Read our full Astro Bot review
Astro Bot is a gorgeous 3D platformer with a charming protagonist, dozens of planets to explore, and a wide range of awesome mechanics to master. It requires patience, awareness, and a high level of platforming skill, although resets are generous and failure costs nothing but your time. The main character, Astro, is endlessly charming as he flies through galaxies on a mission to rescue 300 of his friends, many of whom embody characters from Sony's library and the wider gaming world – bots from Capcom, Konami and Sega franchises abound.
Many of the planets Astro lands on introduce new mechanics, such as spring-loaded boxing gloves that look like frog faces, an octopus that inflates Astro like a balloon, a backpack filled with mice that squeezes him at will, a booster rocket for swimming with driven by penguin. and a stopwatch that temporarily stops time. Stages are designed around this unique mechanic and the variety is impressive.
Besides pure cuteness, Astro Bot Beautiful. Its landscapes are crisp and vibrant, with interactive detail, and every pixel feels polished to perfection. But it's the game's physics that give the whole thing energy – when Astro lands on top of a giant inflatable daisy, the material flexes under his little feet, pressing in with every step and jiggle, and the whole scene looks completely compressed. When rain hits the Astro Umbrella Hat, the sound reflects perfectly on the DualSense, as well as the feel of the raindrops on the handles. Astro BotSound effects, tactile sensations, graphics and physics are in perfect harmony, turning any surface into a playground. It's magical.
Astro Bot it seems like it was created specifically for video game lovers. It's a professional celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, while at the same time being a great introduction to the language of gaming. Featuring precise and responsive controls, lovable characters and an exciting variety of mechanics and environments. Astro Bot undoubtedly one of the best games Sony has ever released. — Jessica Conditt, senior reporter