Astro Bot

Over the now 30 years since the Playstation 1 was released back in 1994 there has been a stellar lineup of mascots for the platform. On the PS1 we had Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Solid Snake. For the PS2 we were introduced to Sly Cooper, Jak & Daxter, Ratchet & Clank. Also between the next console and PS2 we had the mighty God slaying Kratos then on the PS3 we got fortune hunter quipper Nathan Drake. The lineup continued on into the PS4 with ones such as Aloy.
However, the true almalgamation of all these plus numerous others I haven’t named have all been captured and respected into Astro Bot. The game celebrates PlayStation’s legacy by honoring not only its most iconic characters but also its hidden gems, creating a heartfelt tribute to the brand’s rich history. From obvious legends like Dante from Devil May Cry and Ellie from The Last of Us, to more obscure nods like references to Parappa the Rapper and Ape Escape, the game thoughtfully integrates these characters into its world without feeling forced. Each cameo is brimming with personality, crafted to reflect the original games while fitting seamlessly into Astro’s playful universe. This inclusive approach ensures fans of every era feel seen and appreciated, transforming the game into a love letter to all things PlayStation. Many have considered it already to be the PS5’s Super Mario 64 and although that may be a good point in terms of innovation, I think its more akin to Super Smash Bros. I thought of this while playing through and 100% platinuming it over the course of a weekend and came to the conclusion that this game may very well be an introduction to discovering for older fans and newer alike, the broad catalogue Sony has surmised over the last 3 decades similar to how Smash does with Nintendo characters and titles. It got me to start playing obscure games such as Patapon and Mister Mosquito. Not only is it just a celebratory lineup of large cast of Sony IPs over the years but also is fun as hell! The game is the best showcase of the PS5’s controller hardware duel sense technology by far. It shows off the controllers capabilities as well as draining the battery faster than it takes to microwave your soup. However, it’s easily my game of the year for 2024 (I haven’t played the others yet lol)

Verdict: 10/10