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Astro Bot |OT| Robot in disguises

Dafegamer

Member
Just takes repetition my man. Eventually you'll get it
Yeesh, yeah I'm just taking a break currently. I'm kinda deep into Witcher 3 at the moment 💪, which I'm surprisingly loving after not being impressed by it years ago with the brief hands on I had with it
 
So, it turns out Sony released LocoRoco Remastered back in 2017 on PS4. It actually has a PS4 Pro mode that renders in 4K...

Gonna have to keep an eye on that one, maybe I'll pick it up when it's on sale again
 

Skifi28

Member
Just got the platinum, I guess the final challenge wasn't as hard as it looked. Each individual section is not too bad, the main issue is you got to do it all in one go and it's quite long. Still, with a little practice and luck it's very doable. It also seems like the first part of the challenge is the most difficult one so it doesn't waste your time as much with retries. Once I nailed down the first half the rest was a breeze.

That other level with the lava though, wow, that can go fuck itself. I beat it by sheer luck after raging for over an hour.
 

kungfuian

Member
Just finish the game with 100% completion. Very creative, fun, and gorgeous to look at. That said I think it's a bit shallow and on the easy side. Obviously that's on purpose so it's accessible to a wide audience but if you've grown up playing platformers it's not going to provide much of a challenge. I probably rank it about a 9.

Relative to Sony's other 'platformer' efforts this Gen I'd say I enjoyed it just about as much as Rift Apart and Sackboy. Both are similarly in the 9 range for me, with this and sackboy edging out Rift apart by just a bit.

Hopefully the game sells well. Nice to have more colorful platformer games in their portfolio.

Maybe we'll get some co-op DLC?
 

midnightAI

Banned
Well I am here to express my absolute delight but ultimate disappointment in astro bot.

A brilliant game, but with a few slight issues that mark it from the level of an incredible Mario 3D platformed. And one major issue that actually really soured my entire experience.

The platforming is great, the game is so close to perfection but it just falls short. I would like astro to have more moves available. The game is just slightly too simple for my liking and I didn't struggle with platinuming the game at all.

Levels didn't take many attempts to succeed and I would have loved some opportunities to go crazy with astros potential move set. Triple jumps etc.

Also, my absolute favourite level was in the second world and I can not believe they didn't revisit the shrinking in an additional level. It was jaw dropping good. Some brilliant levels after this but nothing came close in the remaining 3 galaxies imo. Saying that, I adore the little tungston/metal ball design where it turns into bullet proof metroid.

So, loved the game. Was so close in taking over like a dragon as my game of the year, then they fucked it.

How in the actual fuck did they have Aloy and Horizon as the last MAIN world??

Hobestly, i am so fucking fed up with this boring piece of shit franchise and Sonys attempt to force feed it into our throats has gone too far. Aloy is terrible, the game is boring...they didn't even have characters anyone really knows or lives as the little astro bots...they had to use some grazing stag thing....and this gets to be the final ultimate Sony franchise special for Astro Bot and the 30th anniversary. There are so many other franchises that deserved that spot in the game and honestly, its inclusion actively tarnished the game for me. 30 years of celebration for that at the end just genuinely ruined my experience.

I detest Horizon even more now because of it. Fuck that game. Fuck the character and thanks for spoiling what would have been my game of the year.

Straight up offensive to fans of playstation since the ps1

Rant over. Buy the game. Love it and enjoy it but be prepared to be triggered. If you think similarly to me.

What do you think gaf? Do you not feel there is literally hundred of incredible gaming characters that DESERVED to to be the final homage to such an incredible 30 years of gaming?
Its Astro firing some arrows, it doesnt matter what order those levels are in, so basically...
the wolf of wall street idgaf GIF


(oh, and for your own health, seriously, this hate isnt healthy, to make it suddenly not game of the year because of that (in your opinion) is just, well, weird.... its actually a really fun pretty level also)
 
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DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
Its Astro firing some arrows, it doesnt matter what order those levels are in, so basically...
the wolf of wall street idgaf GIF


(oh, and for your own health, seriously, this hate isnt healthy, to make it suddenly not game of the year because of that (in your opinion) is just, well, weird.... its actually a really fun pretty level also)

Typical neogaf. No one wanting to discuss games on a level.

