Blast across more than 50 vibrant planets, discover new powers, and team up with iconic PlayStation heroes in a galaxy-spanning journey full of fun and surprises. Critics praised the gameplay, level design, and content, with some comparing the game to Nintendo franchises, particularly the Super Mario series. Astro Bot won multiple awards including Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2024, the 21st British Academy Games Awards, and the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. There are hero stages in Astro Bot based on big properties like God of War and Uncharted.

Psycho Mantis – Metal Gear Solid

From its tight design to its incredible visuals to mechanics that feel carefully tested to generate as much pleasure as possible, Sony has its new standard bearer for platformers. Astro Bot received universal acclaim from both critics and players. Game8 rated it 96/100, calling it the best platformer of the year, praising its stunning visuals, great design, and fun, simple controls.

If Astro Bot has failed to save enough Bots for a group action, Asobi will have a saddened expression when approached and will be unable to call over Bots. Punching a Bot Wall or Bot Tower knocks Bots out of the structure, causing it to collapse after a few seconds in the case of the wall and causing the stage element to fall slightly in the case of the tower. Additionally, Bots can be called over without Asobi’s aid to follow Astro and imitate dances that he does. The lowest amount of Bots for a group action is three, and the highest amount is 300.

Serpent Starway (42 Bots, 16 Puzzle Pieces & 2 Warps)

Not sure I’ll use it, unless I get really stuck trying to find something, but still appreciated. This has been one of the few websites that’s given this game the coverage it deserves. [newline]I hope it is something Sony are going to do more of in the future. It means a family or friend can play on my profile and get cloud saves as well using one of the save slots. I was suprised how easily some of the collectibles are to miss.

But maybe the PlayStation didn’t need an answer to Nintendo and Sega’s beloved mascots. Games were entering an era in which more realistic human characters like Cloud Strife, Solid Snake and Lara Croft were becoming the new industry icons. As this more mature stream of gaming culture evolved, cutesy mascot characters and the 3D platformers they called home became less and less common. When Microsoft entered the industry with the Xbox in 2001, Halo’s Master Chief instantly shaped the console’s image. Microsoft’s purchase of Rare, a studio that had created platformers with mascot-like characters for Nintendo, almost seemed like an afterthought.

Dodge the pig and then grab its tail to spin it around and around. But instead of throwing the big at the big block of ice blocking your path, turn around and aim at the ice seal you just passed. The secret exit in Creamy Canyon is relatively early in the level. NK88 is none other than PlayStation’s Crash Bandicoot!

However, while his range of moves isn’t particularly deep, they’re executed excellently. 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. It’s a perfect recipe for a 3D platformer, encouraging you to explore every nook and cranny in search of those adorable little droids. There are secret exits in several Astro Bot levels, all of which will unlock a new stage in the mysterious Lost Galaxy nebula.

You can be sure that a game awarded this score has the highest quality presentation and expertly honed gameplay, but also breaks boundaries and pushes the industry forward in a meaningful manner. You say one game might appeal to one person but not the other and then start making blanket statements about what reviewers should be scoring games. Platform games obviously don’t appeal to you…that doesn’t mean that they can’t appeal to other people. When someone scores a game they have to score it for its own merits and take it for what it is, not compare it to every game that has ever existed. BG3 is exceptional and I couldn’t agree more it’s a 10 but it’s not comparable to Astro Bot in the same way it would be dumb to compare Gran Turismo 7 and Alan Wake 2.

Despite the game consistently giving you new ways to traverse its puzzling pathways, you’ll almost always feel like you have a good grip on clearing gaps, timing attacks on enemies, and dodging bosses with expertise. The camera caused a few rare instances of what felt like selling me out, but the game’s checkpoints are so numerous and the load times are virtually non-existent, such that this never became a pain point for me. While some abilities are more fun than others, they nearly all work seamlessly.