Each galaxy you arrive in houses several secrets to uncover in the overworld, and even levels themselves have hidden bonus stages. This game’s secrets have secrets, with more hidden levels being revealed at a steady clip whenever you inch closer to polishing off each galaxy’s to-do list. There are 300 in total, though you only need 200 to face the final boss, and over half of them are dressed up as iconic characters from video game history. With the basics on lock, Team Asobi lets players focus on Astro Bot’s wildly inventive level design. In one level, I get a power-up that lets me shrink Astro down to the size of an ant on command.
Explore, Explore, Explore!
That leads me through a fantastic puzzle-platformer gauntlet where I need to shrink down to climb into a lock or hop up a tree’s leaves. Another level drops me in a casino and puts a time-slowing PSVR on Astro’s head. I use that ability to freeze a giant slot machine as it rains down chips, turning them into platforms. Ingenious one-off mechanics like this feel like they could serve as the basis for an entire game; that’s how well-crafted they are. According to the game’s reveal trailer and details shared on the official PlayStation Blog, Astro Bot will feature over 80 levels spread across six galaxies players will explore. That makes Astro Bot a significantly bigger adventure than Astro’s Playroom and PSVR’s Astro Bot Rescue Mission.
Trunk Of Funk Overview
Jumping, hovering, punching, and spinning all feels spot on thanks to tight, responsive controls. The true test of any 3D platformer is whether it feels fun to simply move around, and Astro passes handily. It feels great to hop around each stage, and Astro is often augmented with new abilities, so we never felt like he needs more moves. The same should be said for the soundtrack, which, luckily, is more expansive than Astro’s previous games. Even better, King888 comes with many highlights.
With tilt assist on, though, players should have very little trouble clearing Rising Heat quickly, which bodes well for those hoping to unlock the stage’s two Cameo Bots. Rising Heat requires players to use the Monkey, which is arguably one of the most annoying power-ups in Astro Bot. They’ll also be able to use the left analog stick to control Astro while he’s in the air after swinging from a pole, which can make life a lot easier. Thankfully, there are one or two corners to be cut here, allowing players to shave plenty of time off of their personal bests. With the following Rising Heat walkthrough, Astro Bot players can learn how to finish the stage in 75 seconds or less. It’s possible to go even faster, but those just looking to rescue the two Cameo Bots needn’t worry too much about that.
To top it all off, it’s a perfect game to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, reflecting on the myriad series that made the platform what it is today. Many themes are unique to a single stage; Sky Garden’s flamingo paradise is never revisited, nor is Construction Derby’s building site. You’ll also explore a giant singing tree, a vibrant casino, and the inside of a giant hourglass — all one-and-done ideas.
Astro Bot’s Digital Deluxe edition also has several exclusive items, including 10 more PSN avatars, a digital art gallery, and a digital soundtrack. It also lets you unlock Astro’s Yharnam Tourist outfit, Golden outfit, and two more Dual Speeder paint colors early (all the outfits and paint colors are available in the base game, too). The iconic marsupial is none other than PlayStation’s Crash Bandicoot!