One Astro Bot Cameo Would Suit an Upcoming PlayStation Project Perfectly

PlayStation has been dominating the console space for at least two generations now, with exclusive first-party IP like Astro Bot being a major selling point that sets it apart from Xbox. PlayStation has also tried its hand at tapping into the PC market, which has had generally solid results. But there’s one major gaming platform left for PlayStation to conquer.

The mobile gaming market has never really been PlayStation’s forte. After a disappointing attempt in 2012 with the ill-fated PlayStation Mobile app, Sony has mostly stayed away from the mobile market, with there only being a few middling outliers over the following years, like 2014’s Run Sackboy! Run and 2016’s Uncharted: Fortune Hunter. But based on a job listing spotted by TweakTown back in May, PlayStation might be about to give the mobile market another go, and Astro Bot might hold the key to its success with one of its more unexpected cameos.

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Astro Bot’s Next Adventure Already Has a Perfect Release Window

Sony has experienced a rocky few months, with the launch of Concord ending abruptly due to low player engagement just two weeks after its release. Additionally, the announcement of the PS5 Pro was met with mixed reactions, particularly over its controversial price point. Amid this uncertainty, Astro Bot has emerged as a major success, receiving universal acclaim for its 3D platforming and innovative use of PS5 hardware, especially the DualSense controller. Astro Bot combines elements of iconic platformers like Super Mario 64 with modern mechanics, positioning it for a bright future.

Astro Bot’s LocoRoco Cameo Proves It’d Suit PlayStation’s Mobile Project

Astro Bot’s LocoRoco Cameo Explained

As anyone who’s seen a brief glimpse of its gameplay will know, Astro Bot is filled to the brim with cameos and references from across PlayStation’s long history. These references often come in the form of collectible Bots that the player needs to rescue, who wear clothing associated with a certain PlayStation character. But occasionally, Astro Bot will embrace a PlayStation IP a bit more tightly, and that’s certainly the case with LocoRoco.

Debuting in 2006, LocoRoco was a relatively short-lived PlayStation Portable series developed by Japan Studio. In this PSP series, players are tasked with guiding a large, spherical, gelatin-like being through a stage. To pass through certain obstacles, players need to tap a button to break the ball into multiple smaller spheres, and then merge again on the other side. Players don’t control the lively spheres, but the world itself, tilting it from side to side using the PSP’s shoulder buttons. While LocoRoco got a sequel and a Halloween-themed spinoff, the series has been practically dormant for 15 years.

But, rather surprisingly, LocoRoco takes center stage in Astro Bot in a spectacular way. At the end of each galaxy in Astro Bot, players unlock a new world that’s entirely themed around a PlayStation franchise, such as Uncharted and God of War. LocoRoco gets one of the five stages to itself. In this stage, players become a LocoRoco sphere, the camera switches to a 2D perspective, the DualSense’s motion controls are used to tilt the world, and the player needs to zap Astro to split him into several pieces to pass through obstacles.

The stage retains the bright and vibrant art style of the original LocoRoco games, and a remixed version of the series’ theme can be heard. While Astro Bot is full of references to well-known franchises, it’s great to see forgotten series like LocoRoco get such a prominent moment to shine.

LocoRoco Would Make For a Perfect PlayStation Mobile game

As mentioned up top, PlayStation is reportedly gearing up to take on the mobile gaming market once more. When it does, LocoRoco should be leading the charge. A 2D platformer with incredibly simple controls, bright visuals, and nice bite-sized levels, LocoRoco is the ideal mobile game, and its recent time in Astro Bot‘s spotlight has shot it back into the public eye. It’s the perfect time for LocoRoco to make a return, and that return should be on mobile devices, where the game can reach the widest audience.