How Astro Bot gave us an unexpected EVO 2024 challenge

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I have played countless hours of platformers and fought my way through some of the most challenging levels known to man. So when I heard about Astro Bot at EVO 2024, I couldn’t resist giving it a try.

At EVO 2024, the stage is set for the largest fighting games in the world to shine. Big names aim to impress, while newcomers from the indie scene aspire to make their mark. However, an unanticipated addition graced the EVO exhibition this year – Astro Bot. As EVO falls under PlayStation’s wing, Sony capitalized on the opportunity to present its upcoming platformer to the captivated crowd. Seizing the moment, Shacknews ventured over to the Astro Bot booth for a hands-on experience.

The first thing to note is that several of the game’s stages were available to play. It would have been easy to get a taste of Astro Bot’s charming level design, its colorful worlds, and its adorable main character. In the spirit of EVO, however, we went in looking for a challenge. Fortunately, the booth worker pointed me in the right direction and sent me to a stage called Swinging Sentries.

How Astro Bot gave us an unexpected EVO 2024 challenge

For newcomers to Astro Bot’s gameplay, the Swinging Sentries level can be quite punishing. The main character has some moves at his disposal including punching, spinning attacks, and a short hover ability. Even if you are familiar with these abilities, this level is still challenging.

In the game Swinging Sentries, enemies hurl balls and chains at a rapid pace. Astro Bot has limited health, so a single hit causes him to burst and return to the level’s start. To progress, players must jump over these hazards while avoiding the collapsing ground beneath their feet. Falling into the abyss of space is not an option. Maintaining constant movement is crucial but could result in hasty jumps directly into a swinging spiked ball.

Once you make it past three guards, your goal is to successfully land on a row of trampoline-like pads that will propel Astro Bot upwards. The pads are quite small compared to him and are surrounded by dangerous electric orbs. If you misjudge the jump, the consequence can be unpleasant. It’s essential to keep moving as the stage is collapsing, but the sequence of bounce pads is challenging. Now, not only do you need to avoid sentries that swing balls and chains at the peak of your final leap, but also spiked balls that seem to magically appear underfoot. I wish I could get a quarter for every time I landed on one of those!

As I made my way past more sentries guarding precarious platforms with minuscule chains, I could sense the final sequence approaching. A colossal planetary ring loomed before me, and there, at its edge, swung a sentry with an immense extending chain, spanning the entire radius of the ring. I had to leap over this obstacle like a hurdle to reach the next set of platforms leading to the sentry. My objective was to defeat him using Astro Bot’s powerful punch. However, as I drew closer, the sentry’s swings grew increasingly faster, making connecting with that decisive punch a significant challenge. Despite the difficulty, I persisted, determined to land the final blow and bring an end to this stage.

At EVO 2024, I had the opportunity to play Astro Bot and was surprised by its hidden difficulty. Some levels reminded me of Nintendo’s challenging Mario stages, such as those from Super Mario Bros. Wonder World. With a clearer understanding of what lies ahead, I’m eager to discover more obstacles in Astro Bot’s universe. Astro Bot will be exclusively available on PlayStation 5 starting September 6.

At the EVO 2024 event in Las Vegas, NV, attendees have the opportunity to try out this preview until Sunday, July 21st. Keep in mind, however, that the finished version may still undergo modifications.

2024-07-20 18:27

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