Platformers are aplenty in gaming, and there are lots of developers who are using the format to great success. Nintendo is perhaps the king of the genre with games likeSuper Mario OdysseyandKirby and the Forgotten Land, but others are constantly bringing new ideas to the table. PlayStation is the unofficial home ofSpyroandCrash Bandicoot, but more options have been made available on Sony systems in recent times.Astro’s Playroomis one such example. Astro captured the hearts of PlayStation 4 users with that system’sAstro Bot: Rescue Missionbefore reintroducing himself in the superbpack-in gameAstro’s Playroomon the PlayStation 5.
The character is used to showcase the functionality of hardware, from the PS4’s sensors to VR and the DualSense controller. While this is his main job, the experiences he’s attached to are always charming, and his quirky characteristics make him a great protagonist to follow. It would be a shame, then, to only drag him out when Sony releases new systems and devices, given how mechanically sound so many of his games are.Crash Bandicootis not owned by Sony, and may find a home with Microsoft as part of the Activision deal, so Sony needs a character of its own to rival the platforming giants, whichAstro’s Playroomcould provide the answer for.
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Astro Has the Potential to Rival the Best
Any great platforming game is going to succeed or fail on its core mechanics and traversal. The quality of the story or graphical fidelity doesn’t matter if the gameplay isn’t fun and getting around the level isn’t satisfying. Thankfully,Astro Bot has a set of skillsthat make him a treat to control, from his jetpack-boosted jumps to his interchangeable suits that alter his abilities to keep gameplay fresh. He’s delightful, and compared to Crash’s limited skill set he easily has enough to stand alongside him as a go-to platformer for fans of the genre.
Crash Bandicoothas a heritage that spans all the way back to the original PlayStation, and as such, when he’s given new abilities, it runs the risk of being placed under more scrutiny. It’s the same situation asMega Manbeing given abilities like Speed Gear andPower Gear inMega Man 11.Astro’s Playroomis recent enough to give the character plenty of amusing abilities, and as such he can provoke more interesting gameplay situations compared to the likes of Crash who has to find new ways to be interesting while also adhering to past games and what made them great.
PlayStation Needs its Own Mascot
Crash BandicootandSpyrowill both be acquired by Microsoft as part of the Activision deal. Although the purchase is not yet fully confirmed, there is enough reason to believe that the two franchises are no longer going to be associated with Sony first and foremost.Jak and Daxteris long gone as developer Naughty Dog look to more ambitious horizons, which leaves onlyRatchet and Clankas the flag-bearer of first-party cartoonish platformers. That’s only the case becauseSony purchased its developer Insomniac in August 2019.
Astro Bot is a character who is developed by Team Asobi, which has been under the banner of Sony since its inception in 2012. He gives PlayStation a viable way to reenter the 3D platforming space in a more significant way with a franchise that is born, raised, and has flourished in the first party. DespiteAstro Bot being used initially to showcase new PlayStation hardware, his success is obvious for all to see, and keeping him in the same role would be a waste of his potential. He’s got more to offer than most, and could absolutely be the star of his ownCrash Bandicoot-esque series.
