Summary
Astro Botis a sequel toAstro’s Playroom, a game that launched with the PS5 in 2020 as a free downloadable experience. The story, as it were, picks up where that left off with all of the little robots celebrating on a space journey with the titular Astro Bot at the helm.
Then, out of nowhere, an alien comes to break up the spaceship, shaped like a PS5, sending Astro Bot and his teammates hurtling toward a sandy plain. Once again, Astro Bot has to gather pieces to rebuild his spaceship along with recovering missing robots spread acrossnumerous levels in the game,Astro Bot. Here are some tips to make the most of the early stages.
6One Setting To Turn Off
The Motion Controller Age Is Over
The Wii launched in 2006 and it took the world by storm thanks to its motion-based controls. Years later, Sony and Microsoft would follow in these footsteps with the release of the Kinect on Xbox 360 and the PlayStation Move on PS3 in 2010. Thehistory of motion-based controlsfollowing this boom is tumultuous, but it lives on via the PS5 controller and the PSVR 2 for Sony’s modern hardware at least.
Astro Boy demonstrates the PS5’s full capabilities from the graphics to the controller inputs including motion controls. While they work, it’s just as easy to turn the motion controls off in the settings which then replaces the movement with the left analog stick. Some players may prefer the motion controls still, but for others, it may be nice to know there is a solution. There aren’t many settings in the game currently and thankfully this was one of them.
5Break Pots And Boxes
Exercise The Camera Controls
In levels, players can find various colored boxes to smash that containcoins inAstro Bot. There are also normal-looking boxes, pots, and so on to break as well. They serve more than a coin collecting purpose as there can sometimes be a secret underneath.
Engaged players will start to notice x marks on the ground and if players do a charged spin attack, it will send the titular hero down below to find secrets like Hero-based bots from other franchises fromRatchet and ClanktoGod of War. Enemies can sometimes hold secrets as well. For example, if all enemies are defeated in an area, a special prize might unearth itself. The important thing to remember overall is to look around.
4Pay Attention To Collected Puzzle Pieces And Bots
It Can Show The Way To Missed Content
Before entering a level in a galaxy, like the first one inAstro Botcalled the Gorilla Nebula, the stage will showcase what players have collected. This includes bots, puzzle pieces, and one other secret that will be discussed later. Knowing what will be in a level may focus players more so than normal.
Then, in a stage, there are some tricks to the collectathon-like mechanisms of Astro Bot. For example, in every level, bots and puzzle pieces will be categorized in a row. So if players rescue a bot and it shows up after a blank space, they will know they missed a bot earlier. Players can then retrace their steps if at all possible although in some stages backtracking isn’t as easy, unlike a Metroidvania.
3The Importance Of Puzzle Pieces
There Is A Photo Mode
Most stages only have three puzzle pieces to collect in the game. Once all are collected, it seems like the only prize is coins which isn’t nothing but it may not seem as exciting as collecting the bots from other franchises. There is a reason for puzzle pieces that most players won’t realize until they go back to the HUB world of the Crash Site.
Collected puzzle pieces will unlock attractions at the Crash Site. For example, if players collect aaa puzzle pieces, they can give the hero acamera inAstro Bot. Players can then hit up on the D-Pad to create a photo mode. It can take a while to gather that many puzzle pieces, but if players are diligent and really want a photo mode, they should ensure and unlock it as soon as possible.
2What Coins Are Good For
Hiring A Little Birdie For Help
Like puzzle pieces, coins may not seem like a big deal in the game at first. Again, it all ties back to the Crash Site and puzzle pieces. The first location that will open up is a Gashapon-styled store wherein players can invest coins to unlock a variety of things.
This includes giving the variousHero characters inAstro Botsomething to do at the Crash Site. For example, players can unlock a puzzle and a zombie for Leon S. Kennedy fromResident Evil 2to interact with. Coins can also be used to hire a bird bot in a stage that will locate secrets but only once players replay that same stage. This is what players should invest coins in primarily if they are struggling.
1There’s A Lost Galaxy
Also, Explore Main Galaxies For Secrets
LikeSuper Mario Worldand various otherMariogames, Astro Bot has secret exits to levels. These secret exits will lead to unlocking a stage in the Lost Galaxy. One of the first hidden exits is located in Creamy Canyon which is in the first galaxy of the Gorilla Nebula.
There will be a point wherein players can whip a pig to go forward at an ice wall. If they turn around, players can use this pig on an ice sculpture of a walrus instead, and underneath there will be the secret exit toAstro Bot’sFunky Fungi stage. Players should also be aware that there are secrets hiding in the world map to unlock. For example, flying around a cluster of stars could unlock levels themed around one of the four face buttons, or an asteroid may fly by, and ramming into it could unlock a level.
