Basically, it means that the triggers can offer resistance if you’re trying to perform some task that requires a lot of effort. With the feature turned off, the triggers will do a full pull as normal. But once activated, the triggers might stop halfway into a pull, requiring extra effort to “push past” the resistance to get a full trigger pull. Ico, The Last Guardian, Demon’s Souls, Patapon are all things of the past. In Sony’s new reality, there’s seemingly no more room for funding titles that resist Western trends and set their own.
With 31 Bronze‚ 14 Silver‚ 5 Gold‚ and 1 Platinum trophy‚ the system provides a balanced challenge for players of all skill levels. The trophies range from story completion to collectible-based achievements and unique in-game challenges. Notably‚ none of the trophies are missable‚ allowing players to enjoy the game without pressure. The system is designed to be accessible‚ with an estimated completion time of 5-7 hours for the Platinum trophy.
Platform
And yet, even when Astro is pulling off his most basic moves in familiar environments, this game feels revelatory. The PS5’s new controller combines a built-in speaker with vibrating haptics to make interacting with the world feel like it’s literally happening in your hand. Astro running across a sandy beach sounds and feels completely different than running on a fluffy cloud, for example. It is worth noting that the game is maintained in a very colorful artistic style, which may appeal to both older and younger players. Astro’s Playroom has a new tool in that regard, of course, with the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller and its haptic feedback.
GPU Jungle is the fourth and final zone in the game, with Artefacts covering the PlayStation 4 era from 2013 to 2019. This zone’s suit is the Monkey Suit, which you control with the Adaptive Triggers and the SIXAXIS. It’s worth noting that you can play through the first four zones in any order you please. Their order in this guide is based on the artefacts, starting with the original PlayStation through to the PlayStation 4. In fact, the only use of the DualSense that seemed superfluous to me was the microphone.
Astro’s Playroom is a fantastic tech demo game that showcases the capabilities of the DualSense controller. The haptic feedback, motion sensor, and adaptive triggers make a significant difference, and the game successfully demonstrates these features. The game itself is enjoyable, featuring four distinct levels that offer unique gameplay experiences. rr99com can glide into the air, transform into a cannonball and roll their way to the finish line, become a robot monkey, and do some mountain climbing. Additionally, players can transform into a robot frog, allowing them to jump into action. Astro’s Playroom also includes collectibles that represent the history of PlayStation, spanning from the PS1 era to the PS5 era.
The player’s character can take damage, such as by falling off platforms, being flattened or being electrocuted. Some of the ‘boss’ characters, including a dinosaur-like character, may be scary for younger children. At its best, Astro’s Playroom recaptures the magic of my favorite Lego video games – except the license on display is the PlayStation brand instead of something like Star Wars or Marvel.
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Puzzle Piece 4/4 – On the main path just after the checkpoint there will be an explosive enemy standing in the middle of the area. Jump and hold over top of it to ignite it, and when it explodes it reveals this puzzle piece underneath. Puzzle Piece 3/4– At the next checkpoint there are some spots you can bounce on to climb up the platforms. Instead of going up, bounce to the opposite side to find this puzzle piece underneath the platform.
While many games supported the DualShock, very few utilized the right analog stick. JAPAN Studio’s own Ape Escape is famous for requiring the use of a DualShock for this very reason. It’s a wonderful celebration of PlayStation’s history but the absolute best moment is the final boss battle which is so perfectly handled we almost died of nostalgia playing it. Past games are also celebrated in fine style thanks to the little skits that are always going on in the background, often involving other bots playing the role of famous game characters.
Every area had the same problem of mandatory physical interaction to get through the level, none of which were doable for me. Every single level reached a point where I couldn’t proceed, leaving me no choice but to ask for help. There are no options in the menu to adjust any controls whatsoever – all motion and physical controls are mandatory. The PS5’s Pulse headset is a headset designed to use 3D audio with PS4 and PS5 games that support it, allowing for sounds to be heard as if all around the player, similar to a surround sound system. It also features two microphones that can cancel out background noises, and still has a 3.5mm jack to use as a standard headset.
Puzzle Piece 4/4 – After going up the above lily pad to continue, go to the left to find this puzzle piece. Artifact 2/2 “PS3 Game Disc” – From the central large ice area go to the left across the controller symbol ice blocks. Pull up the two small wires, followed by the revealed large wire in the middle to get this artifact. Artifact 1/2 “DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller” – Continue left out onto the small island, defeat the three enemies then pull up the wires to find this artifact. Puzzle Piece 4/4 – Keep climbing and after going off two bounce pads you’ll be at the very top of the plaza, where you can find this puzzle piece. The follow-up to the original PS VR uses headset-mounted cameras rather than lights, and has a vibration motor.
The game’s also loaded with hidden items, which will appeal to players who like to collect trophies or find more to do once they finish a level. But the joy of Astro’s Playroom, while largely focused on its use of the new controller, is also thanks to Team Asobi’s dedication to turning this pack-in into a mini-museum of PlayStation history. All of them are put on display to be looked at or hit to produce sound effects, pop open disc trays, and more. For a free game that comes with the PlayStation 5, one largely designed just to showcase all the bells and whistles of Sony’s next-gen DualSense controller, Astro’s Playroom is surprisingly fun. It’s not just a great toybox to experience the DualSense’s haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, microphone, and more, it also delivers the best proof-of-concept pack-in I’ve played since Wii Sports. This is a truly joyous homage to PlayStation history, as well as an experimental platformer I can only hope to see turned into a larger experience during the PS5’s lifetime.
Astro’s Playroom goes a step further by setting itself entirely inside your PlayStation 5, with the four worlds based on the SSD, GPU, and other major components. While platforming games do not appeal to everyone, players can spend a few good hours going through obstacle courses and hunting a few easter eggs tucked away by the developers. If you just bought a PlayStation 5 or had one at launch, it would be a shame to miss experiencing a game that is completely free in 2025.
