Best Astro Bot References To Classic PlayStation Games

Astro Bot is absolutely exploding with references to franchises both past and present through the form of VIP bots. The point of the game is to rescue bots trapped in levels. Some of these bots are generic while others are themed around big franchise characters from first-party and third-party studios including Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Konami.

Shooting spaceships and Playing the Ape Escape level in Astro Bot

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By Tristan Jurkovich

Video game characters aren’t the only fun Easter Eggs in Astro Bot though. Many PlayStation consoles and accessories make an appearance to drum up nostalgic feelings. For example, the icon for the save files uses the old PS1 memory card which was a fun nod. Moving away from accessories, let’s get to some cool characters and franchises referenced in Astro Bot.

8 Spike (From Ape Escape)

These Monkeys Are Going Ape

Playing the Ape Escape level in Astro Bot

Level Appearance: Apes on the Loose

Ape Escape is featured in Astro Bot and that’s the first Hero stage’s theme. Players will meet a bot taking on the form of Spike, the main character from Ape Escape, who will then relinquish his monkey-catching net for players to use in the level Apes on the Loose. Ape Escape was one of the first big first-party platformers that was more of an action game than anything else on the PS1. Each level had monkeys hiding all over the place and various gadgets aided players in capturing them again. There hasn’t been a new game in years, so it’s nice to see Astro Bot highlight it so prominently and next to bigger titles like Uncharted.

7 Richter Belmont (From Castlevania: Symphony of the Night)

A Wonderful Little Pile Of Secrets

Playing with Richter Belmont in Astro Bot

Level Appearance: Funky Fungi

Most PlayStation fans will associate Richter Belmont with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night as that’s the character the game begins with. However, he first appeared in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, which was released as Castlevania: Dracula X in North America on the SNES. The big gimmick with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, besides the introduction of the Metroidvania gene, was that a Belmont turned to evil and now Alucard, the son of Dracula, had to step in to stop Richter. This was all a ruse in the game and this fake turn to evil is highlighted in Astro Bot as Richter can take the throne with glowing red eyes in the HUB World. Players can find Richter and Alucard in the Lost Galaxy stage, Funky Fungi, in Astro Bot.

6 The Prince (From Katamari Damacy)

Rolling Through Astro Bot With Ease

Level Appearance: Downsize Surprise

Katamari Damacy began life on the PS2 and it was easily one of the weirder games to grace the platform. There have been many exclusive sequels on PlayStation hardware, making this a fitting third-party collaboration. The point of most entries finds The Prince going down to Earth to roll up junk to then create stars.

Players can find The Prince in the level Downsize Surprise which gives players a power-up to shrink in Astro Bot. If players unlock The Prince’s ball in the HUB World, they can see him roll up Astro Bot with it.

5 Psycho Mantis (From Metal Gear Solid)

I See You Like Konami Games

Level Appearance: Creamy Canyon

Metal Gear Solid was a console-defining game for the PS1 and it is immortalized in Astro Bot with one of its most iconic moments. Psycho Mantis is a psychic boss in the game who fights Solid Snake by taking control of the controller along with other things in the room they are in, including Snake’s new partner Meryl. To beat him, players had to plug in a controller into the second port of the PS1. After getting Psycho Mantis and Solid Snake in the Astro Bot level Creamy Canyon, players can get a model for Psycho Mantis to interact with in the HUB World. It’s a TV depicting the described boss fight.

4 Mr. Mosquito (From Mr. Mosquito)

This Bug Won’t Buzz Off

Sitting in a bathroom with Mr. Mosquito in Astro Bot

Level Appearance: Crash Site

The HUB World is known as the Crash Site in Astro Bot and players will come back to it often to repair the PS5 mother console along with unlocking a few other bonuses. There are secret bots hidden throughout the small area of the Crash Site and one of them is Mr. Mosquito from his titular game. It’s another obscure PS2 title that got a lot of attention for its odd gameplay. Players are a literal mosquito who have to drain blood from a Japanese family to survive. One of the most remembered scenes happens in a bathtub and players can unlock that tub for Mr. Mosquito to stalk in Astro Bot.

3 Kutaro (From Puppeteer)

Losing His Head In Excitement

Level Appearance: Bathhouse Battle

Japan Studio, which Team Asobi used to be a part of, made a lot of platformers over the years for PlayStation consoles. Some of them went on to become big Sony franchises and others only had one shot. Puppeteer falls into the latter category despite it being well-reviewed on the PS3. Kutaro was the hero who was a puppet that could swap heads to gain new powers in 2D stages.

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Kutaro appears in Astro Bot in the Bathhouse Battle stage which gives players the odd sponge power-up. His unlockable model in the Crash Site makes Kutaro very animated with his fairy friend and magic scissors. While Puppeteer never went on the become a franchise, at least Sony hasn’t completely forgotten it.

2 Vibri (From Vib-Ribbon)

A Black And White Obscurity

Level Appearance: Boxel Bust-Up

Vib-Ribbon is a game that was not initially released in North America on the PS1. It wasn’t until 2014 when it was ported to the PS3 digitally that players could finally enjoy it. This didn’t stop importers or emulation fans from engaging with it for years as one of the PS1’s quirkier rhythm platformers. Vibri, the rabbit-like protagonist, can be rescued in Astro Bot in the Boxel Bust-Up stage in the Lost Galaxy. Other notable rhythm or musical-themed games highlighted in Astro Bot include PaRappa the Rapper and Loco Roco.

1 Rudy Roughknight (From Wild Arms)

The Almost Forgotten Wild West RPG

Playing with Rudy Roughknight in Astro Bot

Level Appearance: Trapped in Time

Rudy Roughknight is the protagonist of the first Wild Arms game which used to be a big first-party endorsed series. Sony seemingly knew they needed an RPG on the scale of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest to survive in the market when they launched the PS1 and this was one of their earliest answers. It blended Westerns with fantasy tropes for turn-based battles and puzzle-based dungeons. Players can rescue Rudy in Astro Bot’s Trapped in Time stage and they can later unlock a funny model wherein he will shoot flowers at the Crash Site. There are many forgotten RPG franchises in Astro Bot but Wild Arms seems one of the most in need of a new experience.

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