It’s not often that a really bright, colorful, and genuinely fun game hits store shelves, especially when that game hasn’t been published by Nintendo. This is a particular rarity for PlayStation, with most of its first-party titles over the last decade or so preferring a more mature, action-focused approach such as that found inThe Last of Us,God of War, andGhost of Tsushima. Therefore,Astro Botis a welcome exception.
Released back at the start of September,Astro Botis an incredibly fun game that encourages exploration at the player’s own pace. That said, there are just a few things that new players might want to keep in mind while venturing throughAstro Bot’s levels for the first time, a set of unwritten guidelines that will help players get the most out of their experience.
Explaining The Unwritten Rules of Astro Bot
Players Should Take Their Time With Astro Bot
Arguably, the most important unwritten rule when it comes to playingAstro Botis for players to take their time with the game. On average, it’ll take players around 10 hours to finish all ofAstro Bot’s main missions, and about another seven or eight to find every hidden puzzle piece, rescue every Bot, and finish all of the game’s bonus stages. But these average times can be thrown out of the window.
Astro Botis a game that constantly encourages players to explore everything at their own pace, and players shouldn’t feel the need to rush through its levels. Players should take the time to soak in every level’s vibrant hand-crafted environment, explore every inch of the environment in search ofsecret Easter eggs and collectibles, take a moment to appreciate the game’s joyous soundtrack, and most importantly, just have fun.
There’s No Shame in Looking Up a PlayStation Cameo
It’s no secret thatAstro Botis a love letter to PlayStation’s long history, and that’s especially evident in the game’s collectible Bots. Of the 301 Bots that are in the game, over 170 are references toPlayStation first-party IP, or franchises that have had a close connection to Sony in the past. While a good portion of these Bots are from well-known franchises likeGod of War,Spyro the Dragon,Uncharted,Street Fighter, andRatchet and Clank, there are also quite a few Bots that come from much further corners of the PlayStation universe.
When players find these more obscure Bots, they shouldn’t feel bad about not knowing where they’ve come from. Instead, fans should see it as a unique opportunity to learn a bit more about lesser-known retro gaming history.
Make The Most of Astro’s Abilities
In most ofAstro Bot’s levels, players will unlock an ability they then use for the remainder of the stage. Many of these abilities appear frequently throughout the game, such as the Chicken Booster vertical rocket pack and the Bulldog horizontal rocket pack. But there are a handful ofAstro Botpower-upsthat only show up once or twice, and players should make the most of these moments.
The perfect example of this is the Mouse backpack, which Astro Bot wields for just one level. ThisMouse backpacklets players shrink down to a miniature size, allowing them to explore the stage in a completely different way, interact with objects in new ways, and access new parts of the level. Players should try to make the most of this ability while they have it, with it being one of the game’s most innovative mechanics.
JOIN ASTRO IN A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSIZED SPACE ADVENTURE
The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe!
Blast off on a supersized adventure
From sandy beaches to lush jungles and piping-hot volcanoes, explore a myriad of memorable planets in search of Astro’s lost crew!
Power up your platforming
With your new powers, battle out a whole new roster of quirky baddies and huge bosses. Feel every hop, punch and crack through your DualSense wireless controller.
Join the PlayStation celebration
Reunite with over 150 iconic PlayStation heroes and celebrate 30 years of PlayStation history!
