Unmissable PlayStation Gems You Need to Experience Today!

Explore our complete Astro Bot evaluation

Astro Bot is a stunning 3D platform game featuring a lovable hero, numerous planets to investigate, and a diverse array of highly gratifying mechanics to master. It demands patience, mindfulness, and a considerable level of platforming expertise, though the allowance for resets is generous, and failing only costs you time. The primary character, Astro, is endlessly delightful as he soars through galaxies on a quest to save 300 of his buddies, many of whom represent characters from Sony’s catalog and the broader gaming universe — bots from Capcom, Konami, and Sega franchises are plentiful.

Numerous planets that Astro touches down on reveal fresh mechanics, including spring-loaded boxing gloves resembling frog faces, an octopus that inflates Astro like a balloon, a mouse backpack that shrinks him at will, a penguin-propelled swimming device, and a stopwatch that briefly suspends time. Levels are crafted around these distinct mechanics, and the variety presented is remarkable.

Apart from its pure charm, Astro Bot is visually stunning. Its environments are sharp and vibrant, filled with interactive elements, and it seems like every pixel has been refined to excellence. However, it’s the game’s physics that invigorate everything — when Astro lands on a giant inflatable daisy, the material yields under his tiny feet, indented with each step and tilt, making the whole scene appear utterly squeezable. When rain strikes Astro’s umbrella hat, the sound resonates perfectly on the DualSense, along with the sensation of raindrops on the grips. Astro Bot’s audio effects, haptic feedback, visuals, and physics synchronize seamlessly, converting every surface into a playground. It’s enchanting.

Astro Bot feels meticulously crafted for gaming enthusiasts. It’s a skill-oriented tribute to everything that renders the format so unforgettable and joyous, while simultaneously serving as an outstanding introduction to the language of games. With precise and responsive controls, endearing characters, and an exciting assortment of mechanics and settings, Astro Bot stands out as one of the finest games that Sony has ever crafted. — Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter