Astro Bot Steals the Spotlight as 2024's Top PS5 Title

PlayStation’s latest State of Play broadcast was 30 minutes long with ups and downs, but the highlight for many was the reveal of the highly anticipated Astro Bot game for PlayStation 5. Building on the beloved Astro’s Playroom, this new adventure promises to deliver even more charm, creativity, and excitement.

PlayStation ended their show with Astro Bot, not a new IP or a returning IP to surprise us, but a follow up to a charming platformer that every PS5 owner was given for free as every PS5 came with Astro’s Playroom, a game that served as both a free game for the consumer but an introduction to show the console’s many features visual strength.

Astro’s Playroom, bundled with every PS5, was more than just a free game—it was a delightful platformer that showcased the console's features and paid homage to PlayStation’s rich history. Its smart level designs, and charming animations stole the show as I still remember spending my first days with my PS5 playing Astro’s Playroom, with the Demon’’s Souls remake, my first PS5 game purchase, patiently waiting as I lost myself in Astro’s charming world.

When Astro Bot was announced, I lit up like a Christmas tree as I was genuinely overjoyed that they are delivering another game. A bigger game with more everything as the first gameplay trailer kept getting better as the video went on, showcasing massive boss battles, new abilities, levels, and more cameos as we see an Astro bot Kratos, and more in the gameplay trailer.

Community and Internet Reaction

It seems like I wasn’t the only one as many have expressed excitement for Astro Bot, which is slated for a September 6, 2024 release on the PlayStation 5. The excitement for Astro Bot stands in stark contrast to the lukewarm reception of Concord, the new 5v5 online shooter also revealed during the State of Play.

The YouTube video for the Astro Bot reveal has garnered 42K likes compared to just 544 dislikes as of June 3, 2024. This stands in stark contrast to the reception of Concord, a newly announced 5v5 online shooter, which has 4.6K likes to 41K dislikes.

“This is a Playstation game about Playstation? I love it. The concept feels like an early 2000s idea, the sort of fun creativity and brand recognition that we sadly don't see much of in modern times.” says one user on YouTube in Astro Bot’s trailer.

“Please Playstation, Make more games like this! This is the Playstation I've missed since the PS2.” another user commented on the video.

These sentiments highlight the game’s nostalgic appeal, a missing piece in PlayStation’s library filled with serious story-driven narratives and live service games. There’s a lot of it, and people are just simply excited that it simply looks like a fun game to play.

What to Expect from Astro Bot

According to Sony, Astro Bot will be massive compared to the first game:

• 70 enemy types

• 15 new abilities

• 6 Galaxies to explore

• 80 levels to complete

• 300 bots to rescue

This standalone single-player experience won’t be free like the first game, as it’s said to be four times the size of Astro’s Playroom. Importantly, there will be no in-game purchases.

While Monster Hunter Wilds or the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake might spark interest to those who watched the State of Play, Astro Bot was the clear winner which was a big surprise for me as I didn’t expect myself to come out of that show excited for a game like it. It’s been a while since PlayStation delivered such a game to their console player base, and everyone seems to be on board for it.

What are your thoughts on the new Astro Bot game? Share your excitement in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates!

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