PlayStation fans have discovered that Astro's Playroom, the game that comes free with every PlayStation 5 console, has the potential for some very impressive speedrun exploits. Top speedrunners have found ways to finish the game's speedrun levels far faster than seemingly intended, clocking in times drastically lower than those of the average player.
At first glance, Astro's Playroom is a simple (albeit charming) 3D platformer starring Astro, the hero of well-received VR title Astro Bot Rescue Mission. The game follows Astro as the robot moves through a fantastical depiction of the PlayStation 5's hardware, sneaking in many references to PlayStation history along the way. The system's cooling fans, for example, contain levels themed around pools and ice skating. As players move through the game's 16 main levels, they unlock new rearranged speedrunning levels. Half of these are traditional 3D platforming levels, while the other half use gimmicks relating to motion controls.
Streamers who have shared impressive Astro's Playroom speedruns show that the game is much more than just a well-regarded pack-in title. Speedrunners have taken advantage of level geometry and Astro's full move-set in order to establish constant forward momentum. Astro's basic moves can be chained together to jump for longer distances than what is normally possible. Combined with the fact that the game allows Astro to perch on some extremely small cliffs, and Astro can chart a new course that completely ignores the normal route through some levels.
Not every impressive speedrun relies on standard 3D platforming. The fastest speedruns for the game's Climbing Run level, for example, rely on precisely manipulating the game's motion controls. By gently pushing down triggers and rotating the controller rapidly, players can make Astro's monkey-shaped mech move up the mountain much faster than most players would ever think to do. Still, if the comments on a related Reddit threat are any indication, this requires a level of athleticism matching that required for a VR game like Half-Life Alyx.
The Astro's Playroom speedruns are an impressive testament to just how quickly a speedrunning community can build around any game. The game has only been out as long as the PS5 itself, so in barely over two weeks players have pushed the game to its limits. Thanks to the game's recent release and its relatively low difficulty, it might make an excellent choice for someone who wants a game they can quickly learn to speedrun.
The biggest impediment to the growth of an Astro's Playroom speedrunning community is simply that the game's speedrunning levels are very short. Each can be completed in less than a minute with a little effort. With so little content, players will likely optimize routes quickly. Luckily, the game's creators have indicated that future Astro-related content is in the works. If this turns out to be DLC for Astro's Playroom, fans may have more platforming fun to speedrun in the near future.
Astro's Playroom is available now for the PlayStation 5.
Source: Push Square