Fell in love at first sight: Astro Bot review, a galactic adventure on PlayStation 5

Astro Bot is one of the best gaming experiences I've had in 2024. There were a lot of expectations for the game even before its release, so the gg editorial team couldn't pass it by and decided to go on a galactic journey. Team Asobi has managed to create a high-quality 3D platformer where you constantly say to yourself: "I'm going to finish one more level and go to sleep", but you can't stop. Several galaxies, dozens of planets with unique levels, mechanics, gadgets and, of course, a lot of characters from PlayStation games that will make both people who have been playing since the PlayStation 2 era and those who entered the world of gaming just a few years ago smile. And all this is complemented by the use of all possible DualSense features, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Probably no game has ever used all the features of this gamepad to such an extent, so it was impossible not to fall in love with Astro Bot.

Synopsis.

The PS5 spaceship has crashed, and the bot crew is scattered across the galaxies. So Astro must fly his dual speeder around dozens of planets full of adventures, dangers and surprises to rescue his friends, restore the ship and defeat all the villains who decided that they could hurt the seemingly defenceless bots and take their ship. However, anyone who thinks so will be very upset in the future for having decided to cross the road of such cute cans.

5 reasons to buy Astro Bot

• The gameplay is always trying to offer something new and the game does not get boring even after 10 hours
• Dozens of different planets to explore
• Use of PlayStation 5 technologies such as 4K, 3D sound, SSD, and DualSense gamepad features
• The opportunity to meet dozens of iconic Sony characters like Kratos, Joel or Jin Sakai
• The game is ideal for both adult gamers and their children

1 reason not to buy Astro Bot

• You only take serious games with realistic graphics and a complex plot

Fast transition:

• Integral game evaluation
• What I learnt after my Astro Bot review
• Plot: a space journey for the peace of the galaxy
• Gameplay: so interesting and so diverse
• The technical side of bots
• How Astro Bot will be remembered
• Five things you need to know about Astro Bot

Integral assessment of the game

I gave the story 4 out of 5 points because of one drawback - the lack of explanation of the motivation of the villains. In terms of optimisation, the press release version had a nasty bug that could lead to the loss of saves, which is why I lowered the score by one point. There were no complaints about the gameplay, graphics, sound, and atmosphere - all of these aspects are of a high standard, so they received 5 points out of 5. The overall score of the game was 4.7 points out of 5.

What I learnt after the Astro Bot review

The video game industry has grown a lot over the past 10 years. Let's take Sony games for example. We have the brutal dilogy The Last of Us about world destruction, revenge, and hatred. There is the epic Scandinavian saga God of War, which reveals the theme of father-son relationships. We can also mention Horizon, which is impressive in its scale. And even Spider-Man, which is a superhero blockbuster in general, can move you to tears. So, as we grew up, so did the games. However, everyone wants to return to carefree times.

So, you want to play something without a twisted story, but with high-quality gameplay, vivid visuals, and a pleasant atmosphere, so that after the credits roll you don't sit around analysing what happened for another hour, but turn off the game with a smile and go share your impressions with your friends. There is a lack of such games and Astro Bot has made up for it perfectly. Team Asobi's game was able to give a lot of positive moments and that's why you want to stay in Astro Bot as long as possible. It's as if the game opens an intergalactic portal and tells you: "jump on the ride of fun for at least a couple of hours", and it's just fantastic.

The story: a space journey to bring peace to the galaxies

A PlayStation 5 spaceship with 300 bots on board was travelling peacefully through space until a huge green alien appeared, smashed the ship, stole its important components and scattered them along with the bots in 5 galaxies. Now Astro the bot has to get on his DualSense dual speeder, go to each of the galaxies, explore the planets: from sandy beaches to dense jungles and hot volcanoes, rescue all the bots, meet each of the bosses who control the galaxy and return the ship's components.

And in platformers, the most important thing is usually the gameplay, not the plot. It is needed mainly so that the player does not mindlessly run through the levels, but for a specific purpose. However, I would like the authors to explain a little more about how the game world works. For example, in the first galaxy, a monkey boss is waiting for us. But why does this monkey want to destroy us? What are its motives? Why did he decide to help the green alien? Why is it evil? Is it just evil and that's it? And this applies to all the villains in the game.

