Astro Bot has been showered with perfect scores and praise over the past few months. Personally, I’m not into platformers. The last one I remember playing was Rayman back in the 90s, and that’s pretty much the extent of my platforming experience. While my taste in games has broadened over the years, platformers still didn’t excite me. So, leading up to the release of Astro Bot, I wasn’t exactly caught up in the hype.
However, after seeing the flood of glowing reviews, my curiosity started to grow. Maybe I should give it a shot after all, I thought. Not just to see if it’s truly as good as people say, but also because, as a blogger, I’ve made a commitment to approach everything with an open mind and objectivity. So, I reached for my wallet once again, hoping it would be worth the investment.
The…Story?
My favorite games often have a strong narrative, ones that make me think and preferably present challenging choices. In Astro Bot, developed by Team ASOBI, it’s quite difficult to discuss a story; it’s a game without dialogue. Fortunately, the adorable robot sounds provide some charm, and I must admit that they sometimes felt just as heartwarming as well-written dramatic interactions.
Rather than a traditional story, it’s better to refer to it as a mission. Astro and his robot crew are flying through space in their mothership (a PlayStation console) when they are attacked by a green alien known as “Space Bully Nebulax.” The mothership explodes, scattering the parts and crew throughout the far reaches of the universe. It’s up to you to find them, repair the mothership, and defeat Nebulax.
You accomplish this by visiting a wide variety of planets and completing short levels. You navigate through platforming challenges to get from point A to point B, typically in about 5 to 10 minutes per level. Each level contains multiple hidden bots and puzzle pieces. Some are nearly impossible to miss, while others are so well hidden that, despite thoroughly scouring the level multiple times, I still couldn’t find them.
To progress and unlock new levels, you don’t need to collect all the bots (or any puzzle pieces), but it’s definitely recommended. By seeking out every bot in distress, you not only extend your playtime marginally, but also get the most out of each level.
The Gameplay is Simple Yet Effective
You can run, jump, briefly hover, and punch enemies with Astro. Each level regularly introduces special mechanics, such as slowing down time, absorbing liquids to “project” them like a bridge, or transforming into a steel ball to roll over sharp spikes or launch yourself through the air.
Astro is incredibly responsive and easy to control, and it always feels satisfying to discover a hidden bot or puzzle piece that you may have previously overlooked.
Certain (optional) levels significantly ramp up the difficulty, requiring you to navigate around flying objects and enemies with laser focus. Overcoming these challenges felt immensely rewarding, often after several attempts. I often met my demise before figuring out the ideal path or strategy, but the quick respawn times and the high fun factor of each level kept frustration at bay. Instead, these moments usually provided valuable lessons on what to pay attention to next time.
The only minor issue I encountered was occasionally wanting to jump and then transition into hovering, but my input would register twice, preventing the hover mechanic from activating when I wanted it to, and causing me to unexpectedly plummet. Fortunately, this didn’t happen too often.
That’s All Well and Good, My Friend, but This Sounds Like Any Average Platformer
I see where you’re coming from, so let me get to what makes Astro Bot truly special. Do you have a moment?
One standout feature is how well Astro Bot utilizes the DualSense controller. This technology was heavily touted when the PlayStation 5 was launched, but I must say it hasn’t made a significant impact on my gaming experience until now. Sure, we occasionally feel some resistance on the triggers, but Astro’s Playroom immediately showcased the potential for much more. And for those who might have forgotten, its successor gently reminds us of this.
It’s the subtle details and sound effects that really bring Astro Bot to life through the controller. Raindrops gently tapping on an umbrella make the controller vibrate softly in your hands, accompanied by corresponding sounds. Swinging through dozens, sometimes hundreds, of balls, gems, or rings is pure joy, especially thanks to the audio feedback from the controller. While these activities may not be necessary to achieve your objectives, they’re so satisfying that I often found myself wasting time just enjoying these playful interactions.
And this is precisely what makes Astro Bot so incredibly enjoyable. As I wrote in an earlier article, playing Astro Bot is like stepping into a time machine back to my childhood. My gaming preferences have shifted over the years towards stories with deeper narratives—games that challenge my mind. But ultimately there’s just one aspect that made me (and probably most of us) fall in love with gaming as a child. It was never about profound storytelling; it was all about one thing: having fun. Turning off my brain and just enjoying the experience.
“The levels are bright, colorful, and filled with elements that would make any child (and, apparently, still me) smile.”
As I ran and jumped through the beautifully crafted, colorful, and highly interactive levels of Astro Bot, I couldn’t help but wear a constant smile. This was due to a multitude of reasons, which I’ll attempt to describe below. But be warned: this is a game that no video or description can truly capture (I can hear you thinking, “Why are you even writing a review then?” I’ll owe you an answer on that one). When I watched some playthroughs during my orientation phase, I was still far from convinced. But Astro Bot had won my heart from the very first moment I booted the game up.
The Levels Are Bursting With Fun and Interactivity
One of the reasons Astro Bot reminded me of the simpler times of childhood is its playful, almost childlike aesthetic. The levels are bright, colorful, and filled with elements that would make any child (and, apparently, still me) smile. They aren’t just a treat to look at—they’re a joy to explore. It’s all the small details combined that create one magical experience.
For example, you might spot a beach chair that, in most games, would just be part of the background. But send Astro to it, and he’ll hop on, relax, and eventually fall asleep with a cute snore. Jump on a diving board, and Astro gets launched into the air. At the end of each level, when all the bots you’ve collected are revealed, you can tilt your controller to send them flying. The game constantly reacts to your actions in ways that feel rewarding and simply fun.
All the little bots you collect/rescue throughout the levels eventually help you unlock new areas in the Crash Site (where you rebuild the mothership). And honestly, I found even more joy in this than in the levels themselves. The Crash Site acts as a playground for you and your robot buddies, and it’s wonderful to watch.
What starts as an empty area gradually becomes more lively as you rescue more bots. Each bot goes about its own business in the Crash Site—some work on the mothership, while others engage in activities that reference the games they represent. You don’t just collect generic bots; there are also plenty of PlayStation icons to save, like bot versions of God of War, Uncharted, Persona, and many other beloved franchises. I won’t spoil too much about what this entails. While it’s not really possible to spoil the basic story, the magic of Astro Bot’s surprises throughout is best experienced firsthand.
Eventually, you’ll gather hundreds of these bots, who work together to unlock new areas for you to explore. Sometimes, they form a long pole or bridge for you to cross, or help you lift or pull heavy objects. With a tap of the triangle button, you can call your rescued bots to your side, and it’s visually delightful and impressive. Best of all, you can even have a dance party with them, grooving to the game’s incredibly catchy melodies.
Conclusion
I could keep writing about how much Astro Bot pleasantly surprised me, but I won’t put you (or myself) through that. Despite my indifference toward platform games, I can’t help but join the ranks of players and reviewers who have praised this game to the skies.
Astro Bot is pure joy from start to finish. There wasn’t a single level where I felt bored or impatient to move on to the next area. With a big smile on my face, I spent hours rescuing my robot friends, and I found myself wondering: what could I possibly criticize when writing this review? Aside from the occasional double input that my controller registered, I couldn’t think of anything. This game truly is a masterpiece, and every gamer should experience it.
Team Asobi’s creation focuses on the one thing that really matters in the end. Not just in gaming, but in life: having as much fun as possible. For around 15 hours—the time I spent with Astro Bot—I was completely immersed in its colorful, playful, magical world, which made me forget that life isn’t always all about fun and games. As it stands, Astro Bot is without a doubt my pick for the GOTY.
