Astro’s Playroom Review A Delightful Pack-in

That was never a problem though as the game is constantly introducing new things for you to use to show off that controller and it feels really good all the way through. Every level has you trying to reach the goal at the end while collecting gold coins along the way. Puzzle pieces are hidden about in each level too that when collected will fill in murals back in the HUB area. Time trial levels can be unlocked later and competing with others online to see who can finish a level in the best time can be quite addictive. The PlayStation 5 even gives me notifications when I get online if someone on my friends list beat my score which makes me want to keep jumping back in to take my spot back. The trophies in Astro Playroom are categorized by difficulty‚ with bronze being the easiest and platinum the most challenging.

They reference 2001’s Jak and Daxter, made by Naughty Dog for the PS2. rr99 is specifically a reference to the first game thanks to the lush setting and the Bot’s crossed arms, just like the cover art for that game. When you get to the section where you have to hop along a rolling hexagon, at the start will be a Bot using a pair of golden scissors inside a frame. This references Puppeteer, a 2013 PS3 game developed by SIE Japan Studio. The game takes place entirely within a stage, with main character Kutaro who uses Calibrus, a magic pair of scissors.

The cameos are plentiful and amusing, with franchises that go beyond the first-party catalogue, along with some surprisingly deep cuts that made me feel very old. But in the midst of all that history, Astro feels like an adorably fresh face; I’m glad to see the character break out of the confines of VR and reach out to a broader audience. Astro’s Playroom may not be the deepest or most ambitious game on PS5, but its humor and playfulness are just delightful. Even though Astro’s Playroom is relatively simple, it kept me entertained for about five hours with its array of challenges and entertaining Easter eggs. During Astro’s jaunt through the guts of the PS5, you run across all sorts of PlayStation references and memorabilia.

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Astro’s Playroom isn’t just a tech demo but a fun little platformer. It’s great that Sony is investing more in the Astro Bot franchise because this could be their answer to the Super Mario series. The level design is more like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D World, and that’s a huge compliment.

Playstation 2 (slim)

Combined with the hardware it’s bundled on, it’s something very special indeed – and one of the best launch titles I can remember in an age. It deserves a place among the greats though – Astro’s Playroom has the coherence, character and abundance of ideas, executed with real clarity, of the very best platformers. A tech demo shouldn’t have this much of a following, but that’s the power of Team Asobi’s Astro’s Playroom. The Astro Bots made their debut with the PlayStation VR tech demo, The Playroom. They showcased the capabilities of the VR device and left an impression on the higher-ups at Sony. This spun off into their own full VR action-platformer game, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, which got a ton of critical praise and even the Best VR/AR Game award at the 2018 Game Awards.

At this spot, look at the wall between the red and green level entrys to find a ramp heading to the basement floor of the Plaza, where many different Bots are hanging out. Coins are very common in Astro’s Playroom, and are used as currency. Specifically, they’re used in the PlayStation Labo area to be spent in the Gatcha minigame. Japan Studio gained the confidence to create a richer world for Astro after the success of Astro Bot Rescue Mission for the PlayStation VR in 2018. The positive reception of this demo then paved the way for Astro Bot, which won countless awards and accolades and even secured the title of Game of the Year 2024 amidst the fierce competition.

From the moment you boot up the demo, the game takes you through the DualSense. It takes you through the vibration, adaptive triggers, touchpad, motion sensor and microphone. But once you do dive in, there’s no shortage of joy that comes from how Team Asobi has translated in-game surfaces, objects, and movement into different DualSense sensations. As the PlayStation pack-in title for the PlayStation 5, Astro’s Playroom is a short and masterful experience.

Before you proceed, we recommend you play around with the D-Pad, which will cause Astro to perform four different dances through the four directions. Familiarize yourself with these, as you’ll need to remember them shortly. To find the special in Memory Meadow, head to the Gusty Gateway area.

Astro’s Playroom Shows Off The Dualsense’s Power

There’s even a trophy room where you can interact with them, using your little robot hands to turn on a gigantic PSP Go, or hop on the eject button of an original PlayStation to see the lid pop open. At its most basic, Astro’s Playroom is a fairly straightforward platforming game. You play as a cute little robot named Astro, exploring four different worlds set in a universe that appears to exist inside of a computer. You’ll collect coins, stomp on enemies, and poke around in search of secrets. There are boss battles and one-off sequences, like one where you have to pilot a small spaceship through dangerous caverns, or another where you use a bow to pick off faraway enemies. Discover hidden bots by solving riddles and performing specific actions‚ like punching bushes.

They add depth to the game’s story and celebrate its nostalgic roots. To locate them‚ thoroughly explore each area‚ check hidden paths‚ and use Astro’s abilities like spin attacks to uncover these treasures. Collecting all artifacts is a key step toward 100% completion and earning the Platinum Trophy. Puzzle pieces are hidden throughout Astro Playroom’s levels‚ often in hard-to-reach areas. Use Astro’s abilities like spin attacks and gliding to access hidden spots. Each hub world‚ like GPU Jungle‚ contains multiple pieces across its four areas.

Artifact 2/2 “PlayStation Mouse” – In the section where you are meant to jump across the clouds, instead of going towards the checkpoint you should jump onto the cliff ledges which lead higher up. From there you can climb up to the top section on the right to find this artifact. Puzzle Piece 2/4– In the area with the first blowing cloud, run against the wind to grab this puzzle piece. Puzzle Piece 4/4 – When you exit the caves and are out of the ship, drop down to the lower floor to find this puzzle piece underneath some glass. Artifact 2/2 “PS2 Memory Card” – Hold both triggers down fullying to puh yourself through the two purple spiderwebs to find this artifact on the other side. Puzzle Piece 3/4 – When you see the electrical hazards, continue to the right where you see the purple webs instead of continuing up.

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