Shifting by way of Astro Bot is what ties all of this love and creativity collectively. It isn’t a troublesome platformer, even with a collection of smaller problem ranges, nevertheless it feels extremely fluid. Working, leaping, hovering, and another motion flows cleanly between them in a approach that feels pure. At no level throughout my time with Astro Bot did I ever really feel like Astro wasn’t doing precisely what I wished for him to be doing. The enemies are all fairly simple to defeat, however every provides a novel assault to keep away from, or a novel solution to defeat them. Whereas some individuals may bemoan the convenience of taking out enemies, the flexibility to defeat most of them with out ever slowing down lets the motion shine it doesn’t matter what you’re doing.
Whereas the narrative is gentle, the conclusion to the story is superb. It’s a large showstopper that’s extremely humorous, a blast to play by way of, and makes use of all the cameos and crossovers to its absolute benefit. Whilst you don’t have to gather each single merchandise to finish Astro Bot, it’s exhausting to think about anybody who needs to beat the sport not having the need to assemble each secret. It doesn’t take a lot extra time and the brief ranges ease any tedium that may come from making an attempt to wash up missed secrets and techniques.
Astro Bot is nothing wanting a masterpiece. Each facet of it’s thoughtfully crafted by individuals who love video video games in an earnest and passionate approach. Each degree has distinctive objects, with enjoyable secrets and techniques to search out, paired with platforming that feels spectacular. It’s enjoyable from begin to end and even probably the most cynical players may have a smile on their face as a result of the enjoyment and reverence Astro Bot has is infectious.
The Remaining Phrase
Astro Bot is nothing wanting magic, making use of enjoyable and fluid platforming to a artistic love letter to video video games. The standard of element in Astro Bot is simply rivaled by the eagerness its builders so clearly have for video video games.
– MonsterVine Score: 5 out of 5 – Wonderful