Summary

• Sony is addressing the lack of variety in AAA releases with Astro Bot, a platformer with AAA production quality.
• Astro Bot promises over 50 planets to explore, diverse gameplay mechanics, and engaging combat with alien rivals.
• Sony aims to set a new standard by creating original and immersive gaming experiences on PlayStation 5.

There has been a distinct lack of variety in the releases for PlayStation 5 games, but it's indicative of a larger problem with AAA releases. AAA games are arriving on schedule and are reaching new levels of fame, as seen as recently as Baldur's Gate 3. However, despite the positive a lot of studios are receiving, there still seems to be an overlooked genre that many people are clamoring for.

Games that would fall under genres like collect-a-thon, platformer, and couch co-op are slowly fading away or are reserved for indie developers, with the primary industry focus shifting from pioneering to processes of reiterating and perfecting an established formula. Sony has taken steps to change this by revealing Astro Bot, an action-adventure platforming game with AAA quality production behind it. A lot of people have grown tired of predictable releases and have been waiting for something new for a while, and Astro Bot is looking like it's going to deliver something magical.

What Is The New Astro Bot Game About?

Astro Bot's Gameplay And Unique Identity

On the PlayStation store page, Sony describes Astro Bot as a "powered-up platforming action" experience. The trailer showcases the established PS5 mascot in varying locations, from expansive deserts to vibrant oceans. The game is expected to make extensive use of the hardware capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and the DualSense controller to provide the player with an immersive platforming experience. Different gameplay mechanics, such as vehicle control, strategic combat, and even freezing time are among the many features that have been highlighted in the announcement.

The most common issue that smaller developers have when creating similar games is identity. One of the reasons that Nintendo is able to deliver high-quality platforming experiences is because of the identity that the Super Mario IP already possesses. It can be very hard to make any game stand out to consumers, especially if that game revisits an unpopular, unfamiliar, or retired genre. Sony has a very solid foundation for creating equally enjoyable experiences, thanks to Astro's Playroom in 2020. It was an opportunity for them to showcase and present the tech that they have created in a format that's not only carefully crafted, but simultaneously adored by fans.

How Much Content Will There Be In Astro Bot?

PlayStation Says There's Over 50 Planets To Explore

The core gameplay loop sees the player traveling to different planets, exploring what they have to offer and engaging in vastly different scenarios, and helping ward off Astro's alien rivals. The official Astro Bot page says that the game will have over 50 planets to explore and adventure through. Between these planets, it's expected to see plenty of Sony references similar to the Easter eggs of Astro's Playroom, only helping to bring these distant places closer together while consolidating the title as a must-play game for the console.

In addition to the sheer amount of in-game locations available, a healthy number of different gameplay styles and mechanics have been revealed. These seem to vary from simple power-ups and additions to the main kit that Astro has, all the way to completely different control schemes for piloting the dual speeder. The combat in the game involves fighting off alien rivals that are threatening Astro's home, with different aliens of all shapes and sizes filling out each world. A couple of boss enemies also appear to have revealed themselves in the trailer, that most likely serve as rulers over planets or collections of them.

Having the ability to produce a game of this genre at the scale that Sony has defined is very good news for the future of the gaming industry. While there are always indie developers working on refreshing projects in multiple different genres, it's likely that there will be more original and intuitive content from the PlayStation 5's market competition in the near future. Players need experiences that make use of impressive technology rather than gimmicks. Hopefully, there's going to be more games in the years to come that make use of classic gameplay formats.

Source: Playstation