Arriving September 6, 2024, Astro Bot is a direct sequel to Astro’s Playroom and looks to bring all its colorful platforming and more to a full-fledged game. Astro Bot is only confirmed for PS5 so far but so were a hoard of other PlayStation exclusives now available on PC. Sony has made a point of expanding its player base and sales by bringing franchises such as The Last of Us, God of War, Spider-Man, and more to the platform.
Astro’s adventure takes him to various galaxies full of planets to explore as he tracks down his scattered crew. This part of our Astro Bot guide goes over each and every level in the game, highlighting where to find all collectibles and more. Every level brings something new, and the controls feel perfect. The bright graphics and little PlayStation references make it even better.
Normally, a game like this would be quite a chore for players seeking to polish off all of its optional items to 100% completion, but Astro Bot offers a special tool that makes this process much faster and more enjoyable. Each galaxy you arrive in houses several secrets to uncover in the overworld, and even levels themselves have hidden bonus stages. This game’s secrets have secrets, with more hidden levels being revealed at a steady clip whenever you inch closer to polishing off each galaxy’s to-do list. There are 300 in total, though you only need 200 to face the final boss, and over half of them are dressed up as iconic characters from video game history. As galaxies are explored and Bots are rescued, Astro Bot’s hub world stations begin to unlock, including a closet with outfits for Astro and a claw machine that gives players a place to spend all their collected coins.
While most levels are linear, they highlighted some as exceptionally enjoyable and creative. The game currently holds a 4.89 out of 5 stars with over 31,000 ratings on the PSN Store. When Astro Bot was first announced, no one could have anticipated just how big the platformer would be. Even though it was hardly the little robot’s first adventure, it was the first one that was more than a simple tech demo or VR experience. It was set to take Astro on a massive new adventure that celebrated everything PlayStation, and upon release, players seemed to fall in love with it. Because of kuwin , there are likely plenty more Astro Bot titles in Team Asobi’s future.
But even when Astro Bot leans into this side of the series, it’s genius. One level has you transform into Kratos, Leviathan Axe and all, solving puzzles and freeing the likes of Thor and Freya from their snowy perils. When you become Drake, you get a pop gun for a completely fresh style of level that sees you finding hidden relics and climbing trees or shooting pirate skeletons to save Sully and Sam. Astro Bot also does some things I’ve never seen other games use well, or even at all. The blending of gyro to control your rocket ship as you blast into levels before seamlessly switching to traditional play is a far cry from the clunkiness of early PS4 titles using the trackpad out of extremely obvious obligation.
Astro Bot won multiple awards including Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2024, the 21st British Academy Games Awards, and the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. We also cranked up the number of baddies too with over 70 new types, including massive bosses at the end of each galaxy. Special mention to the deadly cobra queen Lady Venomara who appears in the trailer, waiting for you in her golden lair. Defeating each boss will uncover a wonderful secret but we don’t want to spoil that, so our lips are sealed😊. And for the brave ones of you craving even more challenge, the game comes packed with die-and-retry levels to test your reflexes. Astro Bot is a love letter to video games that sets a new standard in 3D platforming, with ridiculously creative stages and gorgeous visuals.
It even feels like some popping candy has smuggled its way into your controller as it fizzes and pings away, sweetly reacting to whatever is happening on screen. Astro Bot is a showcase for the DualSense’s bells and whistles unlike anything since, well… Triggers tighten in your fingers and rumbles are sent through your thumbs. I found my whole body involuntarily drifting from side to side as I guided Astro’s ship with the motion controls. I’d also recommend turning your controller speaker volume up if, like me, you have it muted by default – you’ll be missing out on some fantastic audio flourishes otherwise.
These are just three examples, but quite literally every level in the game has some kind of unique idea or design. There are some repeats in terms of power-ups that Astro Bot is given, little devices or creatures that give them new moves. For example, the dog power-up lets you charge straight ahead and smash through walls, the clock lets you slow down time, a penguin gives you a quick dash through water, and a monkey holds cymbals that let out a massive shockwave. Even though these power-ups appear across multiple levels, they’re always used in tandem with that level’s unique design, making them feel fresh.
Astro’s Abilities
However, those experiences risk feeling hollow for those who haven’t played the games that Astro Bot seems desperate to reference. San Mateo, Calif. – Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) today announced the launch of Astro Bot on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) console, the latest game in the critically acclaimed series. This highly anticipated release takes players on an interstellar adventure in search of Astro’s lost spaceship crew, who have been scattered across the galaxies after the PS5 mothership is attacked. Astro Bot pays tribute to three decades of play with crew members inspired by iconic games from past and present, helping to kick off celebrations for a significant milestone – the 30th anniversary of PlayStation.
Camo Cosmos Hidden Bot Locations
We won’t spoil the others, but PlayStation fans will be delighted with these Astro Bot renditions of some favourite franchises. Astro Bot, out now on PlayStation 5, is a collect-a-thon platformer. You play as the robot Astro adventuring in space in his PS5-shaped mothership with 300 of his friends — some of them simple bots, others robot-ified versions of famous video game characters.
But it’s the temporary abilities that come with each level that make things truly exciting. The Twin Frog gloves are a particular favourite, with their sticky tongues flinging out to provide a grapple swing option. They’re also spring-loaded, meaning any incoming projectiles can be sent back from whence they came, exploding in an enemy’s face.
GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. Free from the now-standard PlayStation Studios themes of threatening apocalypses, familial woe, and coming-of-age pains, Astro Bot is all about following a cheery little metal bloke around on his adventures. Customers find the game easy to play, particularly noting that it’s simple enough for children, with one customer specifically mentioning the intuitive controls. Customers praise the graphics quality of the game, noting its amazing visuals and soundtrack, with one customer highlighting its high-resolution textures and vibrant worlds.
Perhaps an in-game encyclopedia would be useful, briefly describing the robots dressed in non-familiar outfits. Such a feature would make the game an even greater treat for fans of the Japanese console. There was already a lot to love about Astro Bot before, with it being one of the best PS5 games of the year, but Team Asobi didn’t stop there.
But then I remembered that communication between player and developer is not only what to do but also what to feel. And suddenly, it felt like they were hovering just over my shoulder, holding back their laughter as a dear friend would while they waited for me to get a joke. They’d intentionally held back an explanation because they wanted me to experience the feeling of figuring it out for myself. They wanted me to laugh, like I suspect they did when designing it. Like its predecessor, Astro Bot is filled to the brim with PlayStation references and cameos. The most visible ones come in the form of the Special Bots — bots dressed up as famous and obscure PlayStation family characters.
Across the game’s dozens of levels, you’ll see many abilities like these, and in nearly every case, they are a resounding success. Hardcore PlayStation fans will likely be both pleasantly surprised and disappointed to uncover what characters are included and how much love their franchises receive in Astro Bot. After rescuing Bot crewmembers, half of whom resemble beloved characters from PlayStation games, they return to the game’s hub world, and as more are uncovered, it grows into a playground for the rescued to occupy. As the player progresses, they’ll unlock new pathways and cosmetics not just for Astro but for the PS-themed Bots.