Playstation’s Astro Bot Breathes New Life Into the 3D Platformer Genre

Since the release of Super Mario 64 in 1996, the 3D platformer genre, with few exceptions, has essentially been the “3D Mario game” genre. Whether it was 64, Galaxy, or Odyssey, Nintendo’s latest release has always been the pinnacle of the genre. This was Nintendo’s bread and butter after all, so it didn’t really make sense for competitors to try to rival them when they could capture larger audiences in other genres. Well, the last full-length 3D Mario game, Odyssey, released almost seven years ago, and with no official word on a sequel or new game in general, the giant is sleeping. Playstation has seized that vacuum with Astro Bot, a platforming marvel that is absolutely brimming with charm.

Developed by Team ASOBI, a first party studio for Sony Interactive Entertainment, Astro Bot released on September 6, 2024. In the game you play as the title character, a little, round, adorable blue and white robot. You’re tasked with flying around to different worlds in order to collect parts to repair your mothership, a giant PS5 console. Along the way, you collect puzzle pieces and rescue other bots, many of which are dressed as iconic characters from Playstation games. Collecting these is what allows you to progress to the next world, and also unlocks new features in the hub world.

There are a total of 300 bots to rescue. You don’t need to collect all of them in order to progress, but I have been on my playthrough. It’s fun to see who is waiting around the corner as a costumed bot, and it also helps that the game utilizes Playstation’s game-help feature better than any game I’ve ever played before, allowing you to easily know where to find the hidden collectibles if you find yourself looking for too long. The levels feel great to explore and searching every nook and cranny feels intuitive. Some levels are more open than others, but it’s never a hassle to find everything, which is a strong suit of the game’s design.

On the surface, the movement options in Astro Bot are extremely basic. You can jump, attack, hold down the attack button for a spin attack, and hold down a double jump to hover and get a little extra air. That’s it. However, almost every level includes a unique power-up or ability that allows you to do something new. These can range from a set of stretchy arms that allow you to throw punches or grab onto objects, to becoming a ball that is able to roll around on spikes. These powers only add one or two new movement options at a time, but they have enough variety and appear frequently enough to make each level stand out on their own from a gameplay standpoint. They keep the platforming fun and engaging. On top of that, every movement in this game feels like an innovation thanks to the haptic feedback of the PS5 controller, which this game utilizes like no other. You feel everything. Whether it’s the pitter patter of rainfall, or something as simple as walking on glass, it feels brilliant on the controller and greatly adds to the sense of exploration.

This strong and varied platforming is coupled with stellar level design. Every level is fluid and smooth; each section leads seamlessly into the next. Even the more open levels have a clear structure to them. For example, in one level you must go around different sections of the open area in order to break locks that free a giant Astro Bot. No two levels look or feel the same, despite all of them having the same objectives. One level might see you exoloring a dark and dreary haunted house, while another has you scaling the ruins of an island. They are exceptionally unique, especially in the visual department. Each level has its own theme and style. 

The visual variety adds greatly to the game’s overall charm, which is perhaps its greatest strength. There are constantly small, intimate scenes to explore. These can include interacting with other bots or standing in one of the game’s cardboard cutouts, which make for excellent screenshot opportunities (see image above). You can put Astro into different outfits and change the color of his ship. What adds the most to this game’s personality is the fact that it is a straight up love letter to Playstation. Not only can you find bots dressed as Playstation legends, but you can also spend your coins in the hub world to give them signature props to interact with. You can give Alucard his coffin, or give Sly Cooper a safe, for example. There are also special levels at the end of each world with gameplay inspired by iconic Playstation series, including God of War and Uncharted. I was a Nintendo kid, but my teenage and early-adult years of gaming have been defined by Playstation. Even if I haven’t played a lot of the games that are referenced, I can still feel the love, and I appreciate it.

Overall, Astro Bot is a phenomenal game. With excellent platforming variety, visuals you simply can’t find on the Nintendo Switch, and the combined personality of five generations of Playstation, there is nothing to not enjoy about this game. It is without a doubt the best non-Mario 3D platformer I’ve ever played, and if it weren’t for Balatro (see my previous article), it would certainly be my favorite game of the year. If you’re a fan of platforming or Playstation (or both, like me), this game was made for you. I can’t wait to see what Playstation’s newest mascot does next.