Games Beaten:Kaze and the Wild Masks
Raging Justice
Narita Boy
Mighty Goose
The Takeover
Astro's Playroom - PS5
So funny thing about the PS5, it has this dark secret that no one seems to want to admit. The system basically launched with no games, unless you are content to play last gen games with shorter load times and some performance improvements. If you want exclusives, the system doesn't really have many, just last gen games that it is trying to pass off as PS5 exclusives to gullible gamers (the gaming media unfortunately plays into this).
One of the few exceptions is this game, with Returnal and Ratchet and Clank being the only other ones I can think of. Fortunately, this game comes with the system so you don't even have to shell out any extra cash to get it, which is nice considering how much you'll have to pay to get a PS5 in the first place. Is this currently hard to find, expensive, system worth it for this one game?
I wouldn't go that far, but like its predecessor Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Astro's Playroom is a magical, fun filled experience that does a good job of selling you on the pros of the system, specifically the dual sense controller. The game is primarily built around the usage of it and shows you all of the cool things that it can do. It's also a really solid 3d, collect everything, mascot platformer (and Astro really should be the Playstation's official mascot) as well as a tribute to the entire Playstation brand, ironic given how much Sony has been pissing off long time fans lately.
Astro Bot brings to mind games like Mario 64 or Spyro in its design, Mario in particular. Levels are about finding hidden collectibles while also picking up any coins you find along the way. You'll also be fighting enemies and putting your platforming skills to the test in various ways. The game has four worlds each revolving around a certain theme like your typical water based world for example. Each world has four levels and each level has it's own individual theme tied into the larger theme of the world it's in. Of particular note is how seamlessly the game moves you from one level to another allowing you to play through an entire world without interruption. Each level has a focus on a certain gameplay element. Often times that gameplay mechanic will involve the use of the dual sense controller's unique abilities.
While Astro's Playroom could easily become annoying with its dual sense controller gimmicks, particularly to a traditional gamer who is averse to such things (not everyone likes things like "motion control" in their gaming) everything feels intuitive and easy to pick up. It's worth noting that much of the game does feature traditional gameplay as well. So you will spend a good chunk of time using nothing more than your analog sticks and buttons to play the game just like an old school platformer, but those moments where the game asks you to make use of the dual sense's unique abilities do break things up and add variety to the gameplay.
One stage has you moving the controller back and forth while alternating button presses between the shoulder buttons in order to climb structures like a monkey. You also have to make use of the pressure sensitive feature of the shoulder buttons in order to very lightly grab some parts of the wall you're climbing to prevent them from crumbling under the weight of your hands. Another stage has you blow into the controller to spin the propellers of an inflatable aircraft. Rescue Mission featured interesting controller mechanics as well, but Astro's Playroom leans into them a bit more heavily. The game even tells you that it is meant to be like a tech demo for the controller (Rescue Mission was more of a showcase for Playstation VR games).
One of the great things about the dual sense is how it plays with sound and sensation. In one level it starts to rain and you can literally feel every rain drop hitting the ground in your controller. This is old, school rumble technology evolved to its natural conclusion. In that same level, you can walk through a puddle and hear the sound of your feet splashing coming from the controller's speakers. The game plays with sound and sensation like this a lot.
One thing that needs to be mentioned about this game, is that is features A LOT of cute references to the Playstation brand's history with the adorable AR bots - who are like Playstation's version of the minions from Despicable Me (in my opinion) - cosplaying as famous Playstation characters and acting out moments from their games. Watching them will often distract you from playing through a level. There's also a fun hub area that features lots of Playstations controllers, consoles, accessories, and other assorted parts of the brand's history scattered about. Most of these things are the actual collectibles you will find in each level. Here in this hub area you can actually interact with these things and play with them. Hence the game's title. You'll find plenty of AR bots doing the same thing, giving this hub area a party like atmosphere where everyone is having a good time. Retro gamers who are big into Playstation consoles should really get a kick out of this hub area.
Astro's Playroom may be a modern game but it is brimming with respect for gaming history (and though that history is primarily Sony's, the game's design certainly does show respect for Nintendo and a certain plumber as well). Astro's Playroom is in many ways a celebration of the Playstation's history as well as its future and the game is constantly driving that point home. This game will really make you feel like Astro needs to be the official Playstation mascot, though I guess Playstation has tons of mascots at this point. Astro feels like an old school mascot though, like Mario and Sonic.
The game looks beautiful and everything is bright and colorful as you would expect from this type of platformer. There's so much going on in each stage as you move through the levels, particularly with the antics of the AR Bots, your eyes never get bored. Astro Bot games are very dynamic that way. Lots of stuff happens as you push through a stage. Things don't remain static. The music is very happy, upbeat, and full of energy and more than a few times you'll likely find yourself tapping your feet or bobbing your head to a catchy track. The game has a real party-like, celebratory vibe that comes through in the music. There are also some epic moments in the game that the music captures perfectly. It's not an exaggeration to say that this game and Rescue Mission before it feature some of the best music in gaming. The Astro Bot theme alone deserves a place in gaming music history. Take a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_aDjEv-7EThe game controls beautifully whether you're just running and jumping around levels or making use of the dual sense's unique functions. Everything in the game is also well designed and in addition to the dual sense controller's abilities the game has its own little clever gameplay gimmicks that will be familiar to people who have played Astro Bot Rescue Mission
The game does have some cons. It is short, more so if you're not hunting down every last collectible or trying to get the Platinum trophy. On that note, try getting as many trophies as you can without a guide, many of the trophy requirements are fun, clever, little things. Another con for this game is the distinct lack of boss battles..although there is one cool boss fight in Astro's Playroom that I won't spoil. Rescue Mission had several great ones though. Lastly, while the game does have a lot of memorable moments much like its predecessor, the lack of VR does make the game lack a certain magic that Rescue Mission had. Astro Bot really shines as a VR experience and if you have access to everything needed for PSVR, play Rescue Mission first, then play this game
Frankly, this game is the only real reason to own a PS5. Ratchet and Clank is great, but it's just another Ratchet and Clank game. Returnal is just another rogue-like in an industry that is obsessed with them right now, at least on the indie scene anyway. Hopefully, the system will eventually have some more TRUE exclusives that will be worth the hardship of actually getting the system. It's a great throwback to fun, old school, platformers like Mario, Spyro, Banjo Kazooie, etc. and just like Rescue Mission did, really shows how platformers like this can evolve and still be relevant. It'll sell you on the dual sense controller as a cool way to play Playstation games going forward and it will make you nostalgic for the Playstation brand's history while instilling hope for the PS5's future. More great games like this will certainly make it a system worth owning.
