In addition to these Special Bots, the PlayStation Labo received an update, so we invite you to check it out and add new artefacts to your collection. We will be back soon with 2 more riddles on the run-up to the release of Astro Bot. And by the looks of it, we might have to make the next ones even harder. Thank you all for playing along with us, and we will see you soon! First, he was a newsman in the Technology department, over time he began to get involved in games and journalism, as well as edit and supervise the Technology newsroom. He previously shared his thoughts on video games in, e.g. various thematic groups.

Games who had others within the game itself are listed above instead. After defeating the stone dragon boss and reaching the start of Mt. Motherboard, look to the left to spot two fighters, one victorious over the other. They reference 1995’s Tekken for the PS1, developed by Namco. The scene depicts the canon ending of the game, where Kazuya Mishima is victorious over his father Heihachi. After going down the long DualShock Cable, look right to spot a ship made out of blocks. This is the Ferox ship from Resogun, a 2013 launch title for the PS4 developed by Housemarque.

Some platform games require a lot of skill and combination movements, which can be frustrating to master. For younger players, set time aside to help them learn and practise the skills. On its own, Astro’s Playroom would be a fun platforming distraction fit for younger gamers or families. Its world is vibrant and wonderfully detailed, and it looks exceptional on the PS5.

Games Review

In terms of basic structure and mechanics, Astro’s Playroom is not surprising; it adheres closely to a comfortable formula. But that familiarity doesn’t drag the experience down, because the DualSense controller adds novelty in fun and surprising ways. In ASTRO’S PLAYROOM, players guide Astro through a series of lands, all of which tout the selling points of the PlayStation 5, including its SSD hard drive and new processor. This makes for a themed series of levels (four levels per land) that showcase the DualSense controller, primarily its rumble feature. You’ll feel the ice shattering beneath Astro’s feet via the controller. It underscores how much the controller can be a part of the game.

Astro’s Playroom Gacha Machine Has A Hidden Dualsense Mechanic

It deserves a place among the greats though – Astro’s Playroom has the coherence, character and abundance of ideas, executed with real clarity, of the very best platformers. The slight downside is that Astro’s Playroom is concise, as completing the game will take you an hour and a half. However, there are many collectibles to obtain, and Team Asobi has added free content updates.

I still remember the first time I played Super Mario 64, and how amazed I was that pushing the analog stick slightly would make Mario walk, while a stronger push would make him run. Playing Astro’s Playroom with the DualSense is a similar experience. One of the unlockable displays in the Gatcha Game is a house-shaped outline, which gets you the “Honey, I’m Home! This references SCE London Studio’s PlayStation Home, a Second Life-style experience launched in 2008 and closed in 2015.

At its most basic, Astro’s Playroom is a fairly straightforward platforming game. You play as a cute little robot named Astro, exploring four different worlds set in a universe that appears to exist inside of a computer. You’ll collect coins, stomp on enemies, and poke around in search of secrets. There are boss battles and one-off sequences, like one where you have to pilot a small spaceship through dangerous caverns, or another where you use a bow to pick off faraway enemies.

On the first level, you’re going along a beach and can feel the steps you make in the sand. Each bit of grain is felt through your hand, which makes it intense in the best way. Then, the magic starts happening when these features are combined.

Ease Of Play

Astro’s Playroom may not be the deepest or most ambitious game on PS5, but its humor and playfulness are just delightful. Even though Astro’s Playroom is relatively simple, it kept me entertained for about five hours with its array of challenges and entertaining Easter eggs. During Astro’s jaunt through the guts of the PS5, you run across all sorts of PlayStation references and memorabilia. From seeing bot versions of iconic characters (like Kratos and Solid Snake) to gathering old peripherals and consoles, the journey is full of “I recognize that! ” flashes that punctuate the lighthearted and approachable gameplay.

The game also has one of the easiest platinum trophies on PS5, so completing all levels can be quite rewarding as well. As spotted by Twitter user realradec, Astro’s Playroom received an update for February 2025 that added the PS5 Pro as an artifact. In Astro’s Playroom, players can obtain “Artifacts” from a gacha machine that unlocks collectible PlayStation products. Although Team Asobi did not formally announce it, the update also added the PS5 Pulse Elite Headset and Pulse Explore Earbuds. Once players obtain these Artifacts, they can display their giant versions in the PlayStation Labo area.

It seems the special bots are integrated into the guide as opposed to being tacked on as an addendum. Either way, most guides are from when it came out, and a lot more people have a PS5 now. Those that haven’t played it have been tempted to give it a go with a second installment being announced, so an updated guide will be helpful to quite a few I would imagine.

The “Hell Diver” Trophy, awarded for jumping off the tallest diving board at the end of Bot Beach. This references 2015’s Hell Divers, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios for the PS4, PS4 and PS Vita. The name of the Trophy is very similar to the game’s hardest difficulty, “Hell Dive”. Rex or a Manta Ray, with the latter being unlockable as a decoration via the Gatcha Game. The manta ray was the second tech demo available on the pack-in Demo 1 disc to showcase the console’s prowess, depicting a manta ray swimming in the ocean with a school of fish. On another table in the Labo area is a purple dragon surrounded by red Gems.

Better graphics and faster load times are fine, but the subtle effects that are imparted via the controller are something new — and something wonderful. And Astro shows that while Sony might excel at realistic and sometimes dark games, it’s also very capable of making a title that young kids can enjoy. While it might not be as deep and rich a world as Super Mario Bros., Astro’s Playroom is a title that young and old can both enjoy. In Astro’s Playroom, the adaptive triggers come up a lot, but the most obvious demonstration of them is when Astro hops into a spring suit. Once inside, the game turns into a side-scrolling platformer, as Astro is able to launch itself to the left or right using a giant spring in its legs.

Ico, The Last Guardian, Demon’s Souls, Patapon are all things of the past. In Sony’s new reality, there’s seemingly no more room for funding titles that resist Western trends and set their own. The PS5 has been an unmitigated success, but the high prices of next-generation games are prompting gamers to look toward “freebies.” Here are the games you can already play for free on PlayStation 5. With non-stop magic, endearing characters and plenty of humour, this is the perfect game for families to enjoy.

The game let you explore themed spaces and allow you to purchase items to display in your virtual home. When mb66 get to the first silver Bounce Pillow, use it to get on top of the wall, then drop off the other side. This references 2008’s LittleBigPlanet on PS3, developed by Media Molecule. The globe is LittleBigPlanet itself, covered in badges that represent levels from players around the world. After the second use of the Hang Glider, on the left you’ll find a massive sword stuck in the ground.