Video Game Review: Astro Bot (2024)
Sean Clark reviews the hit 2024 PlayStation platformer, Astro Bot.
Over the last several years, I have played many classic platforming games on the Nintendo Switch, including Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Odyssey and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Typically, the PlayStation 5 is the console where I played RPGs, action-adventure games and sports games, while the Switch is where I play a bunch of Mario games, older RPGs and especially, platformers. My only exposure to Astro Bot was starting my PlayStation 5 experience with Astro’s Playroom (free to play on every console). I enjoyed Playroom but it was not enough to get me excited for Astro Bot.
However, when Team Asobi’s Astro Bot released on September 6, 2024, the hype was enormous. I heard an ample amount of buzz online with people calling it, “PlayStation Mario Galaxy.” This moniker piqued my interest. Although, what got me playing was my brother singing the game’s praises and recommending I check it out myself. After it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, I started my journey through the game.
Simply put, Astro Bot 110% deserved Game of the Year with it being a marvelous gaming experience I will not soon forget. Even though College Football 25 stole my heart in 2024, Astro Bot was my favorite single-player game I played this past year.
The best way I can describe the game is if Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Galaxy had a baby in the PlayStation universe. Astro and his bot buddies are exploring space with a PS5 as the mothership when Space Bully Nebulax destroys the ship’s CPU, scattering it and other core systems across different galaxies. Astro must explore other galaxies, save his bot buddies throughout different levels and restore the PS5 mothership, while defeating Nebulax’s minions.
There are many aspects of the game that make it special. It is the best looking platformer I have ever played with insane detail and seamless flow to the levels and worlds designed for the game. The music, composed by Kenneth C. M. Young, was able to balance relaxing lo-fi level themes when saving the bots and epic orchestral scores for boss battles. One small detail I loved is when you die, the music does not stop, allowing it to be continuous even when you are struggling with a level. One of my game score pet peeves is hearing the same death music for the 100th time in a row.
Alas, there are three aspects of the game that truly make it a masterpiece: the challenging platforming levels, incentive to explore every detail and the many PlayStation references.
Within four of the galaxies, there are symbol levels with the four main buttons on the PlayStation controller. There are four of each button in each galaxy, marking 16 levels where you have to progress through a challenging stage to rescue one bot, similar to most Super Mario Galaxy levels. I suffer from ADHD, but these levels were so challenging that I consistently experienced what it means to have total concentration. The challenges varied from rolling through spikes on an armadillo, navigating fragile glass platforms, scrolling burning torches, spiky birds flying at you, etc. These were challenging, creative and rewarding, making these levels a treat every time I completed them.
During the normal levels, I had the same mindset as I did with Kirby and the Forgotten Land where I made sure to check as many hidden corners, platforms, passages, etc. to look for lost bots that made a crying noise if you were close (same with the Waddle Dees in Kirby). This meant that I never had to rush through a single level, allowing me to take in the gorgeous design, music and layout of each world I entered. Astro Bot does a masterful job of using this to immerse you into the game, making every session a joy to experience. My favorite regular level was Djinny of the Lamp, an Aladdin (my favorite Disney movie) themed level where you go from exploring a sandy marketplace to using a booster dog while navigating a tumultuous sandstorm caused by the Djinny as you save other bots.
The true joy of the game lies in the special levels where the core systems lie after defeating the bosses. All five PlayStation consoles are represented, and while I will not spoil what they all are, I have to talk about the Uncharted level here. Dude Raiding is a perfect love-letter to the beloved action-adventure series. The theme (which I am actually listening to as I write this), gives a fantastic feel of adventure. The level plays out like an Uncharted sequence. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, are two of my favorite games of all-time, making me ecstatic to explore every inch of this level.
In the level, you absorb Nathan Drake’s shooting prowess, allowing you to gun down hordes of enemies while trotting across the island. There are even chase sequences and a boss at the end of a dungeon surrounded by treasure. It is the perfect tribute to one of my favorite gaming series and playing this level was my favorite gaming moment of 2024.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed everything Astro Bot had to offer. It truly represented everything great about platformers on the powerful PS5 console, while paying homage to those that played Sony’s most renowned PlayStation titles. I highly recommend playing this wholesome and fun game; it surprised me how great it truly was.
Rating: 10/10