When we award the Polygon Recommends badge, it’s because we believe the recipient is uniquely thought-provoking, entertaining, inventive, or fun — and worth fitting into your schedule. If you want curated lists of our favorite media, check out What to Play and What to Watch. I can’t say I had very high expectations for Astro’s Playroom, a game that comes free with every PlayStation 5 console. I figured it might be a cute series of minigames, akin to the robot-themed minigames in the PlayStation 4’s pack-in title, The Playroom. That PS4 game was the sort of thing you boot up once, mess around with for 30 minutes, and then forget it exists.

Chandler Wood is the former Editor-in-Chief of PlayStation LifeStyle. To free them, you’ll have to copy what they do via dances you can do as the Astro Bot. Each press on the D-Pad is a different dance, and the one that the Special Bot will do is randomized. Then, just past another reenactment, there will be a patch of clouds glowing, and the game will show you that you can throw your projectile at them. It will reveal an Ape Escape Special Bot, with the clue to help free it simply being an image of bananas.

These hidden characters are tied to PlayStation history and unlock unique trophies. Rescuing all four special bots rewards you with the “Four The Players” trophy‚ adding a layer of challenge and nostalgia to your platinum journey. Each bot’s location and method of rescue is cleverly integrated into the game’s design.

After reaching the first Checkpoint in Caching Caves, look for a box frame structure in the ground you can drop into. In addition to a Puzzle Piece, you’ll see a Bot prancing down a line and clearing various shape-based obstacles. This refers to 1999’s Vib-Ribbon on PS1, developed by NanaOn-Sha. Vib-Ribbon was unique in that it loaded entirely into the PS1’s RAM, allowing players to insert their own music CDs to play levels to. At the Checkpoint overlooking the first mud pit, you’ll two a Bot with a Net looking for a Bot with a siren on its head hiding in a bush. This references 1999’s Ape Escape on PS1, made by SCE Japan Studio.

Astro’s Playroom has been described as a love letter to PlayStation, as the game is full of references to past and present Sony franchises. It doesn’t stop at the collectibles; some bots pay tribute to past icons. You’ll see a bot holding a camera throughout the levels as they record their companions as fellow PlayStation characters. For example, you’ll see bots dressed up as Kratos and Atreus from God of War trying to row a boat.

Astro’s Playroom Easter Eggs – Playstation Labo

The question is should you play it and the answer is a resounding yes if you’ve ever found yourself nostalgic for PlayStation as a brand or if you enjoy 3D platformers. I mentioned this already in my Astro’s Playroom preview, but it really can’t be overstated how innovative the DualSense PS5 Controller is and just how effective Astro’s Playroom is at showing it off. From the opening moments when it teaches you about the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback it never stops impressing all the way until the very end. tr88 nổ hũ is a deep cut reference to a classic PS1 tech demo that you’ll immediately recognize if you’ve been gaming with PlayStation long enough and it was a real treat to experience. Puzzle Piece 1/4 – At the second checkpoint instead of going forward, go to the left and up to a platform where you can find a spot to blow into the mic. Puzzle Piece 3/4 – When you reach the next checkpoint, before going down the ramp, follow the path back to the right where you can hit a small jump which propels you into the air to grab this puzzle piece.

He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale. Those who hop into Astro’s Playroom today will be met with a message that a “mysterious portal” has opened up in the center of the game’s collectible hub, the PS LABO.

Puzzle Piece 1/4 – Once in the main area where you are rolling around as a ball, this puzzle piece is underneath a bridge to the left. Puzzle Piece 2/4 – You will progress through a path of electrified mines to a checkpoint. From the checkpoint instead of continuing upwards, follow the path of coins down to the right to enter another asteroid with this puzzle piece inside. Puzzle Piece 4/4 – After landing from the above hang glider section, go to the back left of the platform and drop down to find a lower area with this puzzle piece. [newline]Puzzle Piece 3/4 – In the third hang glider section you will need to avoid a number of mines that appear in the air.

Boss Fight Trophies in Astro Playroom are unlocked by defeating specific bosses in various levels. These encounters are scattered across the game’s worlds‚ such as the T-Rex in “Casey’s Toybox” or the final boss in the “Playroom.” Each boss fight is unique and requires mastering Astro’s abilities. Defeating bosses rewards you with puzzle pieces and progresses the story. While most boss trophies are straightforward‚ some may demand precise timing and strategy. These challenges add excitement and depth to the game‚ making trophy completion a rewarding experience. Silver Trophies in Astro Playroom are awarded for completing key story milestones.

You can explore all these items in the PlayStation Lago, a hub area of everything you collect. It’s a lot of fun to scale up these objects, and each one has a cool animation. Granted, it’s only a startup noise or something getting popped open. You can tell how much love Team Asobi put into this celebration of PlayStation. A tech demo shouldn’t have this much of a following, but that’s the power of Team Asobi’s Astro’s Playroom.

Puzzle Piece 2/4 – When you reach the area with the monkey bars, you can reach this puzzle piece to the left side of the second one. Artifact 2/3 “Playstation Portable” – After riding the rotating platform, there is a switch on the other side which creates a lily pad platform back to the right. You need to jump to the left to reach a room with another rotating platform. Puzzle Piece 4/4– While on the floating ice platforms, this puzzle piece is in the air while you are on the second one. Artifact 1/2 “PS Move Navigation Controller” – From the start of the area pull up the wires on the right to grab a throwable item, then throw it at the platform to drop it into the water. Jump across and pull the three small wires, followed by the revealed large middle wire to get this artifact.

Guides(

This will complete the challenge, unlocking the Ape Escape Special Bot and earning you the No Escape! If this is your final Special Bot to unlock, you’ll also get the Four the Players Trophy. Throw the cannister with the net inside at the blue aura when the lock-on symbol appears to reveal the Special Bot. Go under the bridge and immediately on your right pull the exposed cable cords to grab a throwable canister with a net inside. Punch the shell to reveal a steering wheel, then stand in front of it push the Options button to bring up the map. Go to the far right corner of the beach, next to the building, on the opposite side of where the Gran Turismo Astro Bot is.

Efficient Trophy Hunting Strategy

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. It deserves a place among the greats though – Astro’s Playroom has the coherence, character and abundance of ideas, executed with real clarity, of the very best platformers. The slight downside is that Astro’s Playroom is concise, as completing the game will take you an hour and a half. However, there are many collectibles to obtain, and Team Asobi has added free content updates. If you ever wanted to earn a platinum trophy, this is the game to do it.