Astro-Bot: Winter Wonder-Review
Anyone else needing some optimism these days? I do. So, what do you know, I finally went back and tried out the Astro-Bot Christmas themed level “Winter Wonder” and, just like Astro-Bot always does, it cheered me up (for a while.) This level is awesome. I needed some Christmas vibes and this did not disappoint. The music, the gorgeous and detailed level design and of course, Astro’s little Santa hat all make for a joyous mood.
So far, Astro-Bot’s update levels have done a great job of placing extra emphasis on the game’s power-ups and their capability to shape platforming experiences. “Stellar Speedway” gave us intensive, power up centered speed trials that really made you hone your skills. This level if far more chill and festive but it still makes great use of the game’s roster of power-ups.
The primary directive here is to collect 10 out of a possible 15 presents. But there’s no urgency or pressure to do so and the level plays like a big sandbox. You’ll find power-ups throughout the level. Some are way out in the open while others more tucked away but I wouldn’t say any of them are particularly hard to find. And the associated activities and puzzles that come with each powerup are all pretty fun and low stress. The presents themeslves contain a medley of things, from bots, to speeder skins, to new costumes. Some of them are really cool too. The Spider Man bot is gonna look great back at the hub.
Another great thing about this level is that while it definitely gives a fair share of attention to power ups, they aren’t the only mechanics used here. Things like the speed rails, the tile puzzles and of course, plain old punching and jumping are used here as well. There’s a lot of verticality in this level and about 5-6 ways to move vertically through the map when you add in all the power-ups. It’s different from the more linear paths you’re often presented with in the main game but this liberating sandbox approach a nice change of pace.
I also loved the way this level sort of functioned as a brief “summary” of a lot of main game elements. There’s an underwater sections, a speed rail I already mentioned, most of the powerups re-occur, even the one that turns you into a sponge, and a lot of smaller mechanics from the base game reoccur as a result. There’s a puzzle where you water some bushes to get rewards, another puzzle where you have to chase around a UFO, just like in the main game, and probably my favorite one, a puzzle where you navigate the vents of a house using the power-up that lets you tur into a metal ball.
This level really finds the sweet spot in it’s depth and design. There are area that feel like secrets that are neatly tucked away within the level, but none of them are too hard to find. But they’re still cool and rewarding. The underwater area is gorgeous, as all of them are in this game. All of the other interiors you find in various puzzles usually have some vibrant signs of life that make the area feel cozy. But my favorite has to be this secret mouse city, hidden underneath a glass floor. It requires the Micro Mouse power-up to access and it’s….honestly it’s such a peaceful and beautiful vibe. Sleepy, warm and hidden away in the larger level, this (relatively) tiny alcove feels like a special place in the game. A city within in a city. This is the kind of stuff I love about Astro-Bot.
Overall, “Winter Wonder’ is another home run for a game that has yet to make a misstep. It nails the atmosphere and aesthetics of the Christmas season and puts the game’s core mechanics to good use to make for a new but still familiar platforming adventure. It’s a different kind of level from the linear style of the main game but this sandbox design really allowed them to be creative with this map. It’s chocked full of delightful secrets and puzzles and it’s hard not to play this and smile. It may not be Christmas anymore, but in “Winter Wonder”, Christmas feels like a state of mind.
