Theres a lot of pressure associated with being the face of a brand.
For others like PlayStation?
Well, thats trickier.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
It began with Crash Bandicoot, whose satirical ads mocked Nintendo, but that didnt last past the Nineties.
Then there was Spyro, and Sly Cooper, and Jak & Daxter, and eventually Sackboy.
But by the 2010s, Sony had mostly given up playing thekingmaker for kiddie-heroes.
Yet its inspiration comes from the unlikeliest of places: a faceless littlerobot named Astro.
With a chibi build and affable demeanor, Astros less of a character and more of a canvas.
He can be anything, no need for explanation.
Just pick him up and play.
Now, withAstro Bot(out Sept. 6), its his time to shine.
Anyone whos playedSuper Mario WorldorCrash Bandicootknows the drill.
If this all sounds like business as usual, thats because it is.
His movements and jumps are precise yet effortlessly readable in their execution.
That tangibility is key and applies to everything that populates this world.
Pulling from Nintendos school of design, Team Asobi has crafted worlds that are brimming with wonder.
Every nook hides a secret and theres always something happening just outside the periphery.
ThePokemon-like appeal of collecting dozens of PlayStation-flavored bots is gratifying, but its not all just window dressing.
Gifted the Leviathan Axe, Astro takes on the power of a god and Kratos face to match.
None of this should work.
Yet, it does.
Its a contained, tightly knit single-player adventure that celebrates the artistry of minutiae.
Its also just really, really fun.
Move over Mario, theres a new player in town.
Astro Botreleases for PlayStation 5 on Sept. 6.
