Astro Bothas landed on PS5 consoles to rapturous applause, capturing the hearts and minds of players across the globe. It has risen to becomeone of the PlayStation 5’s best-rated exclusives, which is an achievement in and of itself, but it scores another goal that is just as, if not more, important in the long run.
In some ways,Astro Bot’s success is a bit unexpected. Certainly, players fell in love withAstro’s Playroom, andAstro Bot Rescue Missionbefore it, but no one could have predicted how well-received this standalone platformer would be. Previously, Astro was associated with tech demos, withRescue Missionshowing off the capabilities of the PSVR headset, andAstro’s Playroombeing a free-to-play demonstration of the DualSense’s myriad new features. ButAstro Botwas marketed as a mainstream, premium-priced game, seemingly pitting it against the likes of mammoth Nintendo platformers likeSuper MarioandDonkey Kong.Astro Botmarks the second time Sony has tried to leap into the 3D platformer arena, and it’s by far the company’s most successful outing.
Sony Has Found a Flagship Platformer and Mascot in Astro Bot
Sony Tried to Make Knack a System-Defining Platformer
It may seem silly now, considering that the series is seldom discussed, butKnackwas among Sony’s most heavily-marketed PS4 launch titles. The first game was sold as a charming all-ages romp with simple, crunchy gameplay that nearly anyone could get a grip on, andKnack himself was positioned as a potential Sony mascot, with a design landing between cute and cool thanks to his shapeshifting abilities.
But unfortunately, the reality ofKnackwas not so historic for Sony. Though some considerKnack 2an improvement over its predecessor, the fact is that neither game garnered too much attention. At least, neither game grew a fanbase that was anywhere near the size of previous Sony platformers likeCrash Bandicoot, much less the likes ofMarioorKirby. With such stiff competition in the platforming genre,Knackbarely stood a chance.
Astro Bot Hits the Highs Knack Leaped For
If any Sony game canloosen Nintendo’s vise grip on the 3D platforming genre, it’sAstro Bot. Learning from the likes ofSuper Mario GalaxyandIt Takes Twowhile still being creative enough to introduce novel ideas,Astro Botfeels destined for an impactful legacy. It has the satisfying and easy-to-grasp core gameplay that defines the best platformers, with sleek, pleasing art design that appeals to a wide audience. Most importantly, it has a level of charm and likability thatKnacknever quite managed to attain.
Of course,Astro’s viability as a PlayStation mascotneeds to be mentioned as well. The old rule-of-thumb for good mascot design is to be simple enough for a five-year-old to draw, and a character like Knack, whose harsh geometry and legion of shifting, modular components, fails to adhere to this rule. This is not the case for Astro, who is designed in a far cleaner, more streamlined way without sacrificing memorability. Astro also has the benefit of being non-verbal, which is another trait shared by some of gaming’s most iconic mascots.
Astro’s potential for mascotdom was established in previous games, butAstro Botsolidified it.
PerhapsKnackwill indeed return someday, but it seems that the franchise isn’t destined for greatness, at least not without making major changes to its gameplay or narrative elements. It’s too early to say whetherAstro Botwill grow into a franchise that rivals other industry titans likeMario, but it certainly has more potential thanKnackdid. When looking to appeal to a broad audience, celebrate Sony’s history, and showcase PlayStation hardware,Astro Botis essentially the cream of the crop.
