PS5 Astro Bot Review

North American Release: September 6, 2024
European Release: September 6, 2024
Japanese Release: September 6, 2024
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Team ASOBI
Genre: Platformer
Official Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/astro-bot/


Every PS5 owner knows Astro Bot. Sony's unofficial mascot first appeared in 2013's Playroom VR demo. But he really took off with Astro Bot Rescue Mission and the beloved PS5 showcase, Astro's Playroom. Now, this lovable robot returns in a full game celebrating PlayStation's 30th birthday. It aims to bring classic platforming fun to the PS5. But does Astro Bot live up to Astro's and PlayStation's legacy? Let's dive in and find out!



Astro's new journey starts when Nebulax, the Space Bully, attacks the PS5 Mothership. He steals its CPU, causing major damage and forcing a crash on a desert planet. This scatters PS5 parts and Astro's 300-bot crew across the galaxy. Armed with his skills, trusty Dual Speeder, and new friends, Astro must travel the cosmos. His mission: save his crew and find the parts to fix the mothership. It's all in a day's work for our cute little Bot.


This event sets the stage for Astro Bot's gameplay. Your main goal is to explore the galaxy, finding all 300 Bots spread across 80 levels. You'll also collect coins, puzzle pieces, and unlock hidden galaxy portals. At its heart, the game is a classic 3D platformer. You'll jump around, gather items, solve puzzles, defeat enemies and bosses, tackle challenge stages, and have a blast doing it. It's straightforward, but in the best way possible.


Like many platformers, I found the difficulty varied widely. Some levels were a breeze, while others, especially optional challenges, really tested my skills. These tougher stages pushed my accuracy, timing, and pattern recognition to the limit. However, no level felt impossible - just more challenging. The game strikes a good balance, with difficulty scaling fairly and consistently. Most of the 80 levels focus more on fun than extreme challenge, which I really appreciate. The absence of a life counter helps too. Death is just a temporary setback, so your success depends on your patience and willingness to keep trying.

The in-game collectibles are key to progression, as in all great platformers. You need enough bots to unlock certain areas and levels. Puzzle pieces open up new spots in the main hub, like a Gacha machine and places to change Astro's outfit and glider color. Coins let you add new features to your hub world and get matching props for VIP bots - special bots designed after famous PlayStation characters.

In many ways, Astro Bot reminds me of classic platformers like Super Mario Bros, Spyro the Dragon, and Banjo-Kazooie. It focuses on that timeless style of collecting and gameplay that just grabs you and keeps you hooked for hours. The level designs are fun and interesting, almost entirely interactive, and packed with enjoyable moments and hidden surprises.


The game's charm lies in its simplicity and the joy it brings. While it doesn't reinvent the platformer genre, it perfects the formula that has worked for decades. The levels are diverse, ranging from lush forests to futuristic cities, each with its own unique challenges and secrets. The attention to detail is impressive, with every corner of the game world feeling alive and responsive to Astro's actions.

Fans of Astro's Playroom (which I hope includes all PS5 owners) will notice that Astro Bot feels very similar to its predecessor. This is mostly true, though the story differs slightly. While the core gameplay remains the same, there are some key differences. The game now offers more to do and adds exploration outside of each level. Instead of Astro wearing different suits to overcome obstacles, he now has companions that give him new abilities tied to each level's theme. This change not only gives Astro new friends but also adds variety to the levels, keeping things fresh and exciting.

A new addition is Bird Bot, who appears in each completed world. For 200 coins, Bird Bot will guide you directly to any missed collectibles. Some might argue this makes the game too easy, but as a busy adult, I found it very helpful. It's basically like using a guide, but built into the game. Plus, it's completely optional for those who prefer to search on their own.

The game really shines in its use of the DualSense controller. Beyond standard controls, Astro Bot fully embraces the controller's unique features. You'll use the mic to create wind, the gyroscopes to steer vehicles, and enjoy the haptic feedback and sounds as Astro moves across different surfaces. This integration goes beyond mere gimmicks, truly immersing you in the game. Even small details, like feeling and hearing Astro's footsteps on metal through the controller, add depth to the experience. While the motion controls aren't perfect and can be tricky at times, they're overall a positive addition to the game.



Astro Bot doesn't just excel in gameplay; it's also a loving tribute to PlayStation's history. The game is packed with references to classic PlayStation games and consoles. From collectible artifacts that represent different PlayStation eras to cameos from beloved characters, the game is a nostalgic journey for long-time PlayStation fans.

Each world in the game represents a different PlayStation console generation, with environments and enemies designed to evoke memories of that era. The attention to detail is impressive, with even the background music often featuring remixed versions of classic PlayStation game themes.

This celebration of gaming history isn't just surface-level fan service. It's woven into the fabric of the game, creating a unique experience that both honors the past and looks to the future of gaming. The way Astro Bot incorporates these elements feels natural and adds an extra layer of enjoyment for those who recognize the references.


Even for players new to PlayStation, these nostalgic elements don't detract from the core gameplay. Instead, they add richness to the world and might spark curiosity about PlayStation's legacy. The game strikes a perfect balance, offering a top-notch platforming experience while also serving as an interactive museum of PlayStation history.

Astro Bot wears its PlayStation love proudly, fitting for a game coinciding with the brand's 30th anniversary. This adoration runs deep, with the game brimming with references, hidden surprises, and collectibles celebrating PlayStation's legacy. As mentioned earlier, 173 of the collectible bots are dressed as iconic gaming characters crucial to PlayStation's history. Many have extra props, creating mini-scenes in the hub world that add charm and personality to their inclusion. Each galaxy concludes with a special level inspired by famous PlayStation games, where Astro takes on the role and abilities of that game's hero, exploring unique environments and defeating the final boss. Even obvious elements like the PS5 Mothership and Astro's DualSense glider feel like intentional, welcome choices to honor the brand.

This all highlights that Astro Bot, one of the few PS5 exclusives, is as much a love letter to Sony and PlayStation as it is a return to classic platforming. The game essentially serves as a grand 30th birthday celebration for the brand, featuring many beloved characters joining the festivities. For those who grew up with older PlayStation systems, Astro Bot is more than just a fun, classic-style platformer; it's a nostalgic journey, reminding players why they fell in love with these consoles in the first place.

While Astro Bot may not be the most complex game, lacking cutting-edge graphics or numerous dialogue options and branching storylines, it's pure joy and, crucially, fun. It's an exciting game packed with accessible yet appropriately challenging gameplay. It keeps one of gaming's most classic genres alive in a fantastic way, doing so with open affection and celebration for Sony and PlayStation. As mentioned before, the game feels reminiscent of classic platformers, but ultimately, Astro Bot is just as enjoyable, if not more so, than those platformers we all grew up playing. Astro himself has easily become a mascot worthy of standing alongside giants like Mario and Sonic. There's a desperate need for more games that simply aim to be a source of unfiltered fun like this, and I'm eagerly anticipating my next adventure with Astro and his crew.

• Incredibly fun gameplay
• Immersive use of DualSense controller features
• Excellent tribute and anniversary gift to PlayStation
• Controls occasionally prove unreliable.