Have you played the game? the basics of the game is its key mechanic is Sony Nostalgia. Do you want to have a discussion about how Horizon doesnt deserve to have that spot in a game, which its main draw is nostalgia, or do you just want to go on the personal attack?

I was legit hoping for a discussion from someone but you failed.

I'm actually surprised you dont think it matters what order a game plays out.
 
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Reactions: LMJ

kurisu_1974

Member
I got to the part with the birds in the final level twice but I messed it up and the level is a bit long to keep trying... maybe I'll give it another final whirl in a couple of days.

Loved the game though, had an amazing time with it (and I don't normally really play platformers outside of the big Mario releases). I hope there will be more levels and bots to collect down the line.

Pretty close to being GOTY for me, in a year where I finished Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, FF7 Rebirth, Rise of the Ronin, Elden Ring DLC, Unicorn Overlord... and we still have Metaphor: ReFantazio and Ys X Nordics this year!
 

midnightAI

Banned
Typical neogaf. No one wanting to discuss games on a level.

Have you played the game? the basics of the game is its key mechanic is Sony Nostalgia. Do you want to have a discussion about how Horizon doesnt deserve to have that spot in a game, which its main draw is nostalgia, or do you just want to go on the personal attack?

I was legit hoping for a discussion from someone but you failed.

I'm actually surprised you dont think it matters what order a game plays out.
The order of those levels really doesnt matter, at all, they are just levels within another game, you are saying Astro now doesnt deserve to be a game of the year (for you) because of one level and that level the game is based on is a game you detest. But you arent playing Horizon, you are playing Astro Bot and the one new ability in that level is firing arrows in a really pretty environment with a fun boss type ending. You arnt being forced to play as Aloy (its Astro), you arent being forced to listen to Aloy chatting constant, you arent being forced to go through chatting to NPC's, or care about the story, or stealth, or climb mountains, the gameplay is completely different. Also, the game isnt 'just' about nostalgia, its about modern Sony also, thats why there is cameos from lots of Sony's current franchises as well as old

And did I personally attack you? I just said that level of hatred cant be healthy.

Not that I give a shit about what you think of the game whether you think of it as game of the year or not, I just think personally its weird to downgrade the game because of one level that is based on a game you don't like that you arent playing.
 

Big Baller

Al Pachinko, Konami President
Typical neogaf. No one wanting to discuss games on a level.

Have you played the game? the basics of the game is its key mechanic is Sony Nostalgia. Do you want to have a discussion about how Horizon doesnt deserve to have that spot in a game, which its main draw is nostalgia, or do you just want to go on the personal attack?

I was legit hoping for a discussion from someone but you failed.

I'm actually surprised you dont think it matters what order a game plays out.

They used the franchises in chronological order. From old 'Ape Escape' to new
 

midnightAI

Banned
They used the franchises in chronological order. From old 'Ape Escape' to new
Hmmm, maybe, but GoW is the new one, but 'technically' if you do them as franchise age as you say then it may be (without looking then up)
 
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Topher

Identifies as young
Annnnnnd done....

KgdaOYq.jpeg



Typical neogaf. No one wanting to discuss games on a level.

Have you played the game? the basics of the game is its key mechanic is Sony Nostalgia. Do you want to have a discussion about how Horizon doesnt deserve to have that spot in a game, which its main draw is nostalgia, or do you just want to go on the personal attack?

I was legit hoping for a discussion from someone but you failed.

I'm actually surprised you dont think it matters what order a game plays out.

The problem is you are making this out to be a bigger problem for the game than it is. But come on. No one expected you to come here and gush on this game. Not like we don't know you. Your problem with the game isn't a problem with the game at all. Just the order in which shit happened and it wasn't even a contiguous story. There is nothing of substance to discuss here.
 
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bender

What time is it?
Typical neogaf. No one wanting to discuss games on a level.

