Astro Bot Game Review – PlayStation’s Super Mario

fortressofsolitude.co.za:

In the ’90s, Sonic was the driving force behind purchasing a Sega console, much like how Super Mario inspired countless Nintendo Switch sales in 2017. PlayStation, while always boasting a strong lineup of AAA games, never had a true mascot. That is, until now. Enter Astro Bot, the tiny robot that debuted in 2018’s Astro Bot Rescue Mission and appeared in the follow-up on the PlayStation 5, 2020’s Astro’s Playroom. Now, with his very own game (this is not another tech demo), Astro is set to win over fans and deliver the ultimate PS5 experience, fully showcasing the console and the DualSense controller’s potential. And, oh boy, is it fun!

The third game in the Astro Bot series takes everything we’ve known and loved from the previous instalments and somehow manages to make the character even more adorable while also expanding on the vibrant world with heart-pounding new challenges, clever design, difficult boss battles, and nostalgic nods to PlayStation’s legacy (you’ll see new and old PS console parts scattered across the environments). The cute robot continues his whimsical platform adventure by jumping, hovering, punching, and doing spin attacks, much like he did in previous games, but now, he has over 50 planets (80 levels) to explore and hundreds more bots to rescue.

Astro Bot is essentially a tribute to the past and future of gaming. While it doesn’t break new ground, it’s a polished, engaging platformer that excels at what it does. The game brilliantly leverages the DualSense controller’s sound and haptics, delivering a nostalgic yet fresh experience, much like Mario did for the Nintendo Switch.

What makes Astro Bot special is that every level (which is uniquely themed) feels different and well thought out. One moment, you might be racing and climbing through a jungle filled with evil monkeys and the next, you might be swimming underwater, dodging squids or colourful, spikey alien creatures. The ingenious level design and the slew of temporary gadgets (like