PlayStation just revived a PS1 franchise I never thought I’d see again

One thing we need to get out of the way right now is that this article contains spoilers forAstro Bot.While the wonderful newPlayStation 5platformer isn’t exactly story heavy, I think a lot of the joy of the game comes from discovering a lot of the Easter eggs for yourself.As such, maybe wait untilafteryou’ve beaten the game’s first world to read on. Alternatively, if you don’t care, do what you want. I’m a paragraph, not a cop.Astro Botis a truly fantastic experience for a ton of reasons. It throws out new ideas and vibrant worlds with the hit-rate of aSuper Mariogame. It’s quite easily one of 2024’s best releases, and possibly thePlayStation5’s best game yet.AdvertYou won’t be shocked to discoverAstro Botalso happens to be packed with references to the history of PlayStation. The likes ofGod Of WarandUnchartedare as well-represented as more obscure series like PaRappa The Rapper and Legacy Of Kain. This game is a treasure trove of PlayStation memories.Perhaps my favourite thing aboutAstro Botis that the final level of every world is a homage to one particular series. These levels don’t just throw in references to specific franchises, they actually introduce one-and-done mechanics designed to replicate those franchises.I wouldn’t dream of spoiling them all here, as they really are best discovered organically, but I want to give a special shout-out to the end of the game’s first world for bringing back a series I never thought I’d see again: Ape Escape.Ape Escape has been on ice since 2011, but for my money, the 1999 original remains a definitive PlayStation classic.AdvertA vibrant puzzle platformer filled with charming ideas and bizarre characters,Ape Escapetasked players with hunting down and catching rogue apes across a variety of different levels. It was glorious, and it breaks my heart that we’ve gone so long without a new entry.Imagine my surprise, then, whenAstro Botdumped a whole-ass Ape Escape level on me. A brand-new Ape Escape. In the year of our lord 2024.Team Asobi didn’t just reskin anAstro Botlevel to look like an Ape Escape game, I can’t stress that enough. Mechanically, itisApe Escape. You’re given the iconic time net, which can track and capture hidden apes, and then you’re free to dive in and catch ‘em all to beat the level.It’s just one of the many, many moments inAstro Botthat left me with a big, dumb smile on my face, but I think it was also the most pivotal. This was the moment I realised PlayStation hasn’t completely forgotten its history, and serves as a crucial reminder to newer fans that this is a company that can do so much more than gritty single-player story driven games.AdvertMy hope is thatAstro Botis the spark that lights the fire of Ape Escape’s return proper. And while I know that’s probably incredibly wishful thinking on my part, I dream of a future where PlayStation fully embraces its gloriously silly side once again.Featured Image Credit: SonyTopics:PlayStation,PlayStation 5,Sony,Retro Gaming

One thing we need to get out of the way right now is that this article contains spoilers forAstro Bot.

While the wonderful newPlayStation 5platformer isn’t exactly story heavy, I think a lot of the joy of the game comes from discovering a lot of the Easter eggs for yourself.

As such, maybe wait untilafteryou’ve beaten the game’s first world to read on. Alternatively, if you don’t care, do what you want. I’m a paragraph, not a cop.

Astro Botis a truly fantastic experience for a ton of reasons. It throws out new ideas and vibrant worlds with the hit-rate of aSuper Mariogame. It’s quite easily one of 2024’s best releases, and possibly thePlayStation5’s best game yet.

Advert

You won’t be shocked to discoverAstro Botalso happens to be packed with references to the history of PlayStation. The likes ofGod Of WarandUnchartedare as well-represented as more obscure series like PaRappa The Rapper and Legacy Of Kain. This game is a treasure trove of PlayStation memories.

Perhaps my favourite thing aboutAstro Botis that the final level of every world is a homage to one particular series. These levels don’t just throw in references to specific franchises, they actually introduce one-and-done mechanics designed to replicate those franchises.

I wouldn’t dream of spoiling them all here, as they really are best discovered organically, but I want to give a special shout-out to the end of the game’s first world for bringing back a series I never thought I’d see again: Ape Escape.

Ape Escape has been on ice since 2011, but for my money, the 1999 original remains a definitive PlayStation classic.

Advert

A vibrant puzzle platformer filled with charming ideas and bizarre characters,Ape Escapetasked players with hunting down and catching rogue apes across a variety of different levels. It was glorious, and it breaks my heart that we’ve gone so long without a new entry.

Imagine my surprise, then, whenAstro Botdumped a whole-ass Ape Escape level on me. A brand-new Ape Escape. In the year of our lord 2024.

Team Asobi didn’t just reskin anAstro Botlevel to look like an Ape Escape game, I can’t stress that enough. Mechanically, itisApe Escape. You’re given the iconic time net, which can track and capture hidden apes, and then you’re free to dive in and catch ‘em all to beat the level.

It’s just one of the many, many moments inAstro Botthat left me with a big, dumb smile on my face, but I think it was also the most pivotal. This was the moment I realised PlayStation hasn’t completely forgotten its history, and serves as a crucial reminder to newer fans that this is a company that can do so much more than gritty single-player story driven games.

Advert

My hope is thatAstro Botis the spark that lights the fire of Ape Escape’s return proper. And while I know that’s probably incredibly wishful thinking on my part, I dream of a future where PlayStation fully embraces its gloriously silly side once again.

Topics:PlayStation,PlayStation 5,Sony,Retro Gaming