Team ASOBI, known for their focus on the "Little Robot" series, previously released a VR game and the PS5 controller demo game "Astro's Playroom." While those games were fun and filled with delightful Easter eggs, it was a pity that the concept wasn’t fully expanded into something bigger.

Thanks to an invitation from Sony, we got a chance to play this new game on June 25th. Although only 5 or 6 levels were available for demo, the experience suggests that "Astro Bot" has completely shed its former "tutorial" mission, focusing more on challenge and replayability. Of course, the playful vibe of the little robots remains intact. Below is a brief overview of our impressions from the demo.

From previous information, we know that the game contains six galaxies with more than 80 levels. The demo included initial content from the first galaxy, featuring two regular levels, one boss level, and two challenge levels. In the regular levels, there are hidden little robots for players to find, as well as a collectible "puzzle piece." These were the only collectibles I encountered during my demo.

The difficulty of clearing the regular levels is quite low, mainly focusing on completing the collection objectives. Skilled platform players could likely complete full collections in about 15-30 minutes per level. Additionally, in the second level, I used a guide-like little robot to sense hidden spots, though it’s unclear whether this guide robot is available in every level or if it needs to be purchased with coins for each use.

The regular levels I played included a natural island floating in the sky with mountains and water, and a construction site in the sky. The levels' color saturation and vibrancy have surpassed previous games, and there seem to be more dynamic elements.

The most noticeable improvement this time is the action system. Basic actions include □ for attack (charged spin attack, throw), X for jump (charged jump), L2+R2 for vehicle acceleration, and gyroscope controls for flight direction. In the levels I played, I also obtained power-up items that enhanced actions, such as inflating into a ball to float to high altitudes, dashing quickly, using spring-loaded boxing gloves for long-range attacks, or grabbing poles to swing forward. These actions are not only for level completion but are also required to find some very well-hidden secret spots. According to earlier information, there are over 15 such abilities.

The boss battle was against a giant octopus, divided into several stages. The basic strategy involved dodging attacks first, then using the boxing gloves to strike its weak points. The transition stages required clearing smaller enemies and quickly avoiding obstacles to escape tidal waves until the boss was defeated, with the entire battle lasting around 8 minutes.

The most challenging part of the demo was the final challenge level, where you need to use a time-stopping item to quickly navigate difficult platforms, requiring precise timing. It took me over a dozen tries to finally clear it, with the level taking about 1 minute to complete, adding a bit of a hardcore feel.

The entire demo lasted about an hour. As for Easter eggs, the game still contains plenty of references to PlayStation consoles and first-party games, which will bring a smile to fans' faces. Overall, the experience was excellent, with smooth action, interesting monster types, and well-designed levels. The abundance of new actions significantly enhances the game's playability. If the full version maintains this quality, I believe the HKD 468 price tag is entirely justified.