Astro Bot Rescue Mission

Astro Bot Rescue Mission is a first-person platformer in virtual reality in which the player becomes both an observer and an active participant in the adventure of a small robot named Astro. The camera is fixed to the player's viewpoint, so instead of classic camera rotation, the player looks into the game's levels as if into miniature dioramas, and by turning their head reveals hidden paths, enemies, or collectibles tucked around a corner or overhead. Astro himself is controlled with a classic DualShock 4 controller, running, jumping, and gaining various abilities depending on the environment, from rocket boots through a grappling hook to a water jet used to put out fires or reveal invisible platforms. The individual worlds are thematically distinct – jungle, desert, icy plains, and volcanic terrain – and in each one the player gradually rescues scattered robot friends who hide behind the scenery or directly behind the player's back, turning the level design into a constant game of hide-and-seek.

The game arose as a full sequel to the smaller tech demo Robot Rescue and fully demonstrated how well traditional platformer design can be combined with the spatial awareness of VR. The graphics are colorful, clean, and technically very well polished, so the game ran smoothly even on a base PS4 without noticeable frame-rate drops. At the end of each world awaits a boss fight against a distinctive character, requiring a combination of classic controls and physically dodging attacks by moving the head. Cheerful music and sound effects round out a playful, relaxed atmosphere, providing a pleasant counterpoint to the more demanding and darker action titles available on the platform.

At release, the game was received by critics and players alike as one of the most convincing proofs that virtual reality doesn't have to be just a technological attraction but can be a full-fledged gaming medium with its own advantages. It laid the groundwork for the later Astro's Playroom, bundled free with the PS5, and subsequently for the standalone title Astro Bot. It still ranks today among the titles recommended to new headset owners as a first showcase of what PSVR can do, thanks to its accessible controls, thoughtful level design, and complete absence of any feeling of motion sickness.

Proč hrát: For accessible controls, thoughtful level design, and a complete absence of motion sickness, it's a title recommended to new PSVR owners as a first showcase of what the headset can do.