Key Takeaways
- Astro Bot exhaustively includes 173 VIP bots referencing PlayStation characters, but oddly misses out on Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy 7.
- Astro Bot’s director recently hinted at Team Asobi’s initial intentions for a Cloud cameo, but Square Enix apparently opted against it.
- Square Enix’s lack of representation in Astro Bot has been questioned by many fans, with huge franchises like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts missing.
The director of Astro Bot recently provided some clarity on the lack of a big Square Enix cameo in the 3D platformer. Although Astro Bot features over 150 VIP bots inspired by PlayStation’s rich lineage, fans have been confused about the bizarre absence of a certain character that was pivotal to the brand in its early days.
Having launched a few weeks ago on September 6, Astro Bot‘s critical reception has been nothing short of outstanding. Reviewers raved about the platformer’s slick gameplay loop and overwhelming charm, but Astro Bot‘s biggest selling point is undoubtedly its extensive list of PlayStation-inspired cameos that the titular protagonist has to rescue within the game’s levels. All told, Astro Bot features 173 VIP bots, and this roster is only set to increase over time.
An upcoming Astro Bot DLC will add new levels and cameos this fall, but even then, the game has a dearth of representation from certain franchises and characters closely linked to PlayStation, with Final Fantasy 7‘s Cloud Strife being one of the most conspicuous absences. In a recent interview with Game File, Astro Bot director Nicolas Doucet suggested that Team Asobi did draw up plans for a Cloud Strife cameo in the game, but these were apparently shot down for reasons that are “difficult to comment on.”
The Absence of Cloud Strife and Final Fantasy 7 in Astro Bot Was a Square Enix Decision
Doucet capped off his quote by expressing that Team Asobi respects “the choice of each publisher,” which certainly implies that Square Enix itself refused the prospect of a Cloud Strife cameo in Astro Bot. It’s an odd decision, since Final Fantasy 7 was monumentally crucial to the PS1’s popularity and ended up being the second best-selling game on the platform. Moreover, Astro’s Playroom featured a nod to Final Fantasy 7 in the form of Cloud’s Buster Sword, so Square Enix backing out of Astro Bot is very strange indeed.
However, this isn’t just limited to Cloud Strife or even Final Fantasy 7, as there is absolutely no Square Enix representation in Astro Bot. Franchises like Dragon Quest, Chrono, Life Is Strange, Kingdom Hearts, Star Ocean, and more are entirely missing from the game, which is disappointing since fans of these franchises could’ve gotten a kick out of seeing them referenced in Astro Bot. Square Enix’s reasons for skipping out on the cameos are unknown, but hopefully Astro Bot‘s impressive sales performance will make the Japanese gaming giant reconsider its position.
