Summary
Astro Botfeatures over 70 levels for players to explore, with many having their owncollection of recognizable bots to rescueand puzzle pieces to find. These levels (Planets) are organized into 6 different Galaxies, the first of which being Gorilla Nebula.
As far as opening worlds go, the Gorilla Nebula is a great introduction to the grand adventure ahead. With nine levels to be found, there’s a real variety of environments to discover, though there are certainly some that stand above the rest for various reasons.
9Retro Rampage 1
Fun Whack-A-Rabbit Action
For any fans ofAstro Bot’s simple combat and pixel art, this level will go down a treat. All players need to do here is defeat the blocky bunnies, and they’ll be rewarded with the lost Bot of the level, Ryu.
Though the enlarged rabbits will take a few hits to break down, players shouldn’t find much difficulty with this short stage. In future galaxies, this level will reappear with a tougher variety of enemies to defeat and even more satisfying pixel explosions.
8Crumble Rumble 1
One ofAstro Bot’s defining features is his laser-fuelled hover jump, but players will have to be mindful of it during this level. Any usage above the fragile floor will destroy chunks of the platform below.
This might not sound like such a severe hazard until players realize that the enemies they need to kill can only be damaged by hovering over them. Before they know it, they’ll have less and less platform for them to land on, andthe difficulty only increaseswhen the level shows up in later galaxies.
7Rolling Star Sola
A Short And Simple Obstacle Course
Traversal in this challenge level relies on the use of an Armadillo friend, who rolls up into a ball and allows Astro to use its hardened shell to cross otherwise fatal spiked paths. It’s a relatively one-dimensional level, with there being a set path to navigate with a singular bot as the reward.
Though it’s shorter in length, the level does offer some fun hazards for players to bypass, like bouncing rings that can send them off course or ramps that build up momentum and make the ball harder to control. Thankfully, the armadillo makes some appearances in future galaxies.
6Creamy Canyon
A Mouthwatering Level In Which Players Must Take Care Of Pig Enemies
There’s a joyfully distinct dessert theme here, with thousands of sprinkles lying around and trees resembling soft-serve cones - Astro even has to destroy a giant ice cream to finish the level. Scenery aside, though, the level is relatively simple in design.
The highlight is definitely dealing with the rampaging pig enemies, who need to be spun around and launched to be defeated. Players just need to be sure to throw them at the right places,like the Ice Seal, who might be hiding some secrets.
5Sky Garden
Sets The Tone And Proves To Be A Great Tone-Setter
As far as first levels go, Sky Garden does a great job at introducing players to the adventure ahead. There’s a small taste of what’s to come, such as finding missing bots and puzzle pieces, and it’s all integrated expertly into the progression of the level.
Considering that it’s the opening, the complexity of the level is fairly straightforward, though that’s far from a slight. The child-like fun of riding the water slide down into the pool and bouncing on the huge inflatable duck perfectly captures the whimsy the rest of the game exudes.
4Apes On The Loose
A Charming Callback To Apes Escape
At the end of every galaxy, there’sa Hero Stage that allows Astro to take on a unique powerfrom the respective IP. The first one players discover is based onApe Escape, and the gameplay is directly inspired by the original franchise, as Astro spends the level chasing and capturing apes with an oversized net.
Finding each ape is just as fun inAstro Botas it was all those years ago, though, like the classic games themselves, catching some of the apes can be mildly frustrating. Luckily, thanks to the diverse yet compact level design, the stage never overstays its welcome and is instead a perfect homage to a dearly missed franchise.
3Mighty Chewy
Provides An Incredibly Fun Boss Fight
For a platformer,Astro Botsure nails its boss fights, and the first one players fight in Gorilla Nebula certainly sets the bar high. The stage sets the scale of the fight with the grandiose setting of the city’s rooftops, where Astro has to platform his way to the main fight arena, navigating steel beams thrown from Chewy themselves.
Once Astro enters the arena, the true fight begins. From fighting mini-monkeys, smashing through glass and destroying Chewy’s teeth, the battle has a great amount of variety to it, and it entertains throughout. It’s even comically visceral, which might catch some players by surprise, as Astro really does make Chewy pay for their rampage across the city.
2Az-Tech Trail
A Detailed Level That Offers A Bit Of Everything
Aztec settings rarely ever fail in video games, and in Az-Tech Trail, it flourishes. There’s a bit of everything here and even someclever usage of the DualSense Controllerfor a rumble-based puzzle, though the Matryoshka dolls and Cacti enemies are a great bit of variety for Astro to fight.
To do so, Astro will need the Frog Gloves, and they might just steal the show, as the stage certainly revolves around them. From breaking golden walls to swinging across gaps, punching enemies and catapulting Astro, they’re a blast to use and make the level one of the most entertaining in the Gorilla Nebula.
1Construction Derby
A Chaotic Level In Which Destruction Is Key
Despite the name of the level, the most notable aspect is its destruction. Whether it’s Astro crashing through glass walls or cranes smashing buildings, the environment reacts astoundingly well and platforming through the urban setting is a blast.
The dog jetpack is a great power-upfor the level that only encourages further demolition. Seeing the physics engine flex its muscles as Astro rockets through another glass wall never gets old. All of these aspects combine to create an excellent level, one that sets a precedent for future galaxies.
