Soapbox: Astro Bot Is Not a Graveyard, It's a Joyful Demonstration of Sony's Unique Ability to Reinvent Itself 1
Image: Push Square

PlayStation, more than any other platform holder, has endured the test of time through its unique ability to reinvent itself. Where its rivals have historically relied on tried-and-trusted intellectual property, like Mario and Halo, Sony has rarely ever stood still, overhauling its image with each respective generation. It’s one of the reasons the brand doesn’t have a defined mascot: Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet & Clank, Nathan Drake, Sackboy, and Kratos are just some of the stars to have shared the responsibility over the years.

An article published by TheGamer earlier today described Astro Bot as a graveyard as opposed to a celebration, pointing to the corpses of the many dormant franchises the platformer is championing. While an undeniably cynical take, it’s important to underline that the author is not criticising the Team ASOBI game, and stresses several times that they’re excited for the PS5 exclusive. But their overarching point, that Sony has lost its magic by moving on from the masterpieces in its past, has irritated me to an irrational degree. I simply had to write a response.

Soapbox: Astro Bot Is Not a Graveyard, It's a Joyful Demonstration of Sony's Unique Ability to Reinvent Itself 2

PlayStation has always been at its best when it’s given developers the freedom to shape their own futures. One of the series that the article puts a bright spotlight on is Jak & Daxter, the classic Naughty Dog trilogy on the PS2. It’s important to remember that this series was created as a replacement for Crash Bandicoot, after licensing complications meant that Universal Interactive – and, latterly, Vivendi – actually owned the rights to the brand. It now inexplicably finds itself in the hands of Xbox, but that’s a different discussion for a different day.

Jak & Daxter actually changed a lot over the course of its tenure in the PS2 limelight. The original game was a sandbox Super Mario 64-style collectathon, while it eventually evolved into more of a GTA-esque open world action platformer. Despite critical and commercial success, when the PS3 came around, Naughty Dog wasn’t forced to make a fourth entry in the franchise, and instead stretched its legs with the Uncharted series – another historic PlayStation property that introduced an entirely new cast of beloved characters. It would never have been made if the studio had been chained to Jak.

Soapbox: Astro Bot Is Not a Graveyard, It's a Joyful Demonstration of Sony's Unique Ability to Reinvent Itself 3

In fact, the Californian studio did eventually experiment with the idea of a new Jak game, but it once again decided to walk in a different direction, and create The Last of Us instead. This bold survival horror series’ tone couldn’t be more different to the titles that came before it, making the studio’s evolution all the more remarkable. Ellie and Joel’s cross-country adventure became one of the biggest PS3 titles ever, eventually spawning a critically acclaimed sequel and an HBO television show. I don’t know what’s next for boss Neil Druckmann and his team, but I certainly trust in the studio’s creative vision.

It’s important to note that this story doesn’t just apply to Naughty Dog, however. Fresh from the success of the Sly Cooper series, Sucker Punch also reinvented itself throughout the PS3 era with the well-liked inFAMOUS franchise. It’d make a third game for the PS4, before introducing an entirely new universe in Ghost of Tsushima. This became the Seattle-based outfit’s best-selling game, and while Sly Cooper hasn’t been forgotten by any stretch – a new title, developed by Sanzaru Games, was generally well-received – it allowed us to meet a fresh cast of characters, including Jin Sakai.

Soapbox: Astro Bot Is Not a Graveyard, It's a Joyful Demonstration of Sony's Unique Ability to Reinvent Itself 4

This is the thing that sets PlayStation apart: it never, ever stands still. There are more than 150 cameos in Astro Bot, which is an extraordinary selection, many of which are from first-party franchises. But in our opinion, this isn’t a thing to criticise or crucify: it’s something to truly celebrate. That Sony has been able to reinvent itself, generation after generation, introducing new characters and worlds for fans to fall in love with is part of what sets the Japanese giant apart. Its ability to replace the characters we adore with new ones is something that should be respected.

From the Helghast to Aloy; from Spyro the Dragon to Spider-Man; from Sackboy to Astro Bot. Not every transition is a hit; not every new franchise becomes a household name. But part of PlayStation’s enduring appeal is its ability to try. So keep this in mind before you opine the death of Devil’s Dice or Sir Daniel Fortesque: if PlayStation hadn’t given its teams the opportunity to innovate in the first place, the collection of supposedly forgotten characters you’re crying about wouldn’t be anywhere near as large.

Do you think Astro Bot demonstrates Sony’s inability to iterate upon the IP that previously brought it success – or its bold commitment to reinventing itself generation after generation? Do you think Team ASOBI’s outing is a graveyard, or an earnest celebration of all the series that have come before it? Pick your side in the comments section below.

Is Astro Bot a celebration or a graveyard? (914 votes)

  1. It's obviously a celebration87%
  2. It's a graveyard of dead IP13%