Astro Bot is finally out on PlayStation 5 with a staggering Metacritic score of 94, making it the highest-rated game of 2024 so far. To us gamers, that’s great news! Players are lauding Astro Bot, which is basking in a positive light on social media.
As a Nintendo fan and host of Nintendo Pow Block, it is good to see a great platformer on another console receive the love that we’ve had for seven years with games like Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser Fury, and more platforming games on the Nintendo Switch. The thing is, some people online are bringing Nintendo into the conversation about Astro Bot and I wonder, should Nintendo be worried about its success?
Well, obviously no. I honestly don’t think Nintendo is focusing on the success of other platforms and that’s not a dig at Sony or any of its partners. Nintendo has a lot on its plate that it needs to focus on, including the games it announced along with their marketing. Don’t forget, Nintendo has three games it needs to advertise before their respectful launches: The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom on September 26, Super Mario Party Jamboree on October 17, and Mario & Luigi Brothership on November 7th.
I played the demo of Astro Bot at PAX West and came away very impressed so I understand why it deserves the reviews, praise, and Game Of The Year nominations. It’s well-crafted, borrows some elements from past Nintendo games, and shows what Team ASOBI can do for the PlayStation 5, bringing out a worthwhile experience for anyone to play. Plus — and this might sound shady but it’s not — Sony desperately needed this game to succeed to better help the PS5’s image. I just don’t mean for console sales, but for conversation, positive conversation that is (I still see the Concord nonsense. Stop it!!).
As for Nintendo, it probably notices the buzz and focus surrounding Astro Bot with some developers probably playing it at home. I suspect Nintendo is working on its own platformer, probably Mario-related, for its next console and we’re going to eat it up. It may even change the genre in a way we won’t expect. At this time though, we, as Nintendo fans, are celebrating Astro Bot‘s success along with both the PlayStation and larger gaming communities.
As for Nintendo themselves, its focus is on its business and video games. Whatever Sony does, Sony does and that’s the truth. Even if Astro Bot takes Game Of The Year at The Game Awards, we all will celebrate its victory.
Unless Nintendo does something shady and announces its next console after The Game Awards…….they wouldn’t do that…..would they?
Do you think Nintendo has anything to worry about with Astro Bot? Let us know in the comments or on our Discord.
Featured Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment
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