REVIEW: Astro Bot is a beacon of hope for PlayStation

If you were stuck in an elevator with a member of the Geek Ireland team and we were frantically trying to explain Astro Bot to you, we would call it ‘Super Mario 64 with a PlayStation engine.’ There’s no better description for it.

Everything from the whimsical gameplay to the absolutely stellar soundtrack brings you back to your childhood – that feeling of playing a brand new game for the first time, sitting in front of your TV with your snacks at the end of a long week at school. This is the game the PlayStation needed.

Astro Bot builds on the success of Astro's Playroom, a free game that came bundled with the PlayStation 5. Unlike its predecessor, this is a full-fledged platforming adventure that further develops on every aspect of Playroom.

Astro Bot excels with creative gameplay and outstanding use of the PS5's DualSense controller, enhancing the experience with haptic feedback and gyro controls, all while having charming presentation throughout.

In Astro Bot, you navigate through five main galaxies rescuing bots, unlocking secret challenges, and exploring hidden levels. The game's variety keeps things fresh, introducing new mechanics such as jet packs, boxing gloves, and puzzle-solving sections.

Although it has some minor frustrating moments, such as trials that become difficult due to one-hit deaths, these challenges ultimately feel rewarding and never outstay their welcome.

A notable aspect is the game's nod to classic PlayStation franchises with each galaxy's boss fight unlocking a level based on a popular PlayStation series which offers a nostalgic and enjoyable surprise for long-time fans.

You most likely have seen lots of them from the ads, but everyone is here from Kratos to Nathan Drake to Aigis from Persona 3.

The game also features an explorable hub called the Crash Site, which contains unlockable animations and random things to just play around with.

The game lacks depth, sure, but it makes up for it with the charm and ingenuity. With about a 14-hour time to complete, it offered up a linear yet incredibly enjoyable experience.

Honestly, with the absolute failure of games like Concord, Astro Bot is just the game the PlaysStation fanbase needs to revive their interest and celebrate PlayStation as a platform, and acknowledge the legacy of game it has had to offer for the last 30 years.

This has without a doubt proven the vitality of platformers and given us hope for more stellar single-player adventures in the future.