Read our full Astro Bot review

Astro Bot is a beautiful 3D platformer with a charming protagonist, dozens of planets to explore and a wide range of ultra-satisfying mechanics to perfect. It requires patience, knowledge and a high level of platforming skill, although resets are generous and failure costs nothing but your time. The main character, Astro, is endlessly charming as he flies among the galaxies on a mission to rescue 300 of his friends, most of whom consist of characters from the Sony library and the wider world. to play – bots from Capcom, Konami and Sega franchises.

Many of the planets Astro features new mechanics, such as spring-loaded boxing gloves that look like frog faces, an octopus that blows up Astro like a balloon, a mouse backpack that shrinks him at will, a penguin-propelled swimming booster , and a stopwatch that temporarily freezes time. The stages are designed around these unique mechanics and the variety on display is astounding.

Beyond pure beauty, Astro Bot nice Its scenes are sharp and lively with interactive details, and it seems like every pixel is polished to perfection. But it’s the physics of the game that makes it all stronger – when Astro lands on top of a giant inflatable daisy, the material buckles under his little feet, indenting with every step and swaying. , and makes the whole scene look completely squished. When the rain hits Astro’s umbrella hat, the sound is perfectly mirrored by DualSense, along with the feeling of raindrops on the grips. Astro BotSound effects, haptics, graphics and physics harmonize flawlessly, transforming every surface into a playground. It’s magical.

Astro Bot feels purpose-built for video game fans. It’s a celebration driven by the skill of everyone who makes the format memorable and fun, and at the same time, it’s an excellent introduction to the language of games. With precise and responsive controls, lovable characters, and an exciting variety of mechanics and environments, Astro Bot easily one of the best games Sony has ever made. – Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter