Comparing the iconic PlayStation platforming mascots Sackboy and Astro Bot - their origins, gameplay, visuals, and celebration of PlayStation history.
The PlayStation has a long history of great, beloved platforming mascots, from Crash Bandicoot to Ratchet & Clank. But certainly two of the most iconic in recent years are undoubtedly Sackboy from the LittleBigPlanet series and Astro Bot hailing from the Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Astro's Playroom games. While both are charming, quirky heroes that have starred in critically acclaimed platformers, there are some key differences between the two.
Origins and Gameplay
Sackboy originally appeared in 2008 with LittleBigPlanet on the PS3, a 2.5D side-scrolling platformer of a user-made, fabric character with a huge focus on user-generated content and the creation of levels. Astro Bot, on the other hand, first landed in 2018 with Astro Bot Rescue Mission, a 3D platformer for PSVR that made good use of and flexed its muscles with the DualShock 4 controller. He returned in 2020 with Astro's Playroom, a pack-in PS5 game that extolled the virtues of the DualSense controller
While both are capable platformers, the gameplay of Astro Bot is squarely focused on traversing 3D space as well as using the unique features and capabilities of PlayStation controllers. Sackboy is much more 2D-based in his level design, with huge physics-based puzzles and user-created content elements.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure - Story Trailer | PS5
Astro Bot - Launch Trailer | PS5 Games
Visuals and Aesthetics
Sackboy has this striking arts-and-crafts visual style; the world is literally constructed with fabrics, cardboards, and other craft elements. Astro Bot goes more high-tech, futuristic, and really, really inspired by levels that are inside PlayStation consoles.
Astro Bot marvels in variation because literally every single level introduces a new gameplay mechanic and an additional visual theme. Sackboy levels are usually creative but do follow through in each world with their particular aesthetic.
A Tribute to PlayStation History
Astro Bot is exceptionally unique in how it celebrates 30 years of PlayStation, complete with over 150 cameos from PlayStation's most iconic characters-from Kratos to Nathan Drake to Aloy1. Most of Sackboy's games include a little something from PlayStation, but that's usually rather minimal in nature, focusing on original characters and stories.
Particularly, Astro's Playroom is a love letter to PlayStation: levels draw on classic consoles and collectibles pay homage to the firm's history. If you are tied with PlayStation, it's a must-play.
In Conclusion, Sackboy and Astro Bot are both great platforming protagonists showing creativity and innovation of the PlayStation first-party studios. Whereas they share some similarities-with charming protagonists based on fabric, for example-their style of gameplay and aesthetics differ significantly.
Sackboy games are more about traditional platforming, heavy on user-generated content, whereas Astro Bot is more about showcasing the latest PlayStation hardware and company history. Both of these are must-plays for any fan of PlayStation platforming.
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About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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