Astro Bot Proves Nintendo’s Impact on the Industry

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Astro Bot Proves Nintendo's Impact on the Industry

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must admit that Astro Bot has truly taken me by surprise this year. This little gem, nestled among the big-budget blockbusters, is a worthy contender for Game of the Year and has quickly become one of my favorites.

2024 has seen some incredible games, but none have left quite an impact like Astro Bot, a hidden gem that’s stolen my heart and many others in the gaming community. I never expected it to be a contender for Game of the Year, but here we are.

Although Astro Bot appears to be exclusively Sony-made, a closer look at its core gameplay reveals a significant influence from Nintendo on the gaming industry. Playing Astro Bot brings back memories reminiscent of Nintendo’s Super Mario series, with some even arguing that Astro Bot surpasses Mario in his own genre. Moreover, it’s evident that several mechanics in Astro Bot are inspired by popular Nintendo franchises, not just Super Mario.

Astro Bot Wears Its Nintendo Influences on Its Sleeve

Astro Bot’s Platforming Mechanics and Level Design Are Reminiscent of Several Super Mario Games

In essence, although Astro Bot was intended to highlight Sony’s long-standing history, its gameplay style openly echoes Nintendo’s influence, particularly in its platforming mechanics and level design which closely resemble those seen in the iconic Super Mario series. However, instead of simply emulating past versions of Super Mario‘s gameplay and level design, Astro Bot takes cues from the philosophies and design principles that define the modern era of Super Mario. In this contemporary interpretation, the game world is imbued with life, mirroring the NPCs inhabiting it. Players can advance by trying out different approaches and at times, even changing their perspective to progress.

The mechanics of ‘Astro Bot’ bear a striking resemblance to certain ‘Super Mario’ games, such as ‘Super Mario Sunshine’. For instance, the jetpack in ‘Astro Bot’ functions much like Mario’s FLUDD pack in ‘Super Mario Sunshine’. When players attach the Hover Nozzle to the FLUDD in ‘Super Mario Sunshine’, they can use it to traverse large gaps and stun enemies affected by the water streams beneath. Similarly, players in ‘Astro Bot’ can utilize the jetpack to hover over gaps and also stun or eliminate enemies below the jetpack’s flames.

Moreover, the main form of attack for Astro Bot resembles Mario’s punch, as seen in various Super Mario games.

Astro Bot Also Uses Gameplay Mechanics From Nintendo’s Pikmin Series

Astro Bot isn’t just similar to Super Mario in Nintendo influence; it also shows traces of Pikmin, both in terms of gameplay mechanics and storyline. Just like Captain Olimar in the first Pikmin game, whose ship crash-landed on an unknown planet, players in Astro Bot find themselves in a mission to collect scattered pieces of their spaceship. In Pikmin, this was done by befriending creatures called “Pikmin” and using them to gather Captain Olimar’s ship parts. Similarly, in Astro Bot, after rescuing bots from each world, players must gather the remaining pieces at the Crash Site.

In navigating the Crash Site within Astro Bot, it’s evident that elements similar to Pikmin are present, as players search for challenges that necessitate the assistance of a specific number of bots. Upon encountering such an obstacle and pressing the action button, Astro Bot calls forth the necessary number of bots using a whistle, reminiscent of how Pikmin’s protagonist summons his Pikmin. Furthermore, there are traces of other popular Nintendo games like Animal Crossing and Splatoon noticeable in Astro Bot, underscoring the profound influence that Nintendo has had on the gaming world. If Sony’s game, intended to be about Sony, still finds itself drawing inspiration from Nintendo, this speaks volumes about their connection.

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2024-09-08 21:13