Astro Bot on the PlayStation Portal (Image: SONY)
I know I’m late to the party, but recent release Astro Bot is an absolute blast. The best 3D platformer I’ve played since Super Mario Odyssey, Astro Bot is every bit as inventive as anything involving the Nintendo mascot, and easily the most creative PS5 exclusive to date. It’s also one of the best excuses yet to purchase a Portal handheld device. , the PlayStation Portal lets users access their PS5 games remotely, and without losing any of the console’s functionality. It comes with a gorgeous 8-inch LCD screen, which can handle gameplay at 60 frames-per-second in 1080p. However, what makes the PlayStation Portal superior to similar remote play devices are the controls.
As you can see from the image at the top of the page, the PlayStation Portal is essentially a DualSense controller with a screen in the middle.
As such, it has all of the same functionality, including advanced haptic feedback, touchpad support (via the actual display), and adaptive triggers.
More so than any other game on the PS5, Astro Bot takes advantage of all of these features, introducing new gameplay elements at an almost overwhelming rate.
With the DualSense controller capabilities of the PS Portal, you can literally feel the grains of sand beneath Astro’s feet, the crunch of gravel and the cracking of glass.
You get similar feedback from some of Astro’s power-ups, particularly the ones that pack a punch like the cute but deadly Froggy Gloves.
Unlike most video games, the joy of playing Astro Bot isn’t just about what you see and hear, it’s also what you feel, and the DualSense controller is a huge part of that.
Not only does Astro Bot excel on the PlayStation Portal from a gameplay perspective, it also takes advantage of the portability element of the Sony handheld.
After crash landing on a deserted planet, the aim of Astro Bot is to explore the galaxy and rescue all of your crewmates.
While I never felt the urge to collect all 900 Korok Seeds in Breath of the Wild, or the entire set of Riddler Trophies in Arkham Knight, Astro Bot’s collectables are much more enticing.
Not only are there dozens of iconic PlayStation characters dotted about the place, but finding them unlocks new content that’s actually worth doing. Likewise for the hidden warp points that unlock brand new stages with even more missing bots to rescue.
It really is worth replaying each stage until you find absolutely everything, something which once again suits the casual pick up and play nature of the PlayStation Portal handheld. I would often fire up the Portal for quick 20-30 minutes sessions dedicated exclusively to re-exploring any of the stages with missing content.
The only real negative are the motion controls used for piloting Astro’s ship at the start of each stage. You have to hold the Portal in an unnatural position to accurately guide Astro to stranded bots before you actually set foot on land.
While there are some games that absolutely demand the big screen experience – 4K/HDR stunners like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, The Last of Us 2 and Elden Ring, for example – and others that are better on a handheld – Balatro immediately springs to mind – Astro Bot is one of the few games that feels tailor-made for both.
Astro Bot is a great advert for the PlayStation Portal, especially if you want to discover everything this vibrant and inventive world has to offer.