Have you played the game? the basics of the game is its key mechanic is Sony Nostalgia. Do you want to have a discussion about how Horizon doesnt deserve to have that spot in a game, which its main draw is nostalgia, or do you just want to go on the personal attack?

I was legit hoping for a discussion from someone but you failed.

I'm actually surprised you dont think it matters what order a game plays out.

Doesn't the Horizon series have about 30 million in sales? So why wouldn't it deserve tribute in the game? And this is coming from someone who though Zero Dawn was dull as dishwater. The game is celebrating PlayStation's history and not just the IP you are fond of.
 

Reaseru

Member
What bothers me is the lack of representation of one of the most recognizable franchises associated with Playstation brand since the PS1... Final Fantasy, especially due to the excellent relationship between Sony and Square Enix. So odd.
 
I don't like Horizon but I couldn't give less of a shit about there being a Horizon level, it's a popular franchise and many other people like it

Maybe if I were mad about Horizon being a PS5/PC exclusive franchise or something like a former Green Rat I would be complaining but that ain't me so lol
 

bender

What time is it?
What bothers me is the lack of representation of one of the most recognizable franchises associated with Playstation brand since the PS1... Final Fantasy, especially due to the excellent relationship between Sony and Square Enix. So odd.

I like to pretend that Lara Croft is Regina from Dino Crisis.
 

Nydius

Gold Member
Doesn't the Horizon series have about 30 million in sales?
Over 30, IIRC. Last I remember hearing, HZD was over 24m and HFW was over 8m, and that was before HFW's PC release so it's probably closer to 35m or more. Beyond that, I don't understand his argument about nostalgia. Is a 7 year old game not old enough to generate nostalgia? I don't think it's old enough to warrant a remaster, but it's certainly been around long enough for people to recall wistfully.

Personally, my beef with the Horizon level was it was the weakest designed of all the PS franchise specific levels. After Apes on the Loose, Bot of War, Dude Raiding, and Going Loco, Machine Learning was really anticlimatic.

This was a fun little nod to the end of HZD though.


TP9iS0G.jpeg
 

bender

What time is it?
Personally, my beef with the Horizon level was it was the weakest designed of all the PS franchise specific levels. After Apes on the Loose, Bot of War, Dude Raiding, and Going Loco, Machine Learning was really anticlimatic.

I didn't mind it so much as it added variety to game that needed variety due to Astrobot's limited move set. Loco Roco and Ape Escapes were my favorites, but that's probably more to do with my affinity towards those franchises compared to Uncharted, Horizon and GoW. And it does make some of that nostalgia bittersweet as we aren't likely to see new entries for those series again but the same can be said for a lot of the appearances (MGS, Team Ico, Ridge Racer, etc.).
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
I have zero love toward Horizon but that didn’t stop me from enjoying Astro Bot……but I do agree that it’s annoying how much Sony want push that series in your face.
 

Nydius

Gold Member
I didn't mind it so much as it added variety to game that needed variety due to Astrobot's limited move set. Loco Roco and Ape Escapes were my favorites, but that's probably more to do with my affinity towards those franchises compared to Uncharted, Horizon and GoW. And it does make some of that nostalgia bittersweet as we aren't likely to see new entries for those series again but the same can be said for a lot of the appearances (MGS, Team Ico, Ridge Racer, etc.).

The Loco Roco level reminded me that I've had Loco Roco Remastered sitting on my PS Store wishlist for literal years and I really need to get off my ass and buy it. Also, that level's music isn't included in the Digital Deluxe soundtrack, which I just discovered. 😢


Speaking of the soundtrack, here's a little slice of adrenaline for anyone still pushing through the symbol (or great master) challenges:

 

nial

Member
The Office Lol GIF by NETFLIX

That's the worst meltdown I've seen all year, and it's a really high bar.
I'll explain it; the levels are based on franchises for respective PlayStation consoles:
Ape Escape - PlayStation
God of War - PlayStation 2 / PlayStation 5 (not really the latter, but it's fitting)
Uncharted - PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Vita (not really the latter, but it's fitting)
LocoRoco - PlayStation Portable
Horizon - PlayStation 4
You may notice that PS2, PS3 and PS4 had representation for the best-selling new first-party IPs on the console, while in the case of PS1 and PSP; Ape Escape and LocoRoco have connection with Astro Bot due to them being SCEJ-developed games as well.
So, Horizon was the last one because it was the best-selling new first-party IP on the last Sony console released before PS5. Not that hard to figure out.
BTW...
Straight up offensive to fans of playstation since the ps1
LMAO.
 
