Astro Bot is Pure Joy: Hands-On Impressions from Summer Game Fest

Astro Bot has long been the quiet hero of PlayStation. Every PS5 comes with Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. Plus, Astro Bot Rescue Mission is one of the most highly praised PSVR games so far. Both of these games have been a celebration of the PlayStation hardware, showcasing the capabilities of the Dual Sense controller in particular. But now, the adorable robot is finally taking center stage in Astro Bot, a 3D platformer set to release for the PS5 this September. Thanks to Sony and Team Asobi for the chance to try out this new game at Summer Game Fest.

While the demo kept me from exploring everything in Astro Bot, I could at least see that this is a very full game. There are at least a handful of worlds to explore, and maybe a dozen or more levels within each of those worlds. Astro travels between worlds and levels by holding onto the PlayStation controller-turned-spaceship. Tilting the controller in your hands will also tilt the angle of flight in the game.

Astro Bot, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2024

In the three levels, I had the chance to try, each level had seven bots that need rescuing. These bots in distress can vary from normal-looking bots to those styled to look like iconic PlayStation characters. During my time I ran into bot versions of Ratchet and Rivet from Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and PaRappa from PaRappa the Rapper. I will save some characters to avoid spoiling too much, but wanted to at least give an idea of what to expect.

Astro Bot was pure joy from start to finish. The levels are vibrant and full of movement. I could tell that the developers put a great amount of attention into every detail. Between the platforming, the puzzles, and the various abilities picked up on each level, there was so much to experience even in just the short amount of time I had with the game.

Astro Bot, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2024

While I’m not proud of it, I was not able to make it through the entire demo unscathed. I fell off the edges, I got electrocuted, and I got flattened. While I don’t claim to be an expert at 3D platformers, I still feel confident in saying that Astro Bot does have some fun challenges up its sleeve even for more experienced players. While this feels like an excellent family-friendly title, it is also a great 3D platformer in its own right. Maybe even up there with some of the greats from other consoles. But ultimately this was just a short demo, so we will have to wait to make a full judgment when the full game is available.

If you are a fan of 3D platformers, this is definitely a game to keep on your radar. If you’re a long-time fan of PlayStation games, you are also in for a treat as Astro Bot looks like it will be a celebration of all things PlayStation, hardware or software. I personally can’t wait to try more of Astro Bot when it launches on September 5th, 2024 exclusively for PlayStation 5.

All footage has been captured on a PS5.