Astro’s Playroom, developed by Team ASOBI! and SIE Japan Studio, is a follow-up to Astro Bot Rescue Mission (for the PS4 VR headset), and comes pre-installed on every PS5 console, regardless of which edition is purchased. The game is Sony’s way of introducing players to the PlayStation 5, and the features of the new DualSense controller.
More than a tech demo
Astro’s Playroom is more than that however, as not only does it showcase both the new system and its accessories, but is actually a decent little platformer in its own right. What is immediately striking is the immersive gameplay, thanks in part to the DualSense controller. Activating the adaptive triggers for the first time as well as feeling the rumble makes this game all the more impressive, more than it really should be. The surface that Astro walks on is also reflected through sound and feel, and the touch pad and built in microphone also come into play.
Games on PS5 can also now be instantly paused and resumed by pressing the PS button on the controller, bringing up a list of in-game quests in progress (and hints on how to complete them if needed) as well as trophies.
Upon landing in the hub area the catchy tunes will have you bobbing along with cute robot mascots in no time, while you collect coins to redeem in PlayStation Labo. Then you can explore the world of PS5, gathering nostalgia-inducing artifacts from the previous 4+ generations of consoles, as you meet classic video game characters, fight bugs and solve puzzles.
Astro’s Playroom consists of a main plaza and four levels which can be completed in any order, as well as ‘Network Speed Run’ and PlayStation Labo; which houses unlocked items such as games consoles, controllers and other accessories.
The four worlds, which represent the inside of the PS5, are Cooling Springs (a beach level that transitions into a water park, and then into a frozen wonderland), CPU Jungle, Memory Meadow (a cloud-based level), and SSD Speedway (a futuristic urban area). As well as representing the components of the PlayStation 5, each level is loosely themed around each of the previous console generations so far, with unlocks from each era going to PS Labo.
In each of the levels iconic PlayStation characters can be spotted in robot form, such as Kratos in a boat in Cooling Springs, a mid-climb Nathan Drake, and the Hunter from Bloodborne in CPU Jungle, with many more great throwbacks.
Final thoughts
Astro’s Playroom does a great job of introducing players to the new system and controller, showcasing the power of the PS5 both graphically, and with near instant load times, thanks to the SSD. The DualSense, aside from being an upgrade to the DualShock 4, features seriously cool haptic feedback and adaptive triggers; making the game truly feel next-gen. Here’s hoping that developers make use of these features, as if done well there could be some really interesting gameplay implications (the triggers in Deathloop will be used to simulate weapons jamming for example).
Astro’s Playroom is one of the coolest ‘tech demos’ that I’ve ever seen, and a genuinely fun platformer that deserves to be played if you have managed to secure a PlayStation 5.
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Astro's Playroom
The Good
- Simple, yet makes full use of PS5 features
- DualSense controller comes alive while playing
- PlayStation nostalgia
The Bad
- None really, it's just a fun, free introduction to PS5