First-party IP has become an incredibly important part of the gaming world, often being a key determining factor in the platforms players choose. Over the course ofa console generation, players will gradually form attachments to the IPs that resonate with them, growing to love their stories, characters, and unique gameplay mechanics.Astro Botcelebrates these attachments at every turn.
The first major PlayStation mascot platformer in quite some time,Astro Bothas players taking control of the titular automaton hero as he searches the galaxy for his missing Bot pals. Many of these Bots wear costumes intended to reference a specific gaming franchise, often ones closely tied with PlayStation’s history. Finding these cameo Bots is a consistent highlight ofAstro Bot’s moment-to-moment gameplay, but if/whenAstro Botgets a sequel, it probably won’t be able to use the same trick twice.
An Astro Bot Sequel Might Need to Shake Up Its Cameos
Astro Bot Already Contains 190 Cameos
At launch,Astro Botcontained well over 150 cameo Bots, most of whom were scattered across its 50+ planets. While PlayStation has a lot of IP it’s created and worked closely with over the last few decades, developer Team Asobi did its best to include as many as it could, and it did a phenomenal job.
Crash Bandicoot,Spyro the Dragon,Resident Evil, and countless otherflagship PS1 titleswere referenced inAstro Bot. More recent PlayStation franchises likeGod of War,Uncharted, andHorizonwere placed front and center of several ofAstro Bot’s stages. Even deep-cut franchises that haven’t been seen in over two decades, such asVib-RibbonandArc the Lad, found their way toAstro Bot.
But the celebration didn’t stop there. In the months followingAstro Bot’s release, the game received a handful of free updates that added several new levels and a handful of new cameo appearances. 18 cameo Bots were added in total, again running the entire gamut of PlayStation history, from modern heroes likeMarvel’s Spider-Man’s Peter Parker and Miles Morales, to long-forgotten mascots like Gex and Croc, to popular third-party characters likeResident Evil’s Albert Wesker.
Astro Bot 2 Would Have to Get Creative With Its Cameos
Astro Bothas cemented itself as a series thatcelebrates PlayStation history, but it needs to strike a careful balance with its next entry. With so many franchises already present inAstro Bot, a potential sequel probably wouldn’t be able to rely on simply including the same type of collectible references, especially if they were referencing the same franchises from the first game.
Instead, the nextAstro Botneeds to do something different with its cameos, something a bit more special. One option would be to include fewer cameos in a sequel, but make those cameos feel much more substantial. For instance, the sequel could take the firstAstro Bot’sUncharted,God of War,Horizon,Ape Escape, andLocoRocolevelsand expand them out to include more PlayStation franchises.
However, that might feel a tad overwhelming if that was the entire game, as many fans would still want to experience original, non-PlayStation-themed levels. Another option would be to giveAstro Bot’s power-upsan overhaul in a potential sequel, theming each one after a PlayStation character, such asInfamous' lightning superpowers,Spider-Man’s web-swinging, orSpyro the Dragon’s fire-breathing.
JOIN ASTRO IN A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSIZED SPACE ADVENTURE
The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe!
Blast off on a supersized adventure
From sandy beaches to lush jungles and piping-hot volcanoes, explore a myriad of memorable planets in search of Astro’s lost crew!
Power up your platforming
With your new powers, battle out a whole new roster of quirky baddies and huge bosses. Feel every hop, punch and crack through your DualSense wireless controller.
Join the PlayStation celebration
Reunite with over 150 iconic PlayStation heroes and celebrate 30 years of PlayStation history!
