After completing several planets in a galaxy, we unlock a boss level, which is essentially a simple puzzle that requires the efficient use of previously introduced mechanics. Occasionally, after a boss battle, a special level inspired by Sony exclusives awaits us. These special levels are truly amazing, and I won’t elaborate further because experiencing them firsthand is something really unique. I don’t know if I’ve ever played a platformer before where I enjoyed literally every single boss fight and level, but I can confidently say that about Astro Bot.

The hub area ‘Crash Site’ also contains bots and puzzle pieces, which you obtain by interacting with the blue markers to call your bots for help. Then there are 2 extra Nebulas, one for the final story part, and one is the ‘Lost Galaxy’ that contains all 11 secret levels. Besides 777X of Astro Bot’s creative and exciting boss battles, nostalgia fuels much of Astro Bot’s most thrilling moments, especially with the few stages specifically themed after PlayStation’s most beloved properties. However, those experiences risk feeling hollow for those who haven’t played the games that Astro Bot seems desperate to reference. This is a grand re-opening for Astro Bot, and it surely marks the start of what is destined to be a beloved series shooting for the moon. It seems odd to say I don’t want to spoil a game that effectively has no story, but some of the game’s best secrets really must be discovered with your own eyes.

Everything from running, jumping, bashing, and using Astro Bot’s boot thrusters to clear a gap feels incredible. The precise movements the little bot makes is fine-tuned to perfection. The controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are showcased in ways that show the relationship that Team Asobi has with the Dual Sense design team. The tiny vibrations when he runs, the way different objects cause the controller to rumble is immaculate and feels genuinely different to each obstacle. Tilting the controller to navigate your ship or hammer in nails, to the adaptive triggers and their use for a variety of his abilities is second to none. Where this becomes frustrating is that it shows how many teams, Sony’s included, are flat-out ignoring this tech, making Astro Bot yet again feel like a tech demo for controller features that have been out for four years now.

Astro Bot Guide: Trophies

In Spring-LoadedRun, you will strap on your twin frog boxing gloves and traverse a sunken city ruins. Punch rolling barrels, swing over daring gaps, and pummel your way to the top of the tower to rescue the special bots. Astro Bot is frankly superb in its execution, offering delightful worlds, abilities, and charm. Its presentation across its celebration of PlayStation’s history is twofold; one where it honors what came before and the other side of the coin in that it shows how much IP PlayStation has intentionally left behind.

I can’t imagine a game with such deep roots in PlayStation history would ever make it to other platforms. If nothing else, I hope that the creative joy that permeates Astro Bot’s every pixel inspires a new generation of game developers to make the kinds of games they want, without fear, limits, or compromise. But then Astro Bot blew all expectations out of the water when it came out earlier this year.

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Astro Bot confidently shows us that we don’t need to abandon that thinking just because tech has changed and the industry has grown. There’s still room for an expertly designed collect-a-thon platformer that’s filled with love and wonder. Astro Bot really is the video game equivalent of venturing through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory; a delightful concoction of experimentation and joy, just without the child endangerment. Chocolate death pipes and fizzy lifting drinks are instead swapped out for sinkholes leading to treasure and an inflatable friend who helps you reach floating platforms.

It’s a game that oozes creativity, consistently delighting and surprising the player with new mechanics, gameplay twists, smart boss battles, and jaw-dropping set-piece moments. But past that, it’s also a grand celebration of PlayStation and video game history as a whole — the only game that’s been able to rival Super Smash Bros. in that regard. Astro Bot is easily the best game on the PS5 to date and a platformer that can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anything Mario has done. Astro Bot is a delightful 3D platformer that has captured the attention of critics with its creative level design, smooth controls, and nostalgic PlayStation references woven throughout. It delivers a fun, accessible experience that should appeal to new players and long-time fans. Critics have praised its charming aesthetics and the seamless gameplay mechanics, but some note the occasional repetitive elements.

Not bad for a company whose CFO just publicly stated that the platform holder doesn’t have enough original IP. To gather console components and rescue our robo-friends, we must unlock specific galaxies and then the planets within them. Typically, when we land on a planet, we are provided with a tool that introduces new gameplay mechanics, offering fresh ways to complete each level. They add variety, keeping the game engaging and far from boring.

For Nintendo, however, platformers and mascot characters continue to be an essential part of its business and identity. While fans feared that Nintendo could no longer compete during the GameCube era and later the Wii U era, the house of Mario’s inventive spirit allowed it to make multiple comebacks. The combination of beloved characters and playful technology set it apart. The game also crashed on me twice, both times erasing more progress than I’d have expected since I assumed it auto-saves after each level, but I’d lost about three or four levels of progress in both instances.

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You’ll use these basic skills liberally as you explore the levels found within each star system, negotiating platforms, avoiding traps and overcoming a wide range of enemies. One graphics mode only, at a super crisp resolution and unwavering 60fps. Thought it was the best platforming experience since Bowsers Fury.

For reference, Baldurs Gate 3 was also given a 10 by Push Square, and there is literally no way this game is of the same calibre of a game that is the best RPG in living memory. If you didn’t buy the game (which I’m guessing is the case) they don’t owe you anything. I’ve only spent an hour with it, so far, but I can already say there’s a good chance this will be my GotY. I was smiling like an idiot the entire time and loving every second of it and its charm. The dev that was interviewed even said specifically “I only make kids games” which is confirmed by the age rating of 7.

After winning the GOTY award, many more players will join Astro Bot on his difficult and joyous platforming journey. I hope everyone reading this gets to play this comfort game and experience the heartwarming and serene adventure it offers. And Team ASOBI, please keep coming with more Astro Bot adventures. Having said that, what do you think about Astro Bot winning the Game of the Year 2024 award? [newline]You’ll pick up an awful lot of coins exploring all the planets in Astro Bot.