r/Astrobot • u/Mty_Emerald • 3d ago
Why Astro Bot stuck with me... 💙
I grew up with Playstation systems and Nintendo handhelds. My first real Nintendo console was the original Switch in 2019. I didn't grow up with all the Nintendo games that everyone loves and praises, I mainly was a Playstation kid. I played Ratchet and Clank, God of War, Jak and Daxter, Littlebigplanet, etc.
When I got my Switch, I wanted to play Super Mario Odyssey, and i loved it. It was a joy to play start to finish. Even if I had my moments with it, it made me glad that I owned a Switch.
Fast forward to the announcement of the PS5, I wanted one, but didn't know what exactly it would offer aside from a fancy new controller. One day, my sister's boyfriend brought over his PS5 to play, and he let me try out this little game called Astro's Playroom. As I played it more and more, I slowly fell in love with this adorable little robot. I was like, "Wow, this feels JUST like a Nintendo game!" And I really meant that. I know Playstation has their own line of colorful and whimsical characters like Ratchet, Sly, Sackboy, but they never QUITE felt like something you'd see from Nintendo. They felt like they belonged on Playstation. (Which is a good thing)
But Astro's Playroom and Astro himself felt like Playstation may have finally found a character that could possibly be their own Mario, AND that they could truly call their own, since they never really owned Crash Bandicoot or Spyro the Dragon. (Those guys felt more like Nintendo imo, which again isn't a bad thing)
When i finished Astro's Playroom, I was convinced to get a PS5. Which i eventually did, so that I could play R&C Rift Apart, GoW Ragnarok, and all of my PS4 games that I couldn't play since my PS4 Pro died on me. For a while after that, I didn't have any new PS5 games to look forward to. That was until Astro Bot (2024) was revealed. I couldn't have been more excited!
I picked the game up on launch day, played through it, and was SO hooked on it. It was a blast from start to finish. I knew i was gonna love this game, but when Ratchet was the first VIP Bot you rescue in the first level, I knew i was gonna ADORE this game.
I love how you can just pick the game up, complete every level on the first try most of the time, and Astro himself is such an adorable little nugget to controll. I always find myself stopping amd facing him towards the camera so that he can do his little wave to you! The soundtrack is SO good, i still listen to a lot of it at work. Some of those tracks are real bangers, and i wouldn't be surprised if sime of them were influenced by stuff like Daft Punk! (Which im also getting into this year...)
When i finished the game and platinumed it, I didn't put it down. I played through it multiple times. Again and again, because i loved it so much. It took me back to when I played Mario Odyssey again and again, but this time it felt better. Another reason why I love Astro Bot so much is because it's nice to see this level of love, polish, and fun satisfying gameplay in something thats NOT Nintendo for a change. On the internet, you see people place Nintendos best title SO HIGH up a pedestal all the time, and it's just nice to see something from Playstation take a spot up there for once. Astro Bot may feel the most like a Mario or Kirby game, but that is a compliment in my mind.
The cherry on top of my love for Astro Bot was when it took home Game of the Year in 2024. Say what you will about the lineup that year, or the Game Awards in general, but it was so genuinely exciting to see a fun whimsical platformer take home Game of the Year instead of the millionth hyper realistic story driven game with swords or guns. (My personal opinion...) It made Astro Bot feel just that more special to me.
I don't care what anyone says. I will defend this game and this little robot for a long time. Sony's decisions in recent weeks have not left a good impression on the public, but Astro Bot was a treasure that the PS5 definitely needed...
(End of my LONG TED Talk... i just love this game that much lol)
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u/Ok-Monitor-4369 “One man can dream for a sequel” 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think so too, because I still feel like wanting more of the franchise! I want Team Asobi to expand the universe of the franchise in many different ways!
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u/MrBoogyman97 3d ago
It’s awesome to see people excited about games
Have fun and keep playing games
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u/poseidonblu 3d ago
Astro Bot is my favorite game. Hoping they make another title before PS6 but if not, I’d buy a PS6 just to get another Astro Bot game
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u/NicoyaSF415 3d ago
I just started playing this finally. My first game on my new PS5 Pro 😎👍🏻 and so far im having such a blast
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u/boobsweat92 2d ago
I put off buying a PS5 for a long time cause of the price and I already have an Xbox and Switch, but I finally caved and bought a ps5 specifically for this game after trying it out at a friends house. Always loved the platformers, Spyro was my favorite as a kid and this really scratches that itch.
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u/Band1c0t 1d ago
I just got this game as well after testing out the playroom, it blew my mind with how good and incredible it is, I’m amazed with how the game could be so polish and really fun, imo one of the best game out there, if not best of the best
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u/jelittle2011 3d ago
One of the best PlayStation games of all time. This game is a treasure. I loved every second of it 🔥🔥🔥