I'm not asking for a super elaborate lore, but if the game briefly explained that "The monkey wants to destroy us because...". That would be enough for the first big Astro game. So I hope that in the sequel, and the likelihood of its appearance is very high, because it looks like Sony has big plans for this franchise, they will pay a little more attention to the plot so that it all looks like one big coherent picture. But even so, the story of Astro Bot is rich in epic, funny, and nostalgic moments that make you either sit with your mouth open or smile as if you saw the Kremlin on fire.

Gameplay: so interesting and so diverse

As you have already understood, we have several galaxies here, which are divided into several planets (levels). You start in one galaxy, go through a few planets (about 5), and then a planet with a boss opens up. After defeating the boss, you'll find the final planet, which is dedicated to one of the PlayStation universes, and after completing it, you'll get one of the ship's parts. You have to repeat this 5 times.

Galaxies in the game

There is also a 6th galaxy - the hub. It contains all the rescued bots, your ship, and various "cosmetic" rooms. For example, a machine where you can open a gift. This is usually an item for one of the bots. Or you can go to the rooms to change the appearance of Astro or his speeder. However, it is better to explore all of this yourself, because there are a lot of interesting things in the hub, and we do not want to reveal all the cards, so let's move on to the most interesting thing - passing the planets.

A hub where you can take a break, change your appearance and continue your journey

Dynamic and versatile gameplay

Each planet is something unique. Astro will also have to visit the Heavenly Gardens, where pink prevails, and there are flocks of flamingos at every step. After that, he will visit the Path of the Az-Teks, where thousands of stone structures are covered with dense thickets. Next is the more civilised planet Construction Race, where you have to manoeuvre between construction cranes and platforms, and then you can fly into Frosty Canyon, where everything has long been covered with a thick layer of snow and ice.

Examples of some of the planets to be visited

And this is the great advantage of Astro Bot - diversity. Even in the same galaxy, planets differ from each other. The developers constantly want to show you something new, and that is why Astro Bot is addictive. In one level, you can be sent underwater, and in another, the mechanics of changing day and night are used. Depending on this, the level itself changes.

And from time to time you are given various gadgets that give Astro new abilities. It can be a monkey that clings to ledges, an elephant that creates platforms, a time dilator, a belt that turns you into a metal ball, or frog boxing gloves to punch enemies.

One of the gadgets makes Astro small enough to fit through even the smallest gap

Speaking of enemies. There are regular robots with spikes, chameleons that shoot explosive projectiles, electric robots, some that shoot fire, and others that explode near you. All of them are killed in one hit, but they also need only one touch to send Astro to the checkpoint.

And then there are the bosses. Most of them also do not repeat themselves and have their own set of mechanics that need to be learnt and understood. And although most of them take a few attempts at most, the battles are memorable thanks to the epic that accompanies them. Everything flies, explodes, and jumps. There are practically no moments when something is not happening on the screen during a boss battle. And all of this creates a real dance that you want to plunge into, feel the rhythm and stay in these events as long as you can.

A fragment of the battle with one of the bosses

Exploring the levels

However, the interest of the planets does not end with enemies, gadgets, and beautiful locations. They also need to be explored. In addition to the coins scattered everywhere, you also need to look for puzzle pieces that will turn into the aforementioned rooms in the hub, and bots. They are divided into two categories: regular ones and those dedicated to Sony games. For example, Ratchet, Sam Porter, or Joel and Ellie. And believe me, you will be very, very surprised by the appearance of some bots :)

In Astro Bot, you can find dozens of characters from PlayStation games

And when you find them, it's hard to hold back a smile. You have unforgettable memories of the adventures you had together with most of these characters, and it's very nice to see them again, albeit in the form of bots. In total, there are 300 bots hidden in the game, and about 150 of them are related to PlayStation games. So be sure to explore all the levels, look into every corner, find all the secrets, because this is not a game that you should run through in a straight line. The more you explore it, the more emotions you will get.

There are also secret levels in each galaxy. I want you to find them yourself, but if you see a strange asteroid in the galaxy, maybe you should fly closer to it? And if you don't really have any difficulties while passing the main planets, the additional levels will show you what a challenge is. Some of them may even set your arse on fire. I won't forget the levels with the "triangle" for a long time. Something I underestimated is that the additional content in this game can turn into souls-like. So if you want to add a little thrill to your playthrough, look for and open as many secret levels as possible.

One of the secret levels is made in retro style

Using DualSense

It's been almost 4 years since the introduction of the DualSense gamepad, and finally, there is a game that uses its technology to the fullest. The developers adhered to the principle that when you press any button on DualSense, something interesting should happen. If it's raining at the location, the gamepad accompanies you with a light vibration all the time. When you run through the leaves, the vibration is appropriate. And any touch with the surface is accompanied by vibration: from ice to metal. Do you use a gadget? Then here's the adaptive triggers function for you.

However, there is no point in writing much about it, because you just need to experience it yourself. But now we have a game that fully demonstrates what the device we hold in our hands every day is capable of. And although I've been playing with this gamepad for over 2 years, sometimes it felt like my first game with it. I'm even a little jealous of those for whom Astro Bot will be one of the first games on PlayStation 5.

Ideal for children

An important point that needs to be made: the game is perfect for your child. The controls are as clear as possible, there are no complicated combinations, and the bright picture and cartoon-like style will most likely lead to the fact that the child (or younger brother/sister) will not give you the gamepad. So you can sit next to him and cheer for him and his success in saving the planet, or you can agree to take turns completing the levels and then you will definitely have a fun atmosphere in your home.

Just don't send her to the secret levels. Then there is a chance that she will get annoyed with the complexity. But the main planets are great to play even for the youngest audience.

How does the gameplay of Astro Bot feel in general?

The gameplay part of Astro Bot even exceeded my expectations. Team Asobi managed to make sure that each level tried to give at least something new, to offer something that you haven't seen on previous levels, and this deserves praise. There are different enemies, cool gadgets, cool bosses, a well-done research element and, of course, DualSense technology that helps with immersion. Over time, it's getting harder and harder to find a game that sucks you in and that you don't want to turn off after an hour. For me, the release of Astro Bot was a small holiday, and this feeling arose primarily due to the high-quality gameplay that does not bother and tries to surprise even the most demanding gamers.

The technical side of bots

The game works almost perfectly. Astro Bot on PlayStation 5 keeps 60 fps all the time, the game has never crashed, and I have encountered only one bug, albeit not a pleasant one. In the press copy of the game, if you turn off the game not in the main menu, but, for example, in the hub or galaxy, your progress is simply not saved. So I had to do the following: complete a couple of levels, go to the main menu, complete a couple of levels again. So I want to believe that on the day of release, the authors managed to fix this so that players don't have to sit and think: "Did I save my progress?". Otherwise, I have no questions about the optimisation. And this is the case when you can play the game on release, and not wait six months or a year for everything to be fixed.

What a nice visuals and soundtrack

Despite the fact that Astro Bot has "cartoonish" graphics, this does not prevent the game from showing something beautiful. We managed to do this thanks to a large number of objects and effects. No planet feels empty. There are a lot of leaves, water, trees, grass, enemies, and all this is accompanied by sand, snow, rain, or something else. Therefore, the game has something to look at thanks to this content. And let's not forget that it all works in 4K.

The soundtrack matches the atmosphere of the game. All the music is pleasant and cheerful, just like our adventure, and the main song is stuck in my head and will probably stay there for a couple of days. I have no complaints about the sound itself. Everything is recorded and sounds good, so the developers from Team Asobi did a great job in this aspect. And if you have headphones that support 3D sound technology, you can turn it on and immerse yourself in the world of Astro even more.

How Astro Bot will be remembered

Astro Bot will be remembered as a fun, exciting, and lighthearted adventure that does everything it can to make you want to play it all the time. What stands out the most is the gameplay, which constantly shows you something new as you travel across dozens of planets with different locations, enemies, gadgets, and exploration. And given the references to iconic characters associated with the 30-year history of PlayStation, Astro Bot can also be considered a tribute to the Japanese console. There are not enough games like this, so I hope that the next adventure of Astro and his friends will be even better and we will get a new great franchise that will capture the hearts of millions of players. Personally, I will remember Astro Bot only as an exceptionally high-quality game that I would like to recommend to everyone who owns a PlayStation 5.

Five things you need to know about Astro Bot

• Astro Bot is the first big game in the Astro universe
• The story is about Astro Bot, who saves his friends and the PS5 ship
• The best part of the game is the gameplay, which constantly offers something new
• The 3D platformer uses all the features of the DualSense gamepad to better immerse you in this world
• Astro Bot allows you to feel the effect of serenity throughout the entire passage

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