Summary

  • Turn off motion controls in Astro Bot to use the left analog stick for movement instead - a viable option for players.
  • Break pots and boxes in the game for coins, secrets, and hidden prizes.
  • Coins can be used to unlock Hero characters, or even a little bird to help the player along their journey.

Astro Bot is a sequel to Astro's Playroom, a game that launched with the PS5 in 2020 as a free downloadable experience. The story, as it were, picks up where that left off with all of the little robots celebrating on a space journey with the titular Astro Bot at the helm.

Astro during the closing stages of Astro Bot
How Long Does it Take to Beat Astro Bot?

Those wondering how long it takes to beat Astro Bot have come to the right place, as too has anybody wondering if it's worth playing.

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Then, out of nowhere, an alien comes to break up the spaceship, shaped like a PS5, sending Astro Bot and his teammates hurtling toward a sandy plain. Once again, Astro Bot has to gather pieces to rebuild his spaceship along with recovering missing robots spread across numerous levels in the game, Astro Bot. Here are some tips to make the most of the early stages.

6 One Setting To Turn Off

The Motion Controller Age Is Over

Controller Settings in Astro Bot

The Wii launched in 2006 and it took the world by storm thanks to its motion-based controls. Years later, Sony and Microsoft would follow in these footsteps with the release of the Kinect on Xbox 360 and the PlayStation Move on PS3 in 2010. The history of motion-based controls following this boom is tumultuous, but it lives on via the PS5 controller and the PSVR 2 for Sony’s modern hardware at least.

Astro Boy demonstrates the PS5’s full capabilities from the graphics to the controller inputs including motion controls. While they work, it’s just as easy to turn the motion controls off in the settings which then replaces the movement with the left analog stick. Some players may prefer the motion controls still, but for others, it may be nice to know there is a solution. There aren’t many settings in the game currently and thankfully this was one of them.

5 Break Pots And Boxes

Exercise The Camera Controls

Exploring Sky Garden stage in Astro Bot

In levels, players can find various colored boxes to smash that contain coins in Astro Bot. There are also normal-looking boxes, pots, and so on to break as well. They serve more than a coin collecting purpose as there can sometimes be a secret underneath.

Astro Bot Trophy Guide
Astro Bot Trophy Guide

There are 58 Trophies in Astro Bot, some of which can be incredibly tricky to unlock without the help of a good Trophy guide.

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Engaged players will start to notice x marks on the ground and if players do a charged spin attack, it will send the titular hero down below to find secrets like Hero-based bots from other franchises from Ratchet and Clank to God of War. Enemies can sometimes hold secrets as well. For example, if all enemies are defeated in an area, a special prize might unearth itself. The important thing to remember overall is to look around.

4 Pay Attention To Collected Puzzle Pieces And Bots

It Can Show The Way To Missed Content

Using the bird bot to find secrets in Astro Bot

Before entering a level in a galaxy, like the first one in Astro Bot called the Gorilla Nebula, the stage will showcase what players have collected. This includes bots, puzzle pieces, and one other secret that will be discussed later. Knowing what will be in a level may focus players more so than normal.

Then, in a stage, there are some tricks to the collectathon-like mechanisms of Astro Bot. For example, in every level, bots and puzzle pieces will be categorized in a row. So if players rescue a bot and it shows up after a blank space, they will know they missed a bot earlier. Players can then retrace their steps if at all possible although in some stages backtracking isn’t as easy, unlike a Metroidvania.

3 The Importance Of Puzzle Pieces

There Is A Photo Mode

Astro and his camera in Astro Bot

Most stages only have three puzzle pieces to collect in the game. Once all are collected, it seems like the only prize is coins which isn’t nothing but it may not seem as exciting as collecting the bots from other franchises. There is a reason for puzzle pieces that most players won’t realize until they go back to the HUB world of the Crash Site.

Collected puzzle pieces will unlock attractions at the Crash Site. For example, if players collect aaa puzzle pieces, they can give the hero a camera in Astro Bot. Players can then hit up on the D-Pad to create a photo mode. It can take a while to gather that many puzzle pieces, but if players are diligent and really want a photo mode, they should make sure and unlock it as soon as possible.

2 What Coins Are Good For

Hiring A Little Birdie For Help

Collecting a coin in Astro Bot

Like puzzle pieces, coins may not seem like a big deal in the game at first. Again, it all ties back to the Crash Site and puzzle pieces. The first location that will open up is a Gashapon-styled store wherein players can invest coins to unlock a variety of things.

The five hero stages in Astro Bot
Every Hero Stage in Astro Bot, Ranked

The best hero stages in Astro Bot find ways to exceed the player's expectations, offering up epic boss fights, familiar collectibles, and tons of fun.

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This includes giving the various Hero characters in Astro Bot something to do at the Crash Site. For example, players can unlock a puzzle and a zombie for Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 2 to interact with. Coins can also be used to hire a bird bot in a stage that will locate secrets but only once players replay that same stage. This is what players should invest coins in primarily if they are struggling.

1 There’s A Lost Galaxy

Also, Explore Main Galaxies For Secrets

A secret exit in Astro Bot

Like Super Mario World and various other Mario games, Astro Bot has secret exits to levels. These secret exits will lead to unlocking a stage in the Lost Galaxy. One of the first hidden exits is located in Creamy Canyon which is in the first galaxy of the Gorilla Nebula.

There will be a point wherein players can whip a pig to go forward at an ice wall. If they turn around, players can use this pig on an ice sculpture of a walrus instead, and underneath there will be the secret exit to Astro Bot’s Funky Fungi stage. Players should also be aware that there are secrets hiding in the world map to unlock. For example, flying around a cluster of stars could unlock levels themed around one of the four face buttons, or an asteroid may fly by, and ramming into it could unlock a level.

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Astro Bot Tag Page Cover Art
Astro Bot
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10 /10
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Released
September 6, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Team Asobi
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5
Genre(s)
Platformer