Astro's Playroom

Astro’s Playroom is way more than just a technological demo. It’s probably the best way to introduce players to the new DualSense controller. And it comes free with PlayStation 5. [Issue#308]

Astro’s Playroom is both DualSense’s killer app and an unmissable, imaginative tribute to PlayStation’s history. Games have never felt this satisfying.

Look, I’m blown away by this game. It can absolutely compete with the platforming greats, and I’m including Mario in that comment. It’s that good. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and it doesn’t overuse mechanics or reuse stages. It’s a very refined and beautiful world that I think is a tremendous introduction to the Playstation 5 and the Dual Sense controller. But even if it was neither of those things, Astro’s Playroom is a great platforming game that I’d still highly recommend.

While many may initially see it as a throwaway free demo for the features of the next-generation console it comes installed on, Astro’s Playroom is a wonderful surprise whose price does not speak to its quality. Though it certainly does showcase what the PlayStation 5’s new DualSense can do, the game actually has far more value being just that: a game.

In the modern landscape it's easy to believe we've seen everything the medium has to offer, but then a title such as Astro's Playroom comes along and redefines all previous conventions. It's pure platforming excellence and hopefully spells a bright future for one of Sony's finest current mascots.

With its much hyped status as a showcase of the DualSesne controller’s fancy new haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, it’s equally important to recognise that like Astro Bot before it, Astro’s Playroom is a fundamentally excellent platformer that commendably stands on its own merits. Equal parts a stirring demonstration of the capabilities of the DualSense and PS5 console as it is an excellent traditional platformer, Astro's Playroom might just be the best pack-in title of all-time.

Alas, Astro’s Playroom is only a few astonishing, magical hours long. There are lots of collectibles to go after and a leaderboard driven speedrun mode, but when I finished, I was still hungry for more. And that’s kind of the only criticism I can levy against it. The way it leverages PlayStation’s history, I can’t wait to see what irresistible creation Team ASOBI comes up with next. In the here and now, Astro Bot has earned a place in my heart among the very best of PlayStation’s franchises. ‎

Despite beating the game, I find myself returning to Astro’s Playroom for its pure joy.

Astro’s Playroom is one of the best PlayStation 5 titles to come out of the console this year. With gorgeous graphics and performance and an awesome way to get used to the DualSense controller, this free pack-in can go toe-to-toe with the platformer legends.

Astro's Play Room offers a perfect excuse to explore the great legacy of PlayStation while we enjoy a fun adventure that perfectly shows all the great novelties of the DualSense, the PlayStation 5 controller.

This is a huge surprise. A “free game” that’s actually better than many of those you have to pay for - and also the best showcase of the capabilities of the DualSense controller which has the potential to change how we experience video games.

The developer, SIE Japan Studio, has forged a platformer from the same blend of delirium and precision that blows through Super Mario, and then filled it with fossils.

Astro's Playroom proves that the DualSense's haptics and adaptive triggers are for real — and that Astro Bot could have a very bright future on PlayStation 5. It's a stunning display of the thought and care Sony has put into the DualSense controller. And it's a solid platformer that everyone should play at least once.

Believe me when I tell you that as soon as your PS5 is ready, what you should do before anything else, is to start playing Astro's Playroom. You will have time for the other games, this is the one that will really feel you in a completely new generation of consoles that can do things that definitely, something like the PS4 could not.

Just as Astro Bot Rescue Mission was the perfect title to introduce PS VR, Astro's Playroom is a gem that works better than any manual or data sheet in creating a real man-machine relationship, informal, very pleasant and extremely fun. The DualSense proves to be an exceptional controller with absolutely unique sensory possibilities, capable of bringing the player even closer to the gameplay. Not a traumatic revolution, but still one that leads to a new and unknown level of intimacy that, apart from VR, had never been reached in a “traditional” video game. Its nature as a pre-installed software gives Astro’s Playroom a sensational value in terms of empathy and "first impact" with the new generation, communicating in the language of fun and surprise everything there is to know about the characteristics of PS5. Something far more important than any judgment.

Astro’s Playroom is an exciting 3D platformer full of surprise and wonder. While its task of introducing the PS5 controller’s new features can sometimes be a double-edged sword, full-fledged implementation of the DualSense’s haptic feedback creates a next-gen experience only possible on the PS5. The game design of adding new ideas for each level, iterating on them, and then switching them for something completely different is reminiscent of Nintendo’s design philosophy, and Astro does it just as well as Mario. At the same time, Astro’s adventure through the history of PlayStation is a journey only Sony can deliver.

Astro’s Playroom is the epitome of the PlayStation 5. It’s the foundational software kicking off the next generation of PlayStation gaming. ASOBI Team from Japan Studio could have just phoned it in with a handful of gimmicky levels to distract players while they wait for Miles Morales or Demon’s Souls to download, but they didn’t. They developed a full fun platforming experience that not only demonstrates the PS5, but celebrates 25 years of PlayStation history in some pretty special ways. It’s a powerful showcase that honors everything that led to the “5” in PS5, while also providing a pretty clear picture of what makes this new generation so special.

The only downsides to Astro’s Playroom are that it is fairly short, and it could have used a little plot to tie the whole thing together. However, for the price, it can’t be beaten, and it’s a must-play for those booting up their PS5 for the first time.

Astro’s Playroom is deserving of every single superlative you’re likely to hear associated with it. As a platformer, it’s a varied and entertaining experience that’s constantly introducing new and exciting ideas over the course of its campaign. And as a DualSense tech demo, it’s similarly effective at showcasing the power and potential of Sony’s new hardware. But perhaps above all, this is a love letter to the legacy of PlayStation, and it feels fitting that as we enter an exciting new chapter from an undeniably iconic gaming brand, we take a moment to remember the milestones that got us to this point.

A love letter to PlayStation and a showcase for the future of PS5: a delightful thing to include with the console.

An enjoyable nostalgic platforming adventure that will also be your window into the next generation of PlayStation experience.

Although Astro's Playroom does feature a few gimmicks it's undeniable that this game is an amazing showcase for the PS5's DualSense. All while being a great 3D-platformer Astro's Playroom shows not only a love for PlayStation's history and shines brightest when utilizing the fantastic haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

Astro’s Playroom is a creative surprise. For the PS5 launch Asobi Team serves up a jump-and-run highlight – preinstalled!

It's hard to hold a grief against Astro's Playroom, as it's a wonderful showcase for the PS5's DualSense controller, which also brings back memories of oldschool plateformer fun. Moreover, it's free with every PS5 unit purchase.

Aside from being a showcase of the tech that the PlayStation 5 is capable of, Astro’s Playroom excels in its exuding charm, with callbacks and references to many PlayStation properties sprinkled throughout the entirety of the game. Ultimately, Astro’s Playroom is a celebration of PlayStation’s legacy encapsulated in a toy-like aesthetic that delivers a fun experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome and gives all players something to dive into when they get their hands on a PlayStation 5.

Astro’s Playroom may be the most consequential proof of concept launch title since Wii Sports. It masterfully highlights everything that’s unique and special about the PS5 by looking great, running even better, and proving why the DualSense controller is the next evolution in games immersion. However, none of that would matter if the core game was poorly designed, and thankfully Astro’s Playroom ensures that PS5 owners have a highly entertaining gameplay experience waiting for them when they turn on their shiny new console.

Astro's Playroom is perhaps the best pre-installed console launch game that I've ever played. In fact, it's so good that it provides even more incentive to get your hands on a PlayStation 5.

Astro's Playroom is on the very short side and that is a great pity. This game illustrates that the new DualSense controller is much more than a gimmick, but is also a formidable platformer bursting with detail and vision. Sony, please turn this into a full game.

Much more than a simple tech demo: Astro's Playroom is a bite from the future and an exceptional way to understand what the new DualSense is capable of.

As a free pack-in game, Astro's Playroom is a great showcase of the new DualSense controller. More importantly though, it goes above and beyond in celebrating the history of PlayStation. There's throwbacks to PlayStation's greatest games and moments at every turn and it's a genuine delight from start to finish.

A tribute to PlayStation’s long and colourful history, Astro’s Playroom is the ideal way to become familiar with Sony’s brand-new console and all of its features. Mediocre graphics notwithstanding, it also feels like a fully-fledged game worthy of a price tag.

Astro’s Playroom is a smart game that offers rich and varied universes and gameplay full of relief! The functions of the DualSense add a true depth to the experience that proves to go far beyond what one imagines. In addition, the title offers nice replayability thanks to all the secrets and hidden artifacts without forgetting the time trial. A dive into the enjoyable and refreshing next gen.

Astro's Playroom is a game developed with great love that has surprised us greatly. It is the perfect excuse to enjoy all of the details that the DualSense's technology hides within its form.

As well as being an excellent demonstration of the future ahead for owners of the PS5, Astro’s Playroom serves as an excellent, albeit brief platformer. You’ll find that just as the game really begins to come into its own, it ends, and that’s an almighty shame, but will likely you leaving salivating at the prospect of what is to come for Astro Bot and friends.

Astro's Playroom is the tangible demonstration of the incredible potential of DualSense, but also the sublime meeting point between the past and the future of PlayStation.

Astro’s Playroom is an incredible surprise that shows off all the things the DualSense can do. It’s a game that gives you a taste of what playing on PS5 can feel like, and every owner of the console should try it.

Sony’s obligatory ‘tech-demo’ game is a fun-loving trip through PlayStation history. Despite looking like a throwaway title, it easily stands alongside the biggest hits on the launch of the PlayStation 5.

Astro's Playroom is the perfect way to start your PlayStation 5 experience. It's a fun little platformer with lashings of PlayStation nostalgia which introduces you to all the fantastic new features of the DualSense controller.

All in all Astro's Playroom is a perfectly charming little platformer. It's obviously not a mind-blowing display, but as a game to get up to speed with how the PS5 operates and enjoy a look at some PlayStation hardware of day's gone it's hard to find fault. After all, it’s free and can be played while waiting for other games to install. What’s not to love?

Haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, touch panel, motion sensor, microphone, speaker... there is not a single feature missing from the game included in every PlayStation 5 to discover all the possibilities of the DualSense controller. In addition, it is a nostalgic journey through the history of PlayStation that has touched our hearts.

As a showcase for the PS5 and DualSense, Astro's Playroom is more than just a tech demo; it's also a playful and remarkably fun platformer.

More than just a tech demo for the DualSense controller, Astro’s Playroom is a stunning showcase for the PS5 and the very first game that you have to try out on the next-gen system. Fine-tuned for maximum haptic feedback fun, Astro’s return is a marvel that celebrates the past and the future of the PlayStation.

Crisp visuals and smooth performance paired with tried-and-true gameplay and a controller that feels and behaves unlike anything that has come before - Astro’s Playroom is well worth spending some of those first PS5 moments with. The speaker, the motion controls (when limited to simple motions only), the impressive HD rumble, the adaptive triggers, it’s all here and impressive. Playing off the in-game visuals and surround sound coming through your headset or speaker setup it’s as much a proof of concept as it is a fine 3D platformer and a celebration of all things PlayStation. It leaves you wanting, and pining for a full-sized Astro adventure too. One built from the ground-up for Sony’s new console and groundbreaking new controller.

Astro cements himself as the PlayStation 5's mascot with a celebration of all things PlayStation that also showcases the full potential of the immersive new DualSense controller. Astro's Playroom is the first thing you should play on PlayStation 5.

Astro's Playroom is just that; a playroom for the next generation - a small glimpse into what the PlayStation 5 will be able to do with the DualSense.

Inspecting all that gaming gubbins up-close as a tiny robot gave me a new appreciation for the art of Sony’s hardware design. I’m not a technically minded gamer, and for me the appeal of individual consoles has always been decidedly secondary to the games I can play on them. But there is proper magic in how engineers and programmers create the machines that enable our gaming experiences, and Astro’s Playroom helped me to see it.

Astro's Playroom is charming, fun and makes amazing use of all the new Dualsense features. Is it a perfect game? No, not at all - it's quite short and too easy. But this is probably the best game Sony could've shipped with PS5 consoles.

Astro's Playroom it's the best possible way to try your brand new PS5. It's not just a great tutorial to try all DualSense's new tibdits, it's the best possible homage to the PlayStation brand's 25 years of videogaming history, full of references here and there. And it's free. What a pity that it ends very soon.

Even better are the super charming vignettes depicting scenes from classic games acted out by Astro Bots in fancy dress scattered throughout the game’s levels. It’s a wonderfully self indulgent cocktail of celebration and fan service more reminiscent of Nintendo than Sony - and all the more delightful for it.

Cute as everything and very well paced, Astro’s Playroom is a nice little treat for PlayStation 5 buyers.

Astro’s Playroom surprised and delighted me. This PS5 pack-in most certainly hues closer to a technical showcase, essentially a loosely-structured sandbox to mess around in and discover what the PS5 has to offer. But it has enough collectibles, creative ideas, and genuinely exciting uses of the DualSense that PS5 owners shouldn’t brush this one aside in the launch lineup. After months and months of hearing how the DualSense would immerse me like never before, Astro’s Playroom put promises into practice and impressively proved what’s possible with the PS5’s new controller.

Astro's Playroom is a game that can be experienced with a lot of simplicity and without any particular expectations. It will surprise you during the few hours of gameplay it offers, and will allow you to learn more about the generations of PlayStation consoles as well as the DualSense controller's features. This is a great surprise from the creative and generous ASOBI development team and is a great way to start a long adventure with the next generation of PS5 games!

At its best, Astro’s Playroom recaptures the magic of my favorite Lego video games – except the license on display is the PlayStation brand instead of something like Star Wars or Marvel. The cameos are plentiful and amusing, with franchises that go beyond the first-party catalogue, along with some surprisingly deep cuts that made me feel very old. But in the midst of all that history, Astro feels like an adorably fresh face; I’m glad to see the character break out of the confines of VR and reach out to a broader audience. Astro’s Playroom may not be the deepest or most ambitious game on PS5, but its humor and playfulness are just delightful.

Astro's Playroom is a truly adorable and joyful platformer. Even if a bit short and not very difficult, it shows the potential of the DualSense as we go through some lovely levels with some funny ideas and a lot to remember about the whole PlayStation brand. Definitely worth your time.

A gate that is willing to keep 26 years of videogame history. A proper museum dedicated to the PlayStation universe. An excellent platform rich of “wow” moments and built with love. Sleeping on Astro's Playroom should be considered a crime by the videogamers court.

Aside from wishing it was longer, Astro's Playroom is an easy recommendation. I mean, if you have a PS5, you have this game anyway. Just play It.

Astro's Playroom, a game that makes no attempt to hide the fact that it is an excuse to show you what a gamepad can do, conjures a world that you will want to see and explore. More than that, its surprisingly delightful celebration of PlayStation and its video games is a great way to kick off a console generation.

Astro’s Playroom is an irresistible delight. Going into it, I thought it was just going to be a short tech demo, and while that’s partially correct, it’s more than meets the eye. It’s overflowing with PlayStation nostalgia that ’90s and ’00s kids will get an absolute kick out of it.

Astro’s Playroom asks you over and over to fondly remember the memories that you and Grandpa PlayStation made together. But, more importantly, it’s a promise of new and treasured memories to come.

Astro's Playroom is an excellent showcase for the new PS5 DualSense controller, plus it's also an enjoyable platformer with charming presentation and lots of neat cameos to discover. The fact that it's free is just icing on the cake.

All in all, this game is perfect for what it sets out to do – make it clear the power the PS5 has while also making the game fun and enjoyable. It falls short, though, with the difficulty spiking only at the very end, and none of the four-section paths providing much challenge. It is a must-play if you want to experience all the PS5 has to offer next-gen players though.

Astro's Playroom is way more than a tech demo: it's fun and brilliant, definitely worth playing.

For a freebie, this isn't just a generous welcome to PS5 (particularly with most launch titles costing 70 a pop) but a promising glimpse of things to come and a fine, if occasionally gimmicky, platformer in its own right. [Issue#353, p.110]

Everybody will play Astro's Playroom and everybody will forget about it a few hours later.

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. But in all honesty, this isn’t so much a game as it is a showpiece for what the DualSense controller can do. And as a result, this isn’t so much a review, as it is an opportunity to highlight how well the features on the PS5 controller work.

Astro's Playroom is maybe not a game that can fill the shoes of a full title, but as a pack-in game it delivers on more than we expected.

A highly enjoyable introduction to the PlayStation 5 but also a charming celebration of the entire history of PlayStation, even if it’s something you’ll only ever play once.