Astro Bot Review (PS5) | Push Square

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PS5 pack-in Astro's Playroom was a taster dish, teasing players with a short but sweet experience; Astro Bot, then, is the full three-course meal. Developer Team Asobi has been delivering brilliant 3D platformers since PSVR's Astro Bot Rescue Mission, so it should come as little surprise that this latest entry in the young series is among the best games PS5 has to offer.

Building on the already strong foundation of its predecessor, Astro Bot weaves in the core premise of Rescue Mission; rather than tracking down PlayStation-related artefacts, your main job is finding the little robot's crewmates, all scattered throughout each level. It's a perfect recipe for a 3D platformer, encouraging you to explore every nook and cranny in search of those adorable little droids.

The mothership — a PS5, finally filling a role it's always looked designed to play — crash lands on a desert world at the centre of several nearby galaxies. These systems house the game's stages, where you'll spend most of your time, but you'll also regularly return to the hub world, which evolves and expands as you progress. It falls into a great rhythm of exploring each galaxy and its stages, then returning to the hub to drop off your robot buddies and discover new things to see and do.

While there's plenty to like about the hub, which we'll get into later, the main attraction is the game's range of levels, which are as varied, playful, and fun as you'd hope. Each galaxy contains four or five main stages, a boss, and a special last level themed around specific PlayStation franchises. On top of that are numerous shorter challenges — tougher platforming or combat trials to test your skills — and a selection of secret stages to discover. It's a generous package, and what's most impressive is the sheer variety it offers.

Many themes are unique to a single stage; Sky Garden's flamingo paradise is never revisited, nor is Construction Derby's building site. You'll also explore a giant singing tree, a vibrant