As someone who grew up with a PlayStation controller firmly grasped in my hands, I can wholeheartedly say that Astro Bot has truly outdone itself. This game is more than just a testament to the power of Sony’s DualSense; it’s a love letter to the history of platforming games and the iconic franchises that have defined the PlayStation brand.
2024 saw Astro Bot as a significant, home-grown PS5 exclusive, shouldering a great responsibility to pave the way for the platform’s success. Luckily, Astro Bot has more than lived up to the anticipation, seamlessly building upon what Astro’s Playroom established by offering a heartfelt homage to the legacy of PlayStation and the platforming genre. One of the key factors that make Astro Bot appealing is its rich collection of references that nod to characters and settings from various first-party Sony series, with one level in particular making a compelling argument for the revival of a franchise that’s been quiet for over a decade: Ape Escape.
First introduced on the PlayStation 1 during the summer of 1999, Ape Escape eventually became one of Sony’s prominent franchises and earned recognition as a top-tier platformer. Notably, the original Ape Escape functioned as a demonstration of the capabilities of the DualShock controller, highlighting its importance in future games much like Astro Bot does for the DualSense on the PS5. Furthermore, the “Apes On The Loose” level in Astro Bot offers a delightful taste of classic Ape Escape gameplay, and it’s about time this series reappears.
Astro Bot’s Ape Escape Segment Captures What Made the Series Special
In the world of Sony-developed platform games, a nod to both Astro Bot and Ape Escape was likely expected, but Astro Bot takes this connection a notch higher by dedicating an entire level that beautifully captures the unique charm of Ape Escape. The PlayStation console hosted numerous exceptional first and third-party 3D platformers, including Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, but Ape Escape stood out as something uniquely different. Beyond being just a platformer, Ape Escape was an engaging blend of platforming and stealth, seamlessly incorporating aspects from Metal Gear Solid into its gameplay while taking inspiration from Super Mario 64’s playbook.
Instead of casually inserting an allusion to the series within a stage and concluding, “Astro Bot’s” “Apes On The Loose” level subtly transforms the gameplay, almost creating the first significant installment in the Ape Escape series in nearly 15 years, even if it’s only for a short while. Players must employ stealth tactics, avoid being spotted by apes, use the environment strategically, and other gameplay techniques reminiscent of those used in the original trilogy of Ape Escape games. This unique mix of stealth and platforming remains effective in a contemporary setting. The level culminates with a mini-boss battle against Spectre, making it an enjoyable bonus.
Astro Bot Primes Ape Escape For a Triumphant Return
Unlike other platformers from the PS1 era which have seen revivals through remastered series collections or new numbered entries, Ape Escape has remained quiet since 2010. The latest Ape Escape game, Ape Escape Move, wasn’t a main entry in the series, with the last numbered game, Ape Escape, being released on the PS2 in 2005. It’s been close to 20 years since the launch of Ape Escape 3, and given the success of Astro Bot, it seems that PlayStation is long overdue for an Ape Escape 4 release in the near future.
The extraordinary success and widespread praise for Astro Bot showcases the enduring charm that platform games retain within gaming. As one of the foundational genres in video gaming, platformers capture a sense of fun and joy that is at the heart of what draws many gamers to digital entertainment. Many still regard Ape Escape as the best 3D platformer on the PlayStation, and the snippet of its gameplay found in Astro Bot, alongside the series’ infrequent appearances across various console generations, hints at a possible comeback.
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2024-09-11 21:33