Is Astro Bot the video game of the year?

Astro is back and better than ever!

Prepare to have a permanent smile on your face as you rescue iconic PlayStation friends across planets filled with infectious 3D platforming fun. This game is simply just pure delight.

The opening of Astro Bot sets the tone of the game perfectly. There's a floating PlayStation5 in space, filled to the brim with adorable robots. Already, it feels like we’re on to a winner here. But a surprise encounter with a mean alien causes absolute mayhem.

As he steals the console’s signature technology, the PS5 mothership is sent plummeting toward a desolate planet. The entire BOT crew is now scattered across the galaxies. Awakening alone, Astro has his mission – rescue them and restore the PS5 to its full potential.

And so begins your adventure through over 50 planets, controlling a pint-sized robot with enormous potential...

A truly immersive platformer

In Astro Bot, you never lose your sense of wonder. On-screen, you’ll poke mercilessly at the environment and check around every corner – just to see if there’s some surprising magic in store for you. You’re as curious about the game at the final level as you are at the beginning. Such is the level of fun in exploring and all the secrets and surprises you can uncover.

Almost every planet you visit brings new powers and abilities to the fold. Through these, there is no shortage of creativity. A robot chicken jet pack that gives you a burst of speed? Yes, please. A mouse suit allows you to shrink yourself down at any moment - why not? In some levels, you can even stop time or turn yourself into a sponge to manipulate sponges. Abilities get zanier the further you progress. And you will consent to the craziness with gusto.

While powers are hilarious and a feast for the eyes, Astro Bot will hook you in with it’s immersive gameplay mechanics. The game is a reminder of the power, prowess and untapped potential of the PlayStation DualSense controller. It is your interactive guide here and will engage all of your senses.

At the beginning of every level, you’ll need to physically steer Astro’s ship with your controller. When climbing, you need to mimic the actions with your controller. Need to activate a fan? Try blowing on your controller to generate wind. Want a spinning Astro to reach new heights? Flick him into the air with a quick jolt of the controller! These little interactive moments form the essence of Astro Bot, where what you do in the real world somehow materialises on screen.

Even the simplest things, like walking over metal, sand or water, send a distinct sound effect through your headphones. Vibrations make you feel the pressure of walking through sludge. It’s a tactile experience, made all the richer by the fact you’re constantly discovering new versions of these interactions at a steady pace throughout the game.

Paying the ultimate homage to the PlayStation family

Every planet has five or six BOTs to rescue. Like a treasure hunt, they’re scattered from beginning to end, sometimes in obvious places, other times hidden within secret layers. Many of these are iconic PlayStation heroes from the console’s long list of classic hits.

From the Last of Us to Crash Bandicoot, Ape Escape to Horizon Zero Dawn, every rescue you pull off will trigger enormous nostalgia as Astro dances in glee with the mascots of your childhood. It’s clear the development team is paying tribute to those brave games that paved the wave.

Some of these special characters have dedicated levels, granting Astro signature abilities from their playbook. While I won’t spoil any specifics, I will argue that Astro and God of War deserve their own spin-off game. Play the level, and you’ll no doubt agree with me.

As you rescue and reconfigure your BOT crew, that desolate home world you crash-landed in will become a mecca of fun. Robots will appear and follow Astro around like some sort of hilarious mob. Rescue enough of them, and you can complete different challenges around the planet as a team. Seeing over 60 robots join forces to make a tightrope across a canyon is one of many simple but hysterical moments in the game.

Rescuing enough robots throughout the galaxies unlocks boss fights. These are your traditional platformer encounters, where you can expect multiple stages that challenge you to jump, dodge, and hit things in precise time. From a rampaging gorilla to a scuba-diving octopus, they’re fitting ends to each galaxy’s experiences. Your standard enemies found on each planet will more than prepare you for these battles.

All fun and no frustration

One thing Astro Bot manages very well is platformer frustration: that feeling you get when missing a jump for the 30th time, or the last-minute K.O. as you approach the end of a level. Thankfully, checkpoints are dotted every couple of seconds on a level. This means that if (and when) you falter, you’ll respawn seconds away. This will take the sting out of every missed action you try. It also encourages you to risk it all to investigate each level’s secrets.

The game never penalises you for missing items or robots to rescue. Replaying a level allows Astro to hire a drone bird as a guide. The bird will detect missing collectables in the area by sending out an audio ping and vibrating your controller, ensuring you secure that coveted Platinum achievement in your own time.

What’s more, you can restart a level or exit to the galaxy in mere seconds on the menu. The lightning-fast speed of the game ensures that if you’ve had enough of one particular place, you can leapfrog to the next in just a few blinks.

A plethora of bonus levels populate each galaxy, some of which are a cakewalk, while others are challenging, to say the least. These will offer the perfect opportunity for seasoned robots to flex their reflexes. While there are no competitive modes yet, I am told that a free DLC later this year will 'please speed-runners’. So get that early practice in now...

A new PlayStation staple is re-born

When Astro’s Playroom debuted in 2020, it had one mission. Show off the power of the PlayStation 5. The game focused on showcasing the new DualSense controller and paying homage to other PlayStation franchises that not many considered Astro’s true potential. Oh, how things have changed.

Astro Bot is a fully-fledged game in its own right, providing a delightful platformer experience from beginning to end. Although it still puts a generous spotlight on the extended PlayStation family, it’s not afraid to put its star robot at the front and centre of the story.

It heralds back to the glory days of 3D platformers, mixing in modern tactile gameplay mechanics with polished-level design. There are ample opportunities to enjoy yourself with zero frustration or annoyance. We’re witnessing the arrival of a real Game of the Year contender here and the beginning of a new platformer staple.

Astro Bot is available to play on PlayStation from September 6th.