BEST TECH DEMO EVER?
At the dawn of this console generation, Sony hit the ground running with Astro’s Playroom, Team Asobi’s delightful tech demo that comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5. It not only showcases the console’s technical capabilities, but also serves as a guided tour through PlayStation history, generation by generation. Iconic characters make cameo appearances—reimagined as bots—and attentive players will recognize heroes like Aloy, Nathan Drake, Kratos, and the hunter from Bloodborne, along with a wealth of more obscure references scattered throughout.
More than anything, however, the game exists to demonstrate the possibilities of the new DualSense controller. Through clever use of the gyroscope, touchscreen, and built-in microphone, it brings the player closer to the physical sensation of play. As Astro—the expressive little robot with screen-eyes—you traverse four compact platforming stages, each set within the internal architecture of a PS5. Adaptive triggers convey the tension of drawing a bowstring, while haptic feedback makes raindrops dance in your palms. These details elevate the experience in a way that can only truly be appreciated by playing, not by watching a stream.
The adventure begins in a hub world called CPU Plaza, from which you can access four stages, each representing a major hardware component. The order is up to you, but starting with the verdant, purple-hued Memory Meadows makes sense, as it celebrates the PlayStation 1 era. Each stage culminates in the discovery of an older console, lovingly recreated as a collectible.
From there, the game marches forward through PlayStation history. The PS2-themed SSD Speedway is a fittingly brisk, high-speed affair. Cooling Springs transitions from a sunny beach into the icy interior of the console, brimming with PS3 artifacts. GPU Jungle, dense with foliage and verticality, pays tribute to the PS4 era. All of it builds toward a final hidden stage, guarded by a surprisingly menacing boss and culminating in the reveal of the PS5 itself.
The four levels vary significantly in design and tone, occasionally experimenting with Super Mario Galaxy-inspired mechanics. Different Astro suits radically alter gameplay. One turns you into a spring, requiring gyroscopic aiming and precise timing in a brief side-scrolling section. Another asks you to blow into the microphone to stay airborne. These gimmicks are playful rather than intrusive, and crucially, they never overstay their welcome. Each experimental idea is wrapped up before frustration has a chance to set in.
The fundamentals, however, are rock solid. Camera control and movement feel impeccable, with Astro responding instantly and precisely to player input. Combat is intentionally simple—punching enemies, stunning them, or uprooting grounded foes—but fits the game’s breezy tone. A double jump combined with a short jet-assisted glide gives you just enough aerial control without overwhelming the player. The generous checkpointing and invisible safety nets make it clear that Astro’s Playroom prioritizes joy and accessibility over challenge.
As tradition dictates, Astro’s Playroom is also a shameless collectathon. Full completion requires finding puzzle pieces and PlayStation artifacts hidden in treasure chests, some of which can be unlocked by spending coins in a vending machine within the PlayStation Labo area of the hub. These trinkets may not matter to everyone, but completionists will be pleased to know that earning the platinum trophy takes only around six or seven hours—and thanks to the game’s consistent quality, it’s time well spent.
The game’s short runtime allows for an impressive density of detail. Clear, colorful visuals use contrast and simple geometry to guide the player naturally through each environment. Every level brims with visual gags and interactive elements. Other bots mill about, reacting differently depending on how you engage with them—punch one and it might fume or complain in cheerful chipmunk gibberish. The relentlessly upbeat, robotic disco soundtrack—especially the infectious Astro Bot theme—adds a layer of nostalgic charm. It’s childish in the best possible way, and nearly impossible to resist.
Astro’s Playroom is essentially a miniature 3D Mario for PlayStation, and it wears that influence proudly. Only its brevity keeps it from reaching the highest possible mark. Still, what little it sets out to do, it does exceptionally well. Traditional 3D platformers have become almost extinct in the AAA space, yet sometimes a so-called niche genre finds universal appeal simply by being expertly crafted. This game reminds players of a kind of joy many assumed they had outgrown—and proves how wrong that assumption was.
This playthrough and review serves as an appetizer for Astro Bot, which, as I write this, won Game of the Year just days ago. Judging by the sheer delight of this prologue, my expectations are sky-high.
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