Astro Bot - Videogames As Art

I know we have been starved of mascot platformers for a couple of console generations, with the exception of the usual Nintendo big hitters, so Astro Bot is a delightful reminder of what makes this genre so joyful. It doesn't reinvent the wheel so much as toy with it through the use of the revelatory haptic feedback and amazing draw distance. My favourite levels were the Japanese Gardens sponge (Bath House Battle), the knife throwing ghosts (Spooky Time) and Casino bullet time (Slow-Mo Casino), all which show the pure creativity. I had a great time with the game and made it last as long as possible, playing a couple of levels every few days. I bought it pretty much on release day and only finished it on 12th February 2025, but I wanted to savour it like a fine glass of Schloer.

It isn't the second coming of Christ like some have declared, with most levels following the usual platform fare, but what it is is an excellent platformer which is beautifully presented and done with obvious love for the PlayStation brand.

Astro's Playroom- Videogames As Art

I’ve been a big advocate for VR and especially PSVR since its release. We used it in a school I taught at as a contextual hub for learning but also, after school, we’d play some awesome games including Resident Evil VII and Astro Bot Rescue Mission. Occasionally, a proof of concept comes out and shows people how amazing a new piece of kit can be and this is exactly what Astro Bot was. Much like how Mario 64 showed how 3D worlds could be realised, Astro Bot showed how VR can be used effectively to create an amazing game that couldn’t exist in any other way. So, to show how amazing and versatile the PS5 controller is PlayStation once again brought along the adorable mascot and it’s a revelation how the haptic feedback and nuanced rumble react to the onscreen gameplay.

Anyway, here are some screenshots of my playthrough of this free game!

Astro Bot- Video Games As Art

I’ve been a big advocate for VR and especially PSVR. We have used many games and experiences in lessons and it always goes down well but for your average person, VR isn’t a thing that’s going to stick… it’s like 3D telly… something that comes out cyclically but never sticks. However, sometimes a proof of concept comes out and shows people how amazing a new piece of kit can be and this is exactly what Astro Bot is. Much like how Mario 64 showed how 3D worlds could be realised, Astro Bot shows how VR can be used effectively to create an amazing game that couldn’t exist in any other way. The screenshots I’ve taken on my playthrough don’t do it justice, you really have to play it to understand how much of a game changer it is.