Astro Bot Rescue Mission does for VR what Mario 64 did for 3D
PlayStation VR’s killer app is the most inventive platformer of this generation



Remember when Mario went from being a side-scrolling 2D platformer to being the free-roaming 3D plumber of the Mushroom Kingdom plains? Remember the thrill of seeing Peach’s castle in its towering, grand glory, or the first time you caught Bowser by the tail?

If those Mario 64 moments cemented the power of jumping from 2D to 3D with the Nintendo 64, then the PlayStation 4’s PSVR exclusive, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, does the same for virtual reality. Running and jumping will never be the same again – well, assuming VR eventually becomes as widespread as it deserves to be.

With Astro Bot Rescue Mission, you’re not only in control of Astro Bot himself, but you too have a presence in the world. As a looming overseer, you’re tasked with scanning the game world for the optimal, safest route for the Wall-E like robot, leaning in and around obstacles to make sure Astro Bot can come through unscathed. Peering around ledges and down ravines, there’s the sense that secrets can be hidden all around you, with levels that often require Astro Bot to run above, behind and below you, dodging enemies and making death-defying leaps from all angles.

This game sells you on VR's ability to create simple but effective experiences – ones that will sell anyone on the magic of the technology.