Following the release of PlayStation’s Astro Bot, many people have pointed out its outrageous similarities to Nintendo’s Super Mario. At a glance, there are indeed many similarities. For example, the game features a cute robot traveling through small planetoids, which is reminiscent of Super Mario Galaxy. Additionally, the task of rescuing small friends, some of which are well hidden, is a mechanic frequently seen in Nintendo’s 3D Mario games.
Certainly, that’s just the beginning: The planetoids feature various thematic settings, as seen not only in many Mario games but also in numerous platformers from Nintendo or those clearly influenced by the Japanese company. These settings include beaches, jungles, cliffs, ruins, and abstract environments like computer interiors, giant cities, and boxing rings. However, these aren’t the only similarities to Super Mario (even though the first final boss pays an obvious homage to the original Donkey Kong).
In case you’re wondering, no, you can’t always jump over enemies to eliminate them like in Super Mario. Instead, you can disintegrate them with the laser beams coming out of your feet. The movement, exploration, and continuous interaction with the scenery are key to enjoying Astro Bot. Yet, none of this clearly connects the game to Nintendo’s iconic titles.
Let’s Play
Team Asobi’s proposal resembles Super Mario titles in that it focuses on the act of playing. Within the act of playing, there’s continuous experimentation without fear of risk because there’s no death or punishment in Astro Bot. The game encourages experimentation, surprise, and discovery. See, for example, how crystals break, how Astro Bot leaves the most diverse traces in its passage through the scenarios, how gravity works…
Playing isn’t just about winning or losing. It also involves a much deeper range of emotions that Team Asobi hasn’t forgotten to include.
As such, Sony leverages all the PlayStation technology to support the game, similar to what Nintendo does. In this case, the use of DualSense provides impressive features: Haptic vibration allows players to perceive textures on-screen and will help solve puzzles, and motion control has various utilities. The technology serves the game and not the other way around.
Playing Astro Bot is like playing without pressure or obligations in a carefree “playground” atmosphere, similar to the best 3D Mario games. You can explore freely without fear of failing and discover surprises as you go along. You can punch everything you encounter, and you’ll often get a nice surprise. It’s a ball pit, both literally and metaphorically, and it’s there for you to have fun. There’s no time limit.
Yes, Mario’s influence is there, and it’s inevitable, but we need more games like Astro Bot. Games that are technologically impressive yet focus on stimulating the imagination and encouraging discovery rather than just aiming to impress with visuals and sound. Do you remember when you played games solely for fun? Astro Bot evokes that indescribable sensation. It’s a rare gem in the video game industry because it prioritizes fun. So, don’t miss out on immersing yourself in its whimsical, colorful, and essential world.
Image | Sony
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