It's been 11 years since we first met the cute little robots Astro Bot. Remember, it was with The Playroom, a free technical demo installed by default on all PS4 consoles in 2013 to discover the new features of the DualShock 4 controller, including the touchpad and the lightbar on the back of the controllers. We were immediately won over by the work of Team Asobi, who offered us a high-quality demo.
Three years later, the little robots Astro Bot were back for a new technical demo to introduce us, as it should be, to PlayStation VR. Here again, the result was amazing, to the point where we were treated to a full game, in VR with Astro Bot: Rescue Mission in 2018, which remains to this day one of the best titles on Sony's headset.
For the release of the PS5 in 2020, Team Asobi did it again with Astro's Playroom. Except that this time, we weren't on a simple technical demo, but on a small game that paid homage to the history of PlayStation and that exploited the features of the DualSense like never before.
Faced with such success, Astro Bot could not remain just a second-rate license for Sony. It was only logical that the first official opus was announced last May, as part of the Summer Game Fest2024. After a long summer of waiting, it's time to give you our verdict on this title that will go straight to the list of the best PS5 games, and by far.
The little robots of Astro Bot are back
For this new title, the little robots of Astro Bot are peacefully traveling through the different galaxies aboard their PS5 spaceship. While everything seems calm, they are attacked by an alien who will destroy the ship and scatter the 300 robots to the four corners of the galaxy. The leader, who we control each time in all of Astro's adventures, finds himself alone, stranded on an unknown planet. The mission will be simple: find our 300 comrades as well as all the key parts of the ship to repair it and fight this malicious alien.
This is the beginning of an epic journey that will take you through seven galaxies (with the Gorilla Nebula, the Tentacular Apex, the Serpent System, the Camouflaged Cosmos, the Raptor Radiant, the Déjà-Vu Dimension, and the Secret Galaxy). In total, Astro Bot offers you 39 original and new levels, in the atmosphere and universe of Astro but also, for some, in the universe of the great PlayStation licenses. You will also find 17 "Die & Retry" levels which are short levels, but full of traps that will put your nerves to the test, as well as 13 "Challenges" levels which are small levels with objectives to achieve, and finally, 6 boss levels. Enough to offer you a very complete game, accessible to all.
To put it simply, if you aim for 100%, to find the 300 robots, find all the puzzle pieces, as well as the secret levels, you will need between 12 and 15 hours of play. Which is very good for this type of game. On the other hand, if you simply want to discover the levels in one go without taking your time, the game can be completed in less than 10 hours.
Stars in your eyes
With Astro Bot, you will have the choice between playing the game in one go in a hurry, or taking your time to discover all the secrets, but especially the easter eggs and the little details that make all the difference. And, believe us, you will have every interest in choosing the second option. All of the levels in Astro Bot are meticulously crafted with impeccable attention to detail. It is teeming with things to do, interactions, and cool effects on the screen, but also right down to your fingertips with the DualSense features that bring their little extra (we will come back to this a little later).
Each level is centered on a theme (beach, jungle, haunted house, etc.) and you also have levels that will be specialized on a PlayStation license like Uncharted or God of War. The developers have gone to great lengths to offer great fidelity with references for fans that will inevitably make you smile. Even in levels that are not inspired by already known games, there are so many things displayed on the screen, effects and elements flying in all directions, that we are amazed and spend our time smiling with our pleasure gauge at max.
Astro Bot is the definition of a video game: fun, funny, cute, colorful, creative with a lot of good ideas. Because yes, in terms of gameplay it is also constantly renewed. Between the 15 new powers that allow you to test different gadgets, or the really impressive level design of certain levels, you will clearly have a great time, especially if you like platform games.
In addition to the visual aspect, you have the whole sound-design part and the soundtrack of the title which are exceptional. The music is, as always with Astro, of high quality and immerses you even more in your levels, especially those inspired by PlayStation licenses with revisited main themes that are perfect!
The DualSense at the heart of the game
With Astro’s Playroom in 2020, we were amazed by the quality of the title and the highlighting of the features of the DualSense. It will be the same with this title. The full potential of the controller is exploited wonderfully. Whether it's the haptic feedback with different sensations depending on the surface on which your little robot walks: the vibration system will evolve if your Astro runs on a metal plate or in a muddy tide. The same will be true for the adaptive triggers which regulate perfectly according to the gadgets you use.
Of course, the "Wow Effect" is not as impactful as in 2020 when we discovered this technology. Even though in four years, few studios and games have managed to really highlight this DualSense, we are starting to get used to it and therefore, we are less impressed than with Astro’s Playroom in 2020. However, it clearly remains one of the games that best exploits its features to date and it is always a real pleasure to play in these conditions.
Technically flawless
Another point on which this Astro Bot is perfect: no bugs, no slowdowns, nothing. However, some levels are quite impressive in terms of elements displayed on the screen. At times, it explodes in all directions, it flies everywhere and we wonder by what magic all this runs without the slightest drop in framerates. But, it is indeed the case.
Same in the "Die & Retry" levels, rather short, but quite intense where you have to hurry, go from platform to platform and from trap to trap. When it goes fast, nothing lags and the gameplay is of a precision of goldsmith allowing, once again, to have fun and have a lot of fun.
Astro Bot, the game without flaws?
It is clear that it is difficult to find any at first glance. The game is beautiful, fluid, offering a good lifespan, with a lot of things to do, excellent playability, it is sublime visually and technically as well as in terms of the use of the controller. Not to mention the music which is great. So, what can we blame it for?
Objectively, not much. Of course, and like all video games, this will vary depending on the players. Some will find it not long enough, others not difficult enough, even in the "Die & Retry" levels. But, this remains specific to each person. At the level of a test, and what the game offers, as much in its content, as its gameplay and its technique, it is very difficult to blame it for anything.
We may regret that there is no possibility of playing with two players, as LEGO games do very well. The title is really perfect for the family and it would be nice to be able to play it in cooperation. Apart from that, Team Asobi manages to give us an almost perfect copy.
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