Got a brand new PS5 over the holidays? No doubt you tend to play games like God of War Ragnarök, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Horizon Forbidden West. There’s nothing wrong with that, since they’re some of the best PS5 games out there. But I urge you to play the humble title that came free with the PS5. And it’s Astro Games Room.
Play the Game Pack before any of the big AAA movies? I understand your doubts. Heck, I was totally ready to dismiss Astro’s Playroom myself when I first got my PS5. I’m glad I didn’t because it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in years. In fact, if I could somehow erase my memories of Astro’s game room and re-experience it for the first time, I would absolutely do it. It’s really special.
Below, I’ll discuss why Astro’s Playroom should be the first game you play on PS5.
View of the DualSense controller
The PS5 is one of the most powerful video game consoles ever released. It can run games at up to 4K resolution and 60fps. Titles like Destiny 2 support refresh rates of 120Hz. Moreover, games load at a blazing fast speed thanks to the Solid State Drive (SSD). While all of this is certainly impressive, I would argue the PS5’s most ‘next-gen’ feature is the DualSense controller – and no other game uses it better than Astro’s Playroom.
Astro’s Playroom is a platform game similar to 3D Mario games like Super Mario Odyssey and is a powerful tech demo for both PS5 and DualSense. Visually, the title looks exceptional since it runs in full 4K and 60fps. The fast loading times are also impressive. But the magic of the game is in how effectively it shows off the different features of the DualSense.
I got to grips with a brief tutorial before diving into the game proper. Here, you’re taught actions like shaking the controller, swiping on the trackpad, and blowing into the console’s center speaker. It’s completely silly, but it’s a good summary of the actions you’ll take during the game’s short two-hour gameplay.
The console provides different clattering sensations, depending on the level you are exploring. For example, the icy environment of Cooling Springs gives you the feeling of walking through thick snow or sliding down icy trails. You can almost feel the sand under your feet or the water rushing over you on other levels. The rumble of the DualSense, along with the sounds provided by the speakers, mimic these sensations and they all work great.
The controller’s adaptive triggers come into play whenever I have to drag things. You will feel resistance when pulling the tendon rope or pulling the rope. Accompanying sounds and haptic feedback from the controller enhance these actions. Using the controller’s gyro sensors to balance on precarious edges also works very well.
Loveletter to PlayStation
In addition to being a showcase for the DualSense controller, Astro’s Playroom is a huge love letter to all things PlayStation. If you’ve been a fan of Sony’s consoles since the beginning, you’ll appreciate all of the easter eggs found in each of the five levels. You’ll see nods to the first PlayStation demo and to almost forgotten peripherals like the Pocketstation or PSP GPS plug-in. There are also many cute robot versions of classic PlayStation characters around every corner.
PlayStation collectibles abound in each level – they are all sent to the PlayStation History Museum after being collected. This whimsical reverence for PlayStation history is the reason I fell in love with Astro’s Gameroom because it takes me back to a time when games were still a little bit innocent.
Don’t skip Astro’s game room
I know you’ve been dying to play God of War, Ratchet & Clank, Horizon, and all the other great PlayStation exclusives. But trust me, you’ll want to check out Astro’s Playroom first because it brilliantly demonstrates what Sony’s latest console has to offer.
Not only is Astro’s Playroom a great rendition of the DualSense controller, but it’s also a fun platform game that will make you feel like a kid again – especially if you grew up on PlayStation hardware. Do yourself a favor and play this game the moment you turn on your PlayStation. You can thank me later.
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