Astro Bot’s Popularity Proves We Need More 3D Platformers

In recent years, it can’t be said that fans of 3D platform games have been served as they should be. Unless you spend your life on the Nintendo Switch, which has only seen two Mario adventures (the triumphant Odyssey and the carrying of 3D World). On other platforms, experiences of this kind can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is regrettable.

Especially when you see the ocean of praise in which he bathes (and could drown) Astro Bota 3D platformer exclusive to the PlayStation 5, available from September 6, 2024. Its impressive and deserved score on Metacritic — 94 out of 100 — will not guarantee its commercial success. However, such a concert of praise immediately propels it as a potential candidate for the title of game of the year. This critical success unfortunately reminds us that it is the showcase of a genre that has become too rare.

We want 3D platform games

Before Astro Botwe have rarely been able to rejoice in discovering other 3D platform games. There have been Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time in 2020 (85 out of 100), Psychonauts 2 in 2021 (87 out of 100) or even Tinykin in 2022 (78 out of 100). Sonic Frontiersitself, is a little too experimental to be unanimously appreciated, while Sackboy: A Big Adventure is literally nothing like a great adventure. We also had Kao the Kangaroobut we deserve better than that.

So there is a shortage in the genre, while recent experiences have been acclaimed by the press and appreciated by players. At a time when technical mastery was paradoxically less, 3D platform games were more popular. We were even ready to accept their flaws (the chaotic management of the camera, in particular). When we see to what extent each 3D Mario game is an event, we say to ourselves that the genre is underrepresented. It is the complete opposite of Metroidvania, a branch of 2D platform games.

It’s all the more unfortunate since 3D platform games are generally an ideal place to bring young and old together in front of a screen (the universes are often cute). A hint of nostalgia can emerge, which is also a lever that Activision has pressed with the remastering of the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro games. These glories of the past, skillfully highlighted in Astro Botshould not be forgotten. They still have the right to flourish, with the aim of putting smiles on our faces. We sincerely hope thatAstro Bot will sell in the millions. It could give others ideas and put a genre we love back on the chessboard.