I have been low-key anticipating playing Astro Bot ever since it was first announced. At the time, I had this feeling that I’ve been exposed to too many dark and brooding pieces of media. I wanted something light and after spending some time with the game I can say for certain that I got exactly what I was hoping for.

Astro Bot is a full-fledged game that’s a follow-up to Astro’s Playroom. The latter is the free game that comes with every purchase of the PlayStation 5 (PS5). And while it was short, it was, and arguably still is, the best showcase of the many features introduced on the PS5 at launch. 

Those features included the incredible haptic feedback of the DualSense controller. The level, kind, and intensity of vibration varies depending on the surface Astro is traversing. It also showcased the many possibilities of the adaptive triggers. Half presses would perform a different action than long presses. You get the gist. 

Astro Bot is a lot more of the same PS5 showcase but with a more relatively cohesive plot line. And what is certainly a longer experience than its predecessor. 

Saving your fellow robots 

The game starts with Astro Bot and an entire crew of other robots aboard a ship shaped like a PS5 console. They suddenly encounter a huge green space creature and get attacked. This particular part reminded me of the end of Thor: Ragnarok  where the Asgardians who escaped the explosion of Asgard were met in space by Thanos’ ship. 

Anyway, so there starts your journey. With 100 bots scattered across different galaxies. It’s your mission to save them by visiting different planets within these galaxies and ultimately repairing your PS5 ship. 

Modern classic platformer

Astro Bot starts off relatively easy. The first galaxy plays like a masterful tutorial that doesn’t spoon feed you but it does a good job of introducing you to the mechanics of the game. Each planet becomes progressively more difficult, incorporating all the gameplay things you learned every step of the way.

The vibes feel like a classic platformer. Though definitely not as difficult, I’m reminded of my much, much younger days playing Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon on the first PlayStation. The cartoony art style and lively bright music contribute to this feeling. It’s extremely nostalgic for me.

As much as it has that vibe, it also certainly plays like a current gen title. Perhaps even moreso than a lot of the PS5 exclusives that have come before it. Like Astro’s Playroom, it takes full advantage of the DualSense features. 

DualSense Showcase

The haptic feedback vibrates differently when Astro is walking on sand, shallow waters, clay/mud, and much, much more. The gyroscope is also utilized very well in different sections of the game. And it’s not to an annoying extent. Lastly, the adaptive triggers come into play too. 

All the different features mentioned above are properly spaced and implemented. In certain planets, Astro will come equipped with “special backpacks”. Each one introduced a different platforming mechanic that takes advantage of the aforementioned features.

Some of the early ones you’ll encounter are one that gives Astro the ability dash on ground and in mid-air. The other that I personally had a lot of fun with is one that lets you do a lot of climbing as well as grab and throw projectiles. 

A lot of the planets also start to feel less linear as you go along. Each planet has a list of objectives. It’s done so in a way that you’ll know exactly if you potentially missed one and encourages more exploration on that particular planet. 

Oddly therapeutic

I struggle to call this article a review (I still will for SEO purposes) because as of writing, I’ve only completed up to the second galaxy. But that’s both intentional and a force of circumstance. 

At the risk of sounding apologetic, I didn’t immediately see the email when PlayStation representatives reached out for this review. And by the time I got the code, I was already in the thick of completing a few backlogs as well as preparing for our IFA 2024 coverage. It was pretty hectic. 

But playing Astro Bot to end my incredibly hectic last couple of days proved to be exactly what I needed. The art style and general bright disposition of the game helped me relax and wind down. That’s not something I can say about all the game reviews I take on. 

That’s why the night before I wrote this, I decided to take my time with the game. Because I know for sure I’m gonna need the sense of calm I get whenever I play it, especially in the always busy last quarter of the year. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are sections of the game that can be challenging. I’ve found myself falling and failing more than a handful of times. But it’s just so damn fun that I don’t mind it at all. 

Is Astro Bot your GameMatch?

Astro Bot is a charming platformer that showcases the best things about the PS5. It’s Astro’s Playroom but expanded and made even more fun and engaging.

The game is easily recommendable to anyone who owns a PS5. It’s light, bright, fun, and an absolute good time.