Sony has amassed a sprawling assortment of iconic properties over the course of its decades-long history in gaming, andAstro Botmakes this more apparent than ever. For the most part,Astro Botcelebrates PlayStation through its many Special Bots, who represent a variety of franchises fromBloodbornetoSly Cooper. However, there are some Sony franchises that the game seems to revere more than others.
ThoughAstro Botis an unapologetic celebration of PlayStation, to the point where it almost feels like a massive PS5 commercial sometimes, its levels are mostly original. That is to say, eachAstro Botworld is untethered, barring a few visual gags and Easter eggs, from specific Sony IPs, which goes a long way toward helping the game establish its own identity beyond its relation to PlayStation. But things are quite different in the final levels of each in-game chapter, which are explosive, affectionate tributes to specific Sony-owned franchises, seemingly defining these properties as among the most important in the company’s portfolio.
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As previously mentioned, allAstro Bot’s larger areas (with the exception of Lost Galaxy), culminate in abombastic celebration of specific PlayStation franchises:
Through these grand finales, sometimes called Hero Levels, the above franchises are elevated to legendary status within the world ofAstro Bot.God of Warisn’t relegated to the realm of sporadic Easter eggs in the form of Special Bots — its world is recreated in miniature form. Kratos, theGod of Warprotagonist, transcends his iconography, transferring his powers,through his Leviathan Ax, to the players themselves.
The same can be said for Nathan Drake and Aloy, who infuseAstro Botwith the mechanical, visual, and musical stylings of their respective franchises, solidifying them as modern classics. For these titles,Astro Botdeemed that more than a clever, loving nod was needed. These games, in some way, were deserving of something beyondthe other Sony cameos inAstro Bot, suggesting that they ought to be etched, in stone, in PlayStation history.
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For fans of the games that got special treatment, these levels are certainly a treat, but they do raise some interesting questions, prompting some players to wonder what other PlayStation properties could have gotten their own level. The obvious outlier amongAstro Bot’s Hero Levels is theLocoRocoworld, as it’s certainly notamong PlayStation’s most beloved or relevant IP. Granted, it is a nice nod to the PSP, but its inclusion over games likeInfamousandSpider-Manseems bizarre, especially since there is only oneLocoRocogame.
Similarly, one may argue thatHorizon, a franchise that has only existed for seven years and has just two mainline releases under its belt, was a strange choice for this assortment of levels. IfHorizon 3doesn’t live up to expectations, or if the franchise otherwise dies out, thenAstro Bot’s congratulatory Hero Level will seem unfortunately dated.
In light of these shortcomings, perhaps a theoreticalAstro Bot 2could double down on PlayStation’s older, more iconic franchises for Hero Levels. For instance, a series likeSly Coopercould be a great fit, both aesthetically and thematically, revolving around stealth-based platforming or themed puzzles.Ratchet and Clank, one of Sony’s longest-running exclusive series, is another example of an IP with tons of potential. IfAstro Bot 2does eventually come out, and if Team Asobi wants to stick to this Hero Level practice, then there’s definitely a lot of material to draw on.
