It was one of the most well-received titles for the console, and a year later it would be ported to PS3 and PS Vita. After first using the Hang Glider, check the side of the column on the left side of the landing zone to see a Bot walking on a wall. This references Kat of Gravity Rush, released on PSVita in 2012 and developed by SIE Japan Studio.

If you ever wanted to earn a platinum trophy, this is the game to do it. Hopefully, we get more of this when Astro Bot comes out soon. A tech demo shouldn’t have this much of a following, but that’s the power of Team Asobi’s Astro’s Playroom.

Horizon has a second reference with the “Ready for the Proving” Trophy, awarded for shooting a Spitter’s shot with the bow and arrow in Raytrace Ruins. Um Jammer Lammy gets a second reference in the “It’s All in the Mind” Trophy, awarded for beating three enemies quickly with Punches. This is a reference to Chop Chop Master Onion, who gives Lammy this piece of advice early in the game. At the very end of the level, turn around to find a Bot wearing a blue cap trying to crack a safe, who retreats when you get close. This is a reference the Sly Cooper franchise that first appeared in 2002 on PS2, developed by Sucker Punch.

These icons were displayed on the back of PS1 game boxes to show what features the game supported. The icons on the monitor are, from left to right, Memory Card block requirement, Dual Analog support, Link Cable support, DualShock support, PlayStation Mouse support, Player count, and Multi-Tap support. Next to the PocketStation described above are two cylinders containing the sacred symbols in the form of clouds. This likely references PlayStation’s cloud functionality, which serves as the backbone of the PlayStation Now service that launched in 2014.

Finally, the update also changed Astro’s Playroom boot-up cover art. This isn’t the first time the game has received surprise content years after its release. Astro’s Playroom threw an in-game Astro Bot party to celebrate the latter’s global launch. As you’re exploring Playroom’s levels you’ll also stumble across Astro Bots wearing a blue cap and holding a camera. They’re mostly there for the fun of it all rather than to accumulate anything, but every single one of them made me smile, even the few that I had to take a moment to try and guess at. I won’t spoil any more here so as to not rob anyone of the joy of first discovering them.

In Astro’s Playroom, the player has to complete 4 main locations divided into 4 levels. To collect all the collectibles, you will also need to walk around the main location – the CPU Plaza. PlayStation Labo lets you complete the collection by drawing prizes in a Gatcha-style game. Having the rewards be items that we grew up with tugs nostalgic heartstrings — and each model is rendered perfectly.

The Bots chasing the bike refer to the huge swarms of zombies featured in the game. Further along https://luck8.bid/ where the Horizon and Dreams easter eggs are will be some vines you can move by blowing into your microphone. Inside the cave on the right is a coffin, which if you punch will cause a blonde figure to emerge and pull the lid back on. This references the Castlevania series, specifically 1997’s Symphony of the Night on PS1, by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. On the right side of the giant pool at the end of Hotel Hopalot, you can find some Bots dancing next to two cardboard cutouts. These reference 1996’s PaRappa the Rapper and 1999’s Um Jammer Lammy for the PS1, both developed by NanaOn-Sha.

Each area showcases innovative gameplay that taps into the new features of the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller. These aspects don’t fundamentally change how Astro’s Playroom plays. But they make those moments you’ve experienced before feel more interesting and immersive. It didn’t change the core of the game, but it made the overall experience better. Astro’s Playroom comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5, so when you first start it up, you may assume it’s a tutorial designed to introduce you to the system’s capabilities. Yes, the game is a great showpiece for the PS5’s DualSense controller, applying its haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and motion-sensing technology to a variety of inventive situations.

Run Astro Run!

Astro’s Playroom first launched in 2020 as a pre-installed PS5 exclusive that highlighted the DualSense controller’s features. The platformer also paved the way for the successful Astro Bot, Team Asobi’s hit game from 2024 that earned numerous Game of The Year awards. While Astro Bot may have eclipsed Astro’s Playroom, it seems developers have not forgotten about the adorable Astro’s first adventure, as the robot’s first game recently received new content. We know you’ve just got your brand new PS5 console and you’re probably excited to experience all that it has to offer. That said, we really recommend you don’t rush through Astro’s Playroom, as it’s an experience that deserves to be savoured.

The smooth, 60-frames-per-second gameplay makes controlling Astro a real treat. While none of the sequences are terribly difficult, there’s enough of a challenge here to keep me busy for around six hours as I chase the Platinum Trophy. The fun is to explore locations, jump between platforms and perform simple puzzles. From time to time, we also find enemies that we can avoid or overpower with fast punches. Is improved force feedback and the same funny little collection of gyros and touchscreens carried over from the DualShock 4 really the next-gen difference? I’m not entirely sure, and it may well prove to be another false dawn that, like HD rumble on the Switch, is a pleasant addition that soon fades into the background.

Every Game Available For Xbox Game Pass

Those who hop into Astro’s Playroom today will be met with a message that a “mysterious portal” has opened up in the center of the game’s collectible hub, the PS LABO. It also teases that a selection of gatchas, or collectibles that can be earned via an in-game arcade machine, have been added, too. Maybe the most impressive piece of the PlayStation 5 hardware is its new controller, but it’ll only be as good as the games that support it.

When one hits you, Astro will be reset to the last checkpoint, and Selene’s capsule will open. Remember, once you’re done collecting all the Special Bots, you’ll be able to transfer them to new game Astro Bot. For a full list of All Bots Locations and All VIP Bots in the latest title, check out our Astro Bot PS5 guide. A full walkthrough will take you step-by-step from the start of the game to 100% completion, while the Collectibles section helps you find every Artefact and Puzzle Piece in the game! There’s even a Trophies section to help you earn that coveted Platinum Trophy.

Take when you’re exiting the beach and you’re walking against the fans that are blowing sand across you. The microphone makes the wind more intense while the vibrations of the sand are felt as the controller feels like a sandstorm. Explore four worlds, each one showcasing innovative gameplay using the new and versatile features of the PS5 DualSense™ wireless controller. The main boss for this level is the Demo 1 Dinosaur, more commonly known as the Demo 1 T.

Astro Bot

You’ll see a bot holding a camera throughout the levels as they record their companions as fellow PlayStation characters. For example, you’ll see bots dressed up as Kratos and Atreus from God of War trying to row a boat. You’ll even see a bot dressed up as Snake from Metal Gear Solid, and when you kick the box, it makes the classic alert sound each time you kick.

Up the same cliff as the Ico easter egg, on the opposite side you can find a crowd observing a Bot teeing off with a golf club while wearing a PS VR headset. This references Everybody’s Golf VR by Clap Hanz, released in 2019. Up until the 2017 game, Everybody’s Golf was called Hot Shots Golf in North America.