As a seasoned gamer with over three decades under my belt, I must say that the games you’ve highlighted here are some of the most peculiar and fascinating ones I’ve come across in my gaming journey. Each one of them has an intriguing backstory, unique gameplay mechanics, and a level of obscurity that adds to their charm.
In a heartfelt tribute to the PlayStation family, Astro Bot is brimming with nods to well-known symbols and even deeper, hidden gems catering to dedicated gamers.
Instead of identifying Nathan Drake, Kratos, or Lara Croft effortlessly upon approaching a wreckage site, can you pick up on less common character references as well?
Even avid gamers might find it difficult to recognize some of the lesser-known characters that Team Asobi has incorporated into their game.
Revising slightly: It’s quite a challenging endeavor to incorporate every single reference within this game, but we’re going to focus on the 12 most notable ones that some might view as relatively obscure or specialized instead.
Regardless of whether these items had brief stardom limited to Japan or never ventured beyond its borders, it’s reassuring to know that Team Asobi decided to pay tribute to them nonetheless.
12 Knack
Sony’s Most Bullied Game
Originally created by Japan Studio, Knack, was initially planned as Sony’s premier game that came along with the launch of PlayStation 4 in 2013. The intention behind this game was to display the graphical prowess of their freshly minted console. To achieve this, they created a mascot character, who looked like a troll-like figure but was actually composed of numerous miniature shapes.
Regrettably, the response was lukewarm at most, largely because of a dull storyline, repetitive game mechanics, and lackluster character aesthetics. It seems that Sony aimed to have Knack among their renowned mascots such as Kratos and Crash Bandicoot. However, it appears Knack didn’t meet the mark.
Hearing Knack being referenced in Astro Bot feels akin to spotting the oddball among the popular group. It’s noteworthy that even Team Asobi has recognized Knack as a flop of a franchise, which is quite unfortunate indeed.
11 Ico
The Inspirational Cult Classic
It’s pleasing to witness Team ICO’s creations, particularly in Astro Bot, receiving well-deserved recognition. Most recognized for their timeless masterpiece, Shadow of the Colossus (also showcased in Astro), Ico was actually their first production and hit the market back in 2001 on PlayStation 2.
Ico significantly revolutionized the third-person narrative genre, paving the way for Team Ico’s subsequent works. With its straightforward gameplay, sparse dialogue, and captivating graphics, Ico effectively conveyed its story while placing minimal emphasis on distractions, focusing instead on the bond between Ico and Yorda.
Despite being labeled a commercial flop due to a critical mistake in its distribution to Western markets, Ico left an indelible mark on the gaming industry and beyond. It significantly emphasized the importance of artistic expression and compelling narratives within video games.
It’s no wonder that Astro Bot, developed by Team Asobi, acknowledged Team Ico’s works by incorporating elements from each of their games as references.
10 Boku no Natsuyasumi
Nostalgic Virtual Vacation
Did you ever spend long summer days enjoying yourself in the beautiful countryside during your childhood, with cicadas chirping under the shady trees? This experience is quite familiar to many Japanese people and is beautifully captured in the 2000 adventure video game series called My Summer Vacations, developed by Millennium Kitchen.
The game narrates a tale about a youthful character, who happens to share my Japanese name, Boku. During the summer months, he lives with his relatives in the peaceful countryside.
This game is designed for relaxation, allowing you to decide your own activities throughout the 31-day period, offering an uncommon perspective of Japan that isn’t typically found in regular games or anime.
To numerous Japanese individuals, reminiscences of summer hold great significance, and it’s likely that incorporating such a reference held a special meaning for Team Asobi as well.
9 Doko Demo Issyo
Sony’s Unofficial PlayStation Mascot
If you’re not familiar with this cat named Toro Inoue, you’re certainly not the exception. Although he is deeply recognized in Japan and much of East Asia, his fame hasn’t extended to most other parts of the world. His franchise, Doko Demo Issyo, which means “Together Everywhere,” has been a significant commercial success primarily within its home country, with limited releases elsewhere.
The Doko Demo Issyo series primarily showcased Toro and his companions, who were digital pets you could engage with. It resembles the popularity of Tamagotchi during its prime years. Due to the franchise’s prosperity, Toro gained significant recognition as an iconic figure across East Asia.
Although I’m not Japanese, I recognized him because Doko Demo Issyo was also used as a mascot for PlayStation promotional equipment during my childhood in Hong Kong. Encountering Toro and Kuro in Astro Bot felt just like running into some long-lost pals.
8 Buzz
Knowledge Is Power
Originating from the closed studio Relentless Software and launched in 2005 for PlayStation 2, the game Buzz! was renowned as one of the top quiz games, even receiving a BAFTA award for “Best Casual Game.” Notably, these games included their own buzzers.
Due to its tremendous success, Relentless Software churned out a staggering 14 games over a span of just five years, racking up approximately 10 million in total sales.
Buzz’s prosperity was short-lived, as staying relevant grew progressively costly. On the PlayStation 3, Buzz did not achieve the same sales success as it did on the PlayStation 2. Moreover, the arrival of next-generation consoles necessitated developing distinctive controllers, which required more resources.
