Astro Bot Drops the Ball With One Major Franchise

Astro Bot Drops the Ball With One Major Franchise

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of PlayStation loyalty under my belt, I can confidently say that Astro Bot has managed to resurrect the 3D platformer genre and pay homage to the rich history of Sony exclusives in an exceptional way. However, one glaring omission stands out like a sore thumb: the lack of Final Fantasy references.


Astro Bot’s comeback to the realm of 3D platformers is highly enjoyable, with its numerous appearances adding even more fun to the experience. Originally intended as a freebie showcasing the PS5’s capabilities, it has since grown into a massive success. Now, we have an entire Astro Bot game at our disposal, and it stands tall among some of the best platformers in recent times.

The game offers outstanding platformer action, but it’s more than just that – it’s a grand tribute to PlayStation exclusives. A plethora of appearances in Astro Bot pay homage to iconic series such as God of War, Uncharted, The Last of Us, and even Days Gone. Many classic PlayStation games receive a playful nod, but the roster isn’t exhaustive. Some unexpected characters make an appearance, like Oddworld and Killzone, however, one highly popular franchise is conspicuously absent. Final Fantasy is noticeably missing from the game, making it one of the most intriguing omissions in Astro Bot.

Astro Bot Not Having Final Fantasy Leaves a Large Hole in the Game

Final Fantasy’s Absence Raises Questions

The success of the PlayStation consoles owes a great deal to the influential “Final Fantasy” series. Launched on the original PlayStation in 1997, “Final Fantasy 7” brought fresh energy to the franchise and cemented the PlayStation as a formidable gaming platform. The game and console are deeply connected, and it’s fascinating to consider how the gaming world might have evolved differently if “Final Fantasy 7” had been released on a different platform. Now that “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth” is exclusive to the PS5, it’s somewhat surprising that “Astro Bot,” despite being developed by Sony, isn’t also an exclusive title.

It’s even more puzzling that Astro Bot, with its predecessor Astro’s Playroom making a nod to Final Fantasy 7 by including the famous Buster Sword, doesn’t expand on this connection. Given that Astro’s Playroom has a clear reference to Final Fantasy 7 and the game packaged with the console, it seems like a missed chance for Astro Bot to not explore this link further. Considering Astro Bot showcases other classic games like MediEvil, one might expect Sony to include one of their most enduring titles that remains as popular today, if not more so.

In addition to Astro Bot, neither Square Enix’s popular series Kingdom Hearts nor Insomniac’s Spider-Man make an appearance.

As a dedicated fan, it’s quite unexpected not to see the iconic Final Fantasy series in Astro Bot. The growing partnership flexibility between Square Enix and Sony might explain this absence, as Square Enix is eager to expand its reach to a broader audience. The ambition of Square Enix to release games on multiple platforms could have potentially hindered any discussions about incorporating Final Fantasy into Astro Bot.

Final Fantasy’s Absence is One of the Few Blemishes on a Near-Perfect Platformer

The days of pure mascot-led platformers have felt like a relic of the past for a long time. Astro Bot finally brings this genre back to life with a near-perfect experience. As of now, Astro Bot is the highest-rated game of the year, and it will be exciting to see how it stacks up against other games at this year’s Game Awards. Despite the stellar launch, featuring Final Fantasy would have been the cherry on top of a wonderfully crafted ode to the history of the PlayStation.

While it’s logical that Square Enix wants to broaden its fan base, the absence of ‘Final Fantasy’ in ‘Astro Bot’ could be a result. This might seem like a minor sacrifice, but it’s still unfortunate. Fortunately, the exceptional quality of ‘Astro Bot’ and its gameplay makes it easy to overlook this omission.

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2024-09-08 01:23