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nial

Member
Going by the Ape Escape and LocoRoco logic, we would have gotten a Knack level otherwise instead of Horizon.
And seriously, ask yourself, which one makes more sense? Knack or Horizon?
 

bender

What time is it?
I have zero love toward Horizon but that didn’t stop me from enjoying Astro Bot……but I do agree that it’s annoying how much Sony want push that series in your face.

I think you just need to divorce your personal tastes from what is currently wildly successful for Sony. I can't stand Guerilla Games output or a most of Sony's modern titles, but it's also foolish to argue against their popularity so the representation would be natural and the themes of those games translate pretty easily to lighthearted adventures.
 

nial

Member
I think you just need to divorce your personal tastes from what is currently wildly successful for Sony. I can't stand Guerilla Games output or a most of Sony's modern titles, but it's also foolish to argue against their popularity so the representation would be natural and the themes of those games translate pretty easily to lighthearted adventures.
I have zero love toward Horizon but that didn’t stop me from enjoying Astro Bot……but I do agree that it’s annoying how much Sony want push that series in your face.
And I personally never saw it as pushing the series in your face. Going by what I explained above, Horizon makes sense as the last one.
 

bender

What time is it?
And I personally never saw it as pushing the series in your face. Going by what I explained above, Horizon makes sense as the last one.

I never thought of it the way you laid it out, but it makes a lot of sense. And I often bemoan davidjaffe davidjaffe for starting the snowball down the hill of Sony's modern design ambitions with God of War. It's also only one level so I'd hard to bitch about even if I can understand the sentiment. Every cameo I loved filled me with joy and a tinge of sadness, like seeing a good friend one last time. And then The Prince rolled me up in his ball and I was happy again.
 
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RPS37

Member
Splashing Sprint harder than anything in Erdtree except Ladahn imo
Tell me why out of all of the shape levels, this is the first one I tried. Watched someone do it on YouTube and was just like “yeah I’m not going to try to learn to do that right now. “

Otherwise though, this game is IMMACULATE. At 180 robots and I don’t want it to end.
 
The Loco Roco level reminded me that I've had Loco Roco Remastered sitting on my PS Store wishlist for literal years and I really need to get off my ass and buy it. Also, that level's music isn't included in the Digital Deluxe soundtrack, which I just discovered. 😢


Speaking of the soundtrack, here's a little slice of adrenaline for anyone still pushing through the symbol (or great master) challenges:


 

nial

Member
So, it turns out Sony released LocoRoco Remastered back in 2017 on PS4. It actually has a PS4 Pro mode that renders in 4K...

Gonna have to keep an eye on that one, maybe I'll pick it up when it's on sale again
LocoRoco 2 got a PS4 remaster as well, and both games also had sweet physical releases in Japan/Asia, along with PaRappa the Rapper and Patapon (Patapon 2, sadly, did not).
QoKDDVW.jpeg

Plus, LocoRoco Midnight Carnival was re-released as a PSP classic on PS4 and PS5.
 

Dafegamer

Member
I agree that Sony's kinda shoving HZD down our throats, but again it doesn't stop ASTRO BOT from having fantastic gameplay, which is the main draw of the game. The other BOTS are mostly cosmetics anyway, apart from the Hero levels.
 

SweetTooth

Gold Member
What bothers me is the lack of representation of one of the most recognizable franchises associated with Playstation brand since the PS1... Final Fantasy, especially due to the excellent relationship between Sony and Square Enix. So odd.
Apparently Sony approached all IP owners, most of them agreed, few including Square Enix refused for some reason.
 
