Summary
- Astro Bot is full of references to PlayStation history, but a select few characters get extra special treatment.
- Some of Astro Bot's levels let you play as its VIP Bots for unique segments that pay tribute to how each game plays.
- The PlayStation series that have playable levels include Horizon, LocoRoco, Ape Escape, and more.
Astro Bot has some special levels based on God of War, Horizon, Uncharted, Ape Escape, and LocoRoco that let Astro take control of a hero's powers and play as them.
One of the defining characteristics of Astro Bot (and Astro's Playroom for that matter) is that as well as being a bright and colourful 3D platformer in a generation sorely lacking them, it also celebrates and spotlights PlayStation's history. Astro Bot goes one step further than Astro's Playroom by turning its cameos into collectibles, but there are some franchises that get even more special treatment.
Astro Bot Review - A Masterpiece, Not A Museum
This is not just a Greatest Hits album. This is Sony's best game in years.
As you make your way through Astro Bot's worlds and levels, you'll eventually come across special segments that pay tribute to PlayStation games. While Astro Bot is already full of shout outs and references, these levels are unique because they actually let you step into a cameo's shoes in a level dedicated to their series.
Astro Bot Has A Special Place In Its Heart For Uncharted, LocoRoco, Ape Escape, And Horizon
Perhaps unsurprisingly, three of the series that Astro Bot chooses to highlight in these special levels include heavy-hitters like Uncharted, God of War, and Horizon. The Uncharted level, Dude Raiding, sees Astro taking over for Nathan Drake and getting his own toy gun to take baddies out with, while the God of War level and Horizon level give you the Leviathan Axe and Aloy's bow respectively.
While three of the series that are chosen for this special treatment are a bit obvious, there are two that come as a bit more of a surprise. The first of these is a level based on Ape Escape called "Apes On The Loose" that has you playing as Spike and going around capturing Apes with your Time Net.
While I would have loved to see a Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, or Ratchet & Clank level, you can at least get costumes that let Astro dress up as them for regular missions.
The second and most surprising is a mission based on LocoRoco fittingly called "Going Loco". This mission, located in Camo Cosmos, sees Astro Bot turning into one of LocoRoco's iconic blobs. LocoRoco isn't one of PlayStation's most iconic series like the other picks, but it does make sense considering LocoRoco comes from Japan Studio, who eventually became Team Asobi.
In case you haven't figured it out, these levels are each trying to pay respect to a different generation of PlayStation. Ape Escape for the PS1, LocoRoco for the PS2, and Uncharted for the PS3. Horizon is there for the PS4, while God of War seems to be in the PS5's slot, despite Ragnarok having also released on last-gen consoles.
