Astro Bot Review

Astro Bot is back, and this time it’s more than just a tech demo, it’s a fully-fledged adventure that packs in a ton of content and fun. If you loved Astro’s Playroom, you’re in for a treat. The new game builds on everything that made the original so charming, delivering more of what fans loved, with some fresh twists thrown in for good measure.

The game doesn’t stray too far from the original formula, and that’s a good thing. Astro Bot offers everything you want from a sequel: more levels, more power-ups, and more of the delightful DualSense controller features that made the Playroom such a joy to play. The DualSense integration is as impressive as ever, with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that make you feel every jump, slide, and bash as if you’re right there with Astro.

One standout improvement over the original is in the visuals. While the game still looks crisp and sharp like its predecessor, it takes full advantage of the PS5’s hardware. Imagine all those tech demos where they show off new GPUs with hundreds of items bouncing around the screen, that’s exactly what Astro Bot does, but in a real game setting. Running through an Egyptian tomb while thousands of jewels cascade around you is a visual treat, showing just how much effort went into using every bit of the PS5’s power. It might not make a big difference to the gameplay, but it’s a testament to the developers’ commitment to showcasing the console’s capabilities.

Astro Bot features six galaxy-style areas, each with several worlds to explore. The goal? Rescue stranded Astro Bots, collect puzzle pieces, and tackle fun puzzles and enemies along the way. The game is mostly straightforward and easy to pick up, making it accessible for all ages. While there are some side levels that crank up the difficulty a notch, they are more about keeping things interesting than stumping the player. The real joy comes from the creativity behind each world. The diversity in style, design, and mechanics keeps things fresh without overwhelming you with too many abilities. Whatever gadget or machine is strapped to Astro’s back determines your abilities, keeping the controls simple yet engaging across a variety of environments.

One of the stand out things are the number of boss battles. Some range from fully fledged, multi staged boss fights and others are just level sized enemies that you need to fight. The difficulty may not be too high but some of them provide enough challenge to deliver a lot of enjoyment without them ever feeling frustrating. The creativity behind some of the bosses is incredible though. One stand out is a large chameleon of which you need to freeze time at the perfect moment to run up his tongue and attack his mouth. All of the boss battles go off without a hitch. No bugs, glitches or moments that have you shouting at the screen. Just a fun and entertaining challenge.

Just like with the playroom, when it comes to controls, they’re super sharp and responsive. The platforming feels just as polished and bug-free as a Mario game, which is a big compliment for a game that isn’t a flagship franchise for Sony. It’s clear that a lot of care went into making sure everything works smoothly, which makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

Astro Bot delivers exactly what fans expect: a fun, charming, and highly polished platformer that’s a joy to play from start to finish. Will we see another Astro Bot game in the future? It’s hard to say. There might not be much room to grow beyond this point, but who knows? Astro Bot could become a staple for showing off new PlayStation tech. For now, if you enjoyed Astro’s Playroom, this is a must-have addition to your collection. It’s everything you loved and more. Don’t miss out!

THE VERDICT