In the same year that Relentless Software closed shop (2016), its core team went on to develop a game they called “Knowledge is Power“, which could be seen as a spiritual successor to their previous work, launched in 2017.
If you remember playing Buzz with your friends and family, then seeing it referenced in Astro Bot was probably a pleasant surprise.
7 Puppeteer
Don’t Lose Your Head.
As a devoted gamer, I’ve got to say, not all the hidden gems on this list are ancient treasures, but one that’s quite recent really stands out. Released for the PS3 in 2013, Puppeteer is a delightful platformer that unfolds its narrative and gameplay as if it were a captivating stage performance.
The main character, Kutaro, is a puppet that once was a boy. He possesses the unique ability to change heads and uses a pair of scissors to cut up his surroundings.
Originating from Japan Studio, the game titled Puppeteer stood out as both imaginative and adorable; however, amidst an escalation of grittier and more realistic PS3 titles, it failed to resonate with the ideal audience.
6 Polygon Man
The Forgotten Mascot
If you’re familiar with “PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale”, you might have come across this ominous face, as he served as the last opponent in Sony’s equivalent of “Super Smash Bros”.
Initially designed as a rebellious ambassador for the console, Polygon Man was initially conceived as a character that Sony aimed to promote in North America for the PlayStation. The idea was to attract teenagers who might find the “Play” in “PlayStation” too childish or unappealing.
However, it turned out that Polygon Man wasn’t well-received at all. People disliked it due to its frightening appearance, and the head of PlayStation, Ken Kutaragi, felt it didn’t accurately represent the console and the brand. As a result, Polygon Man was swiftly abandoned and eventually became lost in obscurity.
5 Vib-Ribbon
Vibin’ On Musical Lines
As a fan, I’ll tell you about this quirky gem – Vib-Ribbon. It’s adorned with disorganized and rough lines that exude a hint of minimalist charm, making it stand out from other games. This one-of-a-kind rhythm game was first introduced on the PS1 back in 1999.
In this game, you’ll find a charmingly goofy rabbit called Vibri who hops following a solitary path. As she goes, she encounters various forms created by the game’s music in real-time.
The unique charm of Vib-Ribbon lay in its innovative feature, allowing players to introduce their own music CDs, creating game stages that synchronized with the rhythm and tempo of the songs played.
Really! You can find some footage online where people put on Daft Punk or even Michael Jackson, and the game would generate the most insane tracks.
4 Incredible Crisis
A Nuclear Family’s Surreal Hijinks
During the early days of the video game industry, mini-game collections were highly sought after. Games such as “Cooking Mama” and “WarioWare” were extremely popular, and one of the most eccentric compilations was undoubtedly “Incredible Crisis,” developed by Polygon Magic for the PlayStation 1 in 1999.
Remarkable Crisis narrates the story of Taneo and his ordinary household, hurrying to finalize arrangements for their grandmother’s birthday celebration at the eleventh hour.
To avoid upsetting Grandma Hatsu, the whole family finds themselves in unconventional situations, which turn out to be the wacky mini-games you engage with. These scenarios span from rescuing a UFO and escaping a bank heist to battling a giant teddy bear kaiju.
This game, dubbed “Incredible Crisis,” is remarkably unique in its comedic style, blending slapstick and surreal humor in a way that goes beyond the label of “zany.” In fact, it pushes the boundaries so much that no existing genre tag fully captures its essence.
3 Arc the Lad
Faded Into Obscurity
In the game “Astro Bot,” the primary character is known as “Guardian of Mankind.” However, this character’s real name is Arc, who serves as the main protagonist in another title called “Arc the Lad,” a tactical role-playing game that was exclusively released in Japan for the PlayStation 1 back in 1995.
Due to its widespread appeal, the game led to a trilogy and both manga and anime adaptations. Unfortunately, as the games were not released in the Western regions, Arc the Lad eventually slipped into being forgotten.
2 Mister Mosquito
This One Sucks, Literally 
In simpler terms, “Mister Mosquito” is an unusual game where you play as a mosquito trying to sneak into a house, feed on the inhabitants’ blood, all while avoiding detection.
First appeared on PlayStation 2 in 2001, developed by Zoom, Mister Mosquito garnered unexpected popularity upon its release. It managed to rank as the fifth best-selling game in Japan during that week and gained notoriety for being one of the strangest games available. Amazingly, this unique title even led to a sequel.
1 Jumping Flash
A First Person 3D Platformer
While socializing with your saved companions in Astro Bot, you may have come across this character at some stage and observed him leaping about the wreckage site. For a while, I assumed his leaps initiated a hidden occurrence, but it seems that was simply his unique trait.
In a different wording, Robbit is a mechanical rabbit character that was the main role in the 1995 video game called “Jumping Flash.” This game is distinct due to its one-of-a-kind first-person gaming point of view.
Similar to how Astro’s Playroom served as a tech demonstration for the PS5 capabilities, Jumping Flash was created primarily to demonstrate the impressive 3D graphics of the original PlayStation console. Additionally, Jumping Flash is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “first platform video game to employ true 3D.
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2024-10-29 19:09