Sony proves with Astro Bot that the company can still put out charming action platformers, but the love letter to PlayStation fans fails to include features that made previous games of the genre so fun to replay. While PlayStation platforming or adventures first made a name for themselves with delightful games like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, several decades later, developer Team Asobi has recaptured the thrills those games provided, even if they are short-lived.

When the PS5 launched, it included a free game called Astro's Playroom. The short adventure worked as an effective tech demo, starring Astro, for the PS5's multifaceted (and heavily underutilized) DuelSense controller. It also provided a look back at previous PlayStation releases, including beloved characters and hardware of varying popularity.

Gameplay Is A Blast From The Past In More Than One Way

Much like the colorful and timing-based jumping puzzles that helped make many fan-favorite PS1 games into franchises, Astro Bot's gameplay will feel nostalgic for any long-time PlayStation fan who spun into Crash Bandicoot's fruit-filled boxes or rescued Spyro the Dragon's hidden dragon statues. Environmental puzzles and exciting set pieces await players in Astro Bot's dozens of stages that can take anywhere from a couple minutes to a quarter of an hour to complete. Fans of PlayStation history will be very tempted to spend more time on each stage thanks to the many nods to past franchises and moments.

Astro Bot begins with a PS5-shaped spaceship traveling the stars when its crew of 300 Bots suddenly encounters a mischievous alien who breaks the ship and scatters its pieces and crew across multiple galaxies. As players take control of Astro, they'll work to repair the ship and rescue their crewmates. Coins to be collected and a plethora of well-designed platforming stages await players, some of which include special abilities, which thankfully helps Astro Bot feel more like a complete game instead of a self-congratulating tour of Sony nostalgia.

It's a highlight of how great Astro Bot's level design is, which easily ranks high among other action platforming gems with its reasonably hidden secrets and gravity-challenging stages.

Throughout the 10-12 hour campaign - around 15 for full completion - Astro encounters power-ups that give them abilities like shrinking, stretchy arms, rocket jump, and more. It's a highlight of how great Astro Bot's level design is, which easily ranks high among other action platforming gems with its reasonably hidden secrets and gravity-challenging stages. Still, Astro Bot fails to feel as revolutionary or varied as games that pushed the genre, like Super Mario Odyssey. While the game has many exhilarating moments, Astro Bot's desire to showcase PlayStation gear and characters can feel like it's holding the game back from being something unique.

Nostagia Is A Double-Edged Sword In Astro Bot

Besides many of Astro Bot's creative and exciting boss battles, nostalgia fuels much of Astro Bot's most thrilling moments, especially with the few stages specifically themed after PlayStation's most beloved properties. However, those experiences risk feeling hollow for those who haven't played the games that Astro Bot seems desperate to reference. While some beloved characters like Bloodborne's Hunter and Resident Evil's squad of zombie killers are reserved for the role of being Bots to rescue, the few more involved moments will see Astro equipped with iconic gear to tackle stages reminiscent of PlayStation's best titles.

Hardcore PlayStation fans will likely be both pleasantly surprised and disappointed to uncover what characters are included and how much love their franchises receive in Astro Bot. After rescuing Bot crew, half of whom resemble beloved characters from PlayStation games, they return to the game's hub world, and as more are uncovered, it grows into a playground for the rescued to occupy. As the player progresses, they'll unlock new pathways and cosmetics not just for Astro but for the PS-themed Bots.

As galaxies are explored and Bots are rescued, Astro Bot's hub world stations begin to unlock, including a closet with outfits for Astro and a claw machine that gives players a place to spend all their collected coins. The machine dispenses new Astro costumes, cosmetic options for the PS5 controller spaceship, and joy for the rescued PS-themed Bots. Each is missing a beloved item that can, once regained, give them a clever new animation to perform in the hub world. However, some long-time players of platformers produced by Sony will be disappointed in Astro Bot's current endgame offerings.

Left Wanting More Excellence After A Short Runtime

3D action platformers have many ways to keep their players engaged long after defeating the final boss. Time trials and secret areas that unlock after collecting enough hidden materials can provide many more hours of entertainment, especially if time trial modes exist for friends to compete against one another. While there are hidden levels to discover in Astro Bot, after those are completed, there is little incentive to revisit previously conquered stages. This means that after the thrill of the game's nostalgic moments wears off, there is not much reason to play after its 15 hours are up.

After the real credits begin to roll after Astro Bot's incredible final battle - which itself feels like the PlayStation version of the Super Smash Bros. credits mini-game built into a multi-section boss fight in the absolute best way - players can re-explore every level to find anything they may have missed. One of the many clever design decisions allows players to spend 200 coins at the beginning of completed stages to spawn a helpful bird bot that will signal when players are close to a secret they missed, which helps further reduce the amount of playtime required, even if ultimately I'd rather have spent another 10 hours with the game if possible.

Final Thoughts & Review Score

Team Asobi has teased that tools will eventually be added to Astro Bot that should appeal to speedrunners. With that tool and a bit of post-launch content updates, Astro Bot's fun could last a lot longer than it does, and that would be a welcome inclusion for a game with a short run time. Still, any frustration with the game ultimately stems from wanting more of what Astro Bot provides, which at its core is a top-tier platformer with innovation, charm, and enjoyment to spare.