Astro Bot director hopes the game's endless cameos inspire "younger generations" to seek out the classics

GamesPlatformerAstro BotAstro Bot director hopes the game’s endless cameos inspire “younger generations” to seek out the classicsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesPlatformerAstro BotAstro Bot director hopes the game’s endless cameos inspire “younger generations” to seek out the classicsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Sony) Astro Bot’s director hopes the new platformer can encourage younger players to seek out classic games. Astro Bot celebrates decades of gaming history with over 150 VIP bots cosplaying as recognizable characters from PlayStation’s first-party line-up - God of War, Uncharted, Horizon - and the wider gaming world. Tomb Raider, Yakuza, and Street Fighter all make cameo appearances, too. But most people playing the joyous platformer have probably never tried a Sly Cooper and wouldn’t know what a LocoRoco was if it slapped them in the face (they do indeed slap you in the face during Astro Bot’s runtime.) Astro Bot director Nicola Doucet now hopes that can change. “One of the hopes we have is that the younger generations will come across these special characters,” Doucet said in a recent behind-the-scenes video, “and then would be inspired to go off to these older games to actually try them for themselves.” Astro Bot - Behind The Scenes Series EP3: PlayStation Fiesta | PS5 Games - YouTubeWatch On Astro Bot - Behind The Scenes Series EP3: PlayStation Fiesta | PS5 Games - YouTube Astro Bot - Behind The Scenes Series EP3: PlayStation Fiesta | PS5 Games - YouTube Astro Bot is absolutely stuffed with cool references to series that haven’t been active in decades, but there are also a few levels that go beyond simple Easter Egg territory. The video above talks about the stage where you play as a Bot of War, wielding an axe that boomerangs in familiar ways, for example. It’s a cool way to give players a small taste of what makes certain series' special, before maybe shooing them off to go give the real deal a whirl. The platformer came out at the right time, at least. PlayStation has recently had a renewed interest in bringing its older catalogue to the PS5 -PSP SRPG Jeanne d’Arcas one example, all the Jak & Daxters as another, and most recently Secret Agent Clank, which is coming on September 17. Hell, I even bought the first Ape Escape after seeing all the chaotic monkeys causing in an early level. A nostalgic reaction to Astro Bot makes sense, I guess, even if you’re not old enough to be nostalgic for Ape Escape. Doucet previously talked aboutwanting to fill a space that PlayStation Studios used to occupy before many of them pivoted to “mature, hyper-realistic games,“so it’s only natural that you’d be pulled toward the older games that inspired Astro’s latest. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Want more of the adorable robot? Check outeverything we know about Astro Bot’s DLC. CATEGORIESPS5PlatformsPlayStation CATEGORIES More about platformerTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWith Sonic, Persona, and Yakuza under its belt, Sega thinks making a subscription service like Xbox Game Pass would be “very interesting"LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about platformerTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWith Sonic, Persona, and Yakuza under its belt, Sega thinks making a subscription service like Xbox Game Pass would be “very interesting"LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about platformerTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWith Sonic, Persona, and Yakuza under its belt, Sega thinks making 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review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”