That PS4 game was the sort of thing you boot up once, mess around with for 30 minutes, and then forget it exists. As you can tell, there’s not much of a story with this game, but you don’t need a fully fleshed-out plot for this demo. Astro’s Playroom has you controlling one of the Astro Bots as you explore different areas to find artifacts. These aren’t just any items but other accessories and items from PlayStation’s history.

And that’s on top of the way it blends some audio Easter eggs into the world that are perhaps best discovered while playing. What’s so remarkable about Astro’s Playroom is that while it’s ostensibly about showing off the features of the PlayStation 5, it’s also a fabulous platformer. Levels constantly throw me new toys to play with that totally change the way the level plays. Later levels include a spaceship (with rockets powered by the adaptive triggers) and a rolling ball (controlled by swiping the touchpad on the DualSense), intermingled with platforming sequences.

Downloadable Content

The controller cames packed with a lot of new technology, making it incredibly unique. The latest PlayStation mascot showed off its capabilities while being a fun little game all on its own. In the PS1 at the start of the level, there’s a memory card with “Ken’s” written on it. This is a reference to Ken Kutaragi, the father of the PlayStation. It was he who developed the SNES sound chip for Nintendo, which led to the Play Station add-on for the system. When this partnership fell through, Kutaragi persevered and developed it into a standalone console, resulting in the original PlayStation.

Global Player Ratings

In this fun platformer, explore 4 worlds based on the console’s components. Each area showcases innovative gameplay using the new features of the PS5 DualSense™ wireless controller. Kids say that the game is a delightful and fun platformer that appeals to all ages, particularly praising its nostalgic references and enjoyable gameplay. While some older players feel it’s not suitable for anyone under 30, many believe it is perfect for kids, highlighting its approachable difficulty and excellent haptic feedback. Summary Astro and his crew lead you on a magical introduction through PS5 in this fun platformer that comes pre-loaded on PS5.

Also at the second Checkpoint, head left along the cliff to find a Bot kneeling in front of a lad with a staff. This references 2009’s Demon’s Souls by FromSoftware for the PS3. The Bot with the staff is the Maiden in Black, a demon who uses souls collected by the player character to help them level up in the Nexus. Demon’s Souls got a PS5 remake in 2020 for the launch of the console.

Sony boldly chose Astro Bot to lead the PlayStation 5 with the tech demo Astro’s Playroom. LUCK8 came pre-installed with every PlayStation 5 console to show the power of the PS5 and DualSense controller. It’s clear that gamers love these little bots, and the excitement for them now is that their full-fledged PS5 game, Astro Bot, is coming in a few weeks. Astro’s Playroom is more than a demo as its charm and gameplay shine through to every player.

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.

Upon touching the fourth starfish, you’ll come across the special bot, and the clue for the riddle — an arrow following a specific route. To find the special bot in SSD Speedway, head to the Bot Beach area. To find the special bot in SSD Speedway, head to the Deep Dataspace area. From the start, climb the first ledge, and instead of progressing on the critical path to the wall ahead, go through the grass on the left, and you’ll find a Bloodborne bot. To find the special bot in GPU Jungle, head to the Renderforest area. Astro’s Playroom is a 2020 platform game developed by Japan Studio’s Team Asobi division and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5.