5/5 ★ – M_Riolu's review of ASTRO BOT.

Astro Bot is easily one of the best platformers ever made, especially in recent years. It’s not just great because it has all of these cool easter eggs and references, but it’s genuinely a really fun game to play. I think Astro Bot could very well be Sony’s new mascot after this game, especially considering how well it did both critically and financially. It is one of the best first-party Sony games that they have released in quite some time. I did 100% the game, not including the DLC as it hasn’t been fully released at the time of this review. Gameplay & Collectibles: The gameplay is nearly identical to the gameplay for Astro’s Playroom but on a larger scale. At the very least, the gameplay for Astro Bot itself is the exact same. The only time it is made different is when you obtain a “power-up” in a stage. There are 9 that are used across the standard stages, except there’s one that only ever gets used once. There are also 5 power-ups related to specific games such as the Leviathan Axe from God of War (2018) and Ragnarok. There are three collectibles to get between all 76 levels. There are the bots, which include VIP bots (the cameos) and the normal bots, puzzle pieces that return from Astro’s Playroom, and Lost Galaxy Warp Portals which take you to a “secret” 7th world, however, they are not found in every level. There are a total of 305 bots to find, not including the free DLC, along with items for all of the VIP bots. The gacha machine returns from Playroom, but this time it gives you the items for the VIP bots, costumes for Astro Bot, and skins for your Dual Sense rocket. You can find all of the bots on the Crash Site, which is the hub world of the game. As you collect more puzzles, you unlock a few enterable areas, such as where you change your costume and skin for the Dual Sense. Overall, the gameplay is amazing and I have no real issues with it. Music: The music in the game is phenomenal. There are a lot of songs that are reused or remixed from Playroom, but there are a lot of amazing new songs. Some of my favorites are Casino (No Guarantino), Pit of Peril, Windswept, and A Fire In Your Mind. The OST is very consistent in quality and worth listening to. Visuals: The visuals for Astro Bot are amazing. Each level looks visually distinct, even if they have the same theme. The game manages to be realistic while still being cartoony. The designs for the VIP bots are great, and I love a lot of their designs. It makes me wonder how several other video game characters would look as a VIP bot. I also hope they’ll add some new Silent Hill VIP bots because only having Pyramid Head is a crime. Closing Statements: Astro Bot is definitely a series I would love to see continue for years to come, as they create more innovative gameplay and add new cameos. It is a great homage to PlayStation’s history, especially with 3rd parties. I’m super excited to see what Team Asobi is going to create next after they release all of the DLC, whether or not it’s gonna be Astro Bot related. While it isn’t my game of the year, it is still a great game and easily one of my favorite platformers alongside Mario Odyssey, Mario Wonder, and Sonic Generations. Playtime: 15 Hours Trophies Obtained: 44/44 (Not including DLC) Riolu Rating: 10/10 Should You Play It? I definitely suggest it if you love video games, as it is a great homage to video games as a whole. I would also suggest playing it if you love platformers as it is an amazing experience.