The 2024 GOTY winner at The Game Awards has delighted PlayStation fans for over eight months, in part, with rescuing over 300 bots. After a wave of post-launch content drops, this number currently reaches 195 VIP bots specifically dressed up as various video game characters from franchises such as Street Fighter, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro The Dragon, and Assassin’s Creed.
After this year’s latest post-launch content drops ended on March 13 (via the PlayStation Blog), there has not been yet been any official word on if there will still be any more drops coming later this year. While we wait and see for any possible further drops, let’s imagine what it would be like if these game characters were to be added as VIP Bots in Astro Bot, including their potential Gatcha items.
Galen Marek – Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Though this character and the Force Unleashed games are no longer part of official canon under Disney, why not have a throwback to Legends/Expanded Universe Star Wars every now and then? Galen Marek (AKA Starkiller) was Darth Vader’s secret apprentice he had between the events of Episode 3 and Episode 4. Though he ultimately sacrificed himself to save the life of the Rebellion’s founders, a clone of himself was created for the game’s sequel in 2010. Even Aspyr Media created a port of The Force Unleashed for the Nintendo Switch, based on the original game’s Nintendo Wii port.
Perhaps if Galen Marek were to be added as a VIP Bot in Astro Bot, he could be based on his Training Gear outfit or his Jedi Adventurer Robe. It can also be possible that his lightsaber (either as a Jedi or Sith) could be his item from the Gatcha machine.
Cal Kestis – Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order/Survivor
Much like Galen Marek and The Force Unleashed, Cal Kestis is the main character and face of the ongoing Star Wars: Jedi series by EA and Respawn. Some might say that Cal could be the Jedi and Disney canon equivalent to Galen nowadays, albeit both games have different gameplay styles.
If he were to become a VIP Bot, I could easily imagine his trusty and faithful droid sidekick BD-1 being his unlockable Gatcha item. Or alternatively, a healing gem can be the Gatcha item.
Jin Kazama – Tekken 3
He has arguably been the face of the Tekken franchise since the third installment back in 1997. Jin Kazama is the son of Kazuya Mishima and the long-lost Jun Kazama, and like his father, Jin has also been known for his Devil form. To be honest, I really wanted to see Jin be a VIP bot since both his father as well as his grandfather Heihachi Mishima already cameo’d in Astro Bot and Astro’s Playroom.
Jack Cooper – Titanfall 2
Fans of the Titanfall franchise witnessed the pairing of Rifleman Jack Cooper with the Titan BT-7274 in 2016 for the Titanfall sequel. Also frequently referred to as “The Pilot” especially by the game’s enemies, Jack Cooper took over the role as BT’s designated human pilot from Captain Tai Lastimosa after the Captain saved Jack’s life from Apex Predators during one fateful day on the planet Typhon. Though, if BT was the VIP Bot instead, maybe Jack Cooper could be his Gatcha unlockable.
Takanuva – Bionicle: The Game
Alright, this character is not necessarily a video game character (at least, originally). Regardless, my mind would be absolutely blown if Sony/Team Asobi got together with both Lego and EA to bring this 2003 Bionicle character to Astro Bot (considering that EA themselves published this particular Bionicle game). Takanuva was the Toa of Light from the Lego Bionicle franchise and