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U7Pi192.jpeg


This game is my undisputed GOTY. Everything about this game exudes pure joy in a way that is usually reserved for Nintendo titles. It's a miracle that a game like this can still be made in 2024, I guess Japan really still has got what it takes. What an incredible experience. Unlike your average Western AAAA game, this game is actually worth paying $120 for instead of $60. I don't really have enough words to describe how good this game is so I think I'll stop now

Unrelated: I should really play LocoRoco Remastered. I'm sitting here in the Going Loco level doing nothing but listening to the stage music LOL
 
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Nydius

Gold Member
If I had a vote for any game awards, I’d vote this game to win best score based on Casino (No Guarantino) alone. Best casino themed platformer music since Sonic 2 Casino Night Zone.

 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
Must be a slow Saturday. Got the usual suspects™ in this thread trying to spin the notion that FF7R is bad then going over to another thread to shit on Astro Bot. Must really suck to live in the alternate green reality. Sorry your beloved box can't produce or publish high quality, GOTY caliber games (or shitcan the studios who do).

There's always next year.

The order of those levels really doesnt matter, at all, they are just levels within another game, you are saying Astro now doesnt deserve to be a game of the year (for you) because of one level and that level the game is based on is a game you detest. But you arent playing Horizon, you are playing Astro Bot and the one new ability in that level is firing arrows in a really pretty environment with a fun boss type ending. You arnt being forced to play as Aloy (its Astro), you arent being forced to listen to Aloy chatting constant, you arent being forced to go through chatting to NPC's, or care about the story, or stealth, or climb mountains, the gameplay is completely different. Also, the game isnt 'just' about nostalgia, its about modern Sony also, thats why there is cameos from lots of Sony's current franchises as well as old

And did I personally attack you? I just said that level of hatred cant be healthy.

Not that I give a shit about what you think of the game whether you think of it as game of the year or not, I just think personally its weird to downgrade the game because of one level that is based on a game you don't like that you arent playing.

They used the franchises in chronological order. From old 'Ape Escape' to new

Annnnnnd done....

KgdaOYq.jpeg





The problem is you are making this out to be a bigger problem for the game than it is. But come on. No one expected you to come here and gush on this game. Not like we don't know you. Your problem with the game isn't a problem with the game at all. Just the order in which shit happened and it wasn't even a contiguous story. There is nothing of substance to discuss here.

Doesn't the Horizon series have about 30 million in sales? So why wouldn't it deserve tribute in the game? And this is coming from someone who though Zero Dawn was dull as dishwater. The game is celebrating PlayStation's history and not just the IP you are fond of.

I loved the game. You guys have some seriously incorrect opinion of me if I am not going to guah over this game.

I think the game is brilliant but it is missing some 3d platformed moves to really put it at that level of Nintendo. I would also say it's missing one good galaxy/universe that is hard. There should be an entire galaxy with the difficulty of the last master run to really put it at a n equal bar to the best Mario 3d games.

The horizon thing, it totally is personal. Of course there can be nostalgia over horizon. I'm just saying put it in its place. It just needed swapping with God of war in my opinion.

The God of war level was more fun and entertaining imo. With better collectibles. Shooting the ravens. It all made more sense than horizon.

In a 3d platformed the levels should get increasingly difficult in most cases and I just feel horizon didn't deserve it's spot and it did spoil a game which was all about nostalgia. I don't buy the chronological excuse at all ragnarok came out after forbidden West didn't it?

I've tried to forget about that shit franchise so much I could be wrong.

It annoys me because in the future this game will be a testament to playstation and I feel the majority of people will be telling people that horizon was mediocre.

By tge end of the game the actual content of the game stopped it from being game of the year. I adore the game. Can not wait for dlc but it didn't top like a dragon for me.

Love the game, not a fan of horizon. Simple as that.
 

Nydius

Gold Member
I loved the game. You guys have some seriously incorrect opinion of me if I am not going to guah over this game.

You quoted my post from a completely different thread that had nothing to do with you. 🙄

The horizon thing, it totally is personal.

That much is obvious. So personal you cannot be impartial and admit that Horizon has been a resounding success - 32m sold and counting - and is far from being considered “mediocre” by the masses.

I've tried to forget about that shit franchise so much I could be wrong.

And this right here proves it’s pointless to argue with you further. You hate Horizon so irrationally that anything even tangentially related is shit.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
You quoted my post from a completely different thread that had nothing to do with you. 🙄



That much is obvious. So personal you cannot be impartial and admit that Horizon has been a resounding success - 32m sold and counting - and is far from being considered “mediocre” by the masses.



And this right here proves it’s pointless to argue with you further. You hate Horizon so irrationally that anything even tangentially related is shit.

Not sure what happened there. Apologies. I'm on my phone and it sometimes does funky stuff.

It's OK for someone to not like something. I just don't like anything horizon stands for. It's a mid game. A copy of a ubisoft game. Weak everything to be honest. There was one great section in the first game which I enjoyed from a story stand point.

But anyway, Astro Bot is an amazing game that should be played by everyone. I just think the horizon level should not have been the ultimate and last showcase level.
 
I don’t remember anything as hard as those speed run levels in any of the best 3D Mario games, certainly not 64… I forgot about Galaxy but it has a more limited move set,
Some people compare the difficulty of Super Mario Bros. Wonder's Final Final Challenge with Astro Bot's Great Master Challenge

Personally, I didn't find that Final Final level in SMBW hard at all but Great Master Challenge had me stumped for almost an hour, mainly because I am FUCKING BAD at timing that spinning chain dude's spins, honestly the slower the chain spun, the worse my timing got

The last challenge in SM Odyssey is harder than both
 
Some people compare the difficulty of Super Mario Bros. Wonder's Final Final Challenge with Astro Bot's Great Master Challenge

Personally, I didn't find that Final Final level in SMBW hard at all but Great Master Challenge had me stumped for almost an hour, mainly because I am FUCKING BAD at timing that spinning chain dude's spins, honestly the slower the chain spun, the worse my timing got

The last challenge in SM Odyssey is harder than both

I never bothered with end game odyssey since I don’t consider it very good compared to Galaxy or 64

It has a great moveset but the rest is just blah to me

I just don’t remember Galaxy or 64 being too intense on challenge
 
Just checked out Horizon level due to criticism its getting here.

I don’t see it. This might be mechanically most accomplished level in the game. Shooting looks precise and great.

Compare this to Uncharted level that feels phoned in with all the automatic shooting.

 

ap_puff

Banned
Just checked out Horizon level due to criticism its getting here.

I don’t see it. This might be mechanically most accomplished level in the game. Shooting looks precise and great.

Compare this to Uncharted level that feels phoned in with all the automatic shooting.


i liked the uncharted level because while the automatic shooting wasn't very demanding, it was still fun. i think the game is great because it gives you a great variety of gameplay experiences while still bringing out the essence of those games.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
Just checked out Horizon level due to criticism its getting here.

I don’t see it. This might be mechanically most accomplished level in the game. Shooting looks precise and great.

Compare this to Uncharted level that feels phoned in with all the automatic shooting.



It's the context of the level.

Im not writing some weird Graveyard of IP posts or anything. The game is amazing. The horizon level is fine, I am saying it was Wack where it was placed in the game. Just swap the GOd Of War and the Horizon one and it wouldnt have rubbed me the wrong way.

The rest of the game is absolutely sublime. I just wish there was one extra shrinking level. They missed the boat there.
 
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i liked the uncharted level because while the automatic shooting wasn't very demanding, it was still fun. i think the game is great because it gives you a great variety of gameplay experiences while still bringing out the essence of those games.
Totally get this. Am looking at it with a critical eye.

Horizon level I think its slo mo mechanic is well implemented. Plus level design also feels like they worked a lot to implement some interesting pathways. Its obvious they put a lot of effort into it.

In comparison, if a game throws a basic level, I immediately loose interest.
 
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