COMING SOON TO CONSOLES

Wondrous platforming, digital nostalgia and much more

- Alan Wen

ASTRO BOT

After starring in one of the best A showcases for the PSVR, and the very best showcase for the PS5's DualSense controller, Sony's adorable mascot is finally getting his own proper adventure. It's even self-titled, a bit like when a pop star does that a few albums into their career, and this bot's star surely deserves to rise. How refreshing is it for a PS5 blockbuster to come with the wonder of Nintendo and the blue skies of Sega?

Astro Bot looks set to fill PS5 players with as much delight as Astro's Playroom did at the console's launch. The only question is, while that was a lovely bite-sized pre-installed game, will this have enough legs as a full-priced blockbuster? Team Asobi has already confirmed there'll be more than 80 levels set across six galaxies as Astro will venture through forests, beaches and volcanoes in search of his crew. He'll also have plenty of new powers, and you can bet they'll take full advantage of all the DualSense's haptic skills.

Besides platforming and wacky boss fights, you'll even get to blast off in a ship made from a DualSense in sequences that have strong Star Fox vibes. But the real corker is the inclusion of outfits and references that pay homage to the platform's history, with everything from PaRappa to God of War.

It may feel a little bittersweet to see characters from Ico and Bloodborne, bringing to mind the creativity of the sadly missed Japan Studio... but hopefully giving Astro Bot a headline release says something about PlayStation's future and not just its past.

PS5/6 Sept