Let no one tell you differently; game development focuses on details, both big and small, to ensure that a player feels a certain way when taking on the team’s title. It’s true that some games go for “realism” and attempt to flesh out the world so that players can experience it all. However, that’s not the only track to take, and games like Astro Bot prove that. The team behind it has been doing a special video series that highlights the many elements that helped make the game stand out. In the latest video, they focus on Astro and the game’s world and how they ensured it had “overflowing charm.”
For example, they noted that when making Astro specifically, they wanted him to look like his head was “an old 1960s TV set” and then make the world feel blocky by focusing on that. One member noted that Astro is meant to look rather baby-like, kind of clumsy, and so on. That further led to the animation side of things, where Astro himself is diverse in his moves, and they reflect that “Astro is a machine, but he has a heart.” That’s why you see him dancing at times or why he has his eyes light up into hearts when he’s happy.
When he’s with a certain dog, he’ll hold up a bone and happily give it to him after a little bit of teasing. You also see him react to all the many environments that he’s in, such as being cold on an ice world or wanting to see what’s out in the distance when he’s in a rather flowery area.
Team Asobi also admitted that the music also inspires the gameplay, and they worked hard to make the music part of the player’s motivation to do various things and act in certain ways. One team member noted that even with them listening to the music “on repeat” every day through testing, it was easy to listen to, and it was never boring.
Finally, they noted that whether you were a child playing the game or an adult, they wanted you to have fun with it and feel inspired after enjoying it, maybe even reinvigorating your love for gaming as a whole!
So, as you can see, Team Asobi put a lot of thought and effort into Astro Bot, which is likely why it’s been praised by so many people since released, and is now the frontrunner for Game of the Year!
