PlayStation's biggest 2024 exclusive is already my GOTY, I just know it

PlayStation has has some absolute bangers coming out this year, though I think we all know which one is going to reign supreme upon release.

It was a pleasant surprise to learn that the loveable PlayStation 5 mascot, Astro Bot, was to receive his own platformer, especially after the success of Astro’s Playroom, which keep in mind was free with the console and arguably one of its best games to date.

Check out the trailer for Astro Bot below

After going hands-on with the game at Summer Game Fest, it’s everything it looks like in the gameplay trailer, fun, pretty, and oozing with PlayStation history.

Controls are similar to Astro’s Playroom, and those who are familiar with 3D platformers will pick up the basics easily. Of course there is added support for the PS5 DualSense controller, like steering Astro’s starship and his many interactions with the world.

Each level I played was more vibrant than the last, with the main goal being to find and rescue other Astro Bots, some of which are robotic versions of beloved PlayStation mascot characters…

Sony Interactive Entertainment

It has that Mario Odyssey vibe to it, with gorgeous environments, some bobbing tunes and most importantly, new gameplay mechanics around every turn. Occasionally Astro picked up a power-up, like one that turns him into a balloon to ascend to out-of-reach platforms, whereas another gave him powerful spring-fists that felt great to control with the adaptive triggers.

My favourite part of the hands-on demo was undoubtedly all the PlayStation references, whether it was platforms in the shape of the controller buttons, Astro’s ship being a PS5 controller with thrusters and wings, or the appearance of characters like PaRappa the Rapper, Ratchet and even the God Of War himself.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

There are even a few challenge stages that’ll really test your platforming prowess, and there are other collectables to find in the main levels like jigsaw pieces. When you’ve found everything there is to find in a level, you’ll be rewarded with a shiny gold flag to mark 100% progress, which I’m sure the completionists out there will have perked their ears up at.

As a lover of Astro’s Playroom, Astro Bot as a character, and the history of PlayStation and its many world-famous IPs, Astro-Bot hooked me immediately, and although i finished everything there is to do in the demo, I was left wanting more. If I stayed any longer they might have had to pry the controller out of my hands.

Astro-Bot will release exclusively for the PlayStation 5 on 5 September later this year, and could very well be my GOTY if the quality is as consistent as my hands-on was.