An article published by TheGamer earlier today described Astro Bot as a graveyard as opposed to a celebration, pointing to the corpses of the many dormant franchises the platformer is championing. While an undeniably cynical take, it's important to underline that the author is not criticizing the Team ASOBI game, and stresses several times that they're excited for the PS5 exclusive. But their overarching point, that Sony has lost its magic by moving on from the masterpieces in its past, has irritated me to an irrational degree. I simply had to write a response.
Jak & Daxter actually changed a lot over the course of its tenure in the PS2 limelight. The original game was a sandbox Super Mario 64-style collectathon, while it eventually evolved into more of a GTA-esque open world action platformer. Despite critical and commercial success, when the PS3 came around, Naughty Dog wasn't forced to make a fourth entry in the franchise, and instead stretched its legs with the Uncharted series – another historic PlayStation property that introduced an entirely new cast of beloved characters. It would never have been made if the studio had been chained to Jak.
It's important to note that this story doesn't just apply to Naughty Dog, however. Fresh from the success of the Sly Cooper series, Sucker Punch also reinvented itself throughout the PS3 era with the well-liked inFAMOUS franchise. It'd make a third game for the PS4, before introducing an entirely new universe in Ghost of Tsushima. This became the Seattle-based outfit's best-selling game, and while Sly Cooper hasn't been forgotten by any stretch – a new title, developed by Sanzaru Games, was generally well-received – it allowed us to meet a fresh cast of characters, including Jin Sakai.
From the Helghast to Aloy; from Spyro the Dragon to Spider-Man; from Sackboy to Astro Bot. Not every transition is a hit; not every new franchise becomes a household name. But part of PlayStation's enduring appeal is its ability to try. So keep this in mind before you opine the death of Devil's Dice or Sir Daniel Fortesque: if PlayStation hadn't given its teams the opportunity to innovate in the first place, the collection of supposedly forgotten characters you're crying about wouldn't be anywhere near as large.
Do you think Astro Bot demonstrates Sony's inability to iterate upon the IP that previously brought it success – or its bold commitment to reinventing itself generation after generation? Do you think Team ASOBI's outing is a graveyard, or an earnest celebration of all the series that have come before it? Pick your side in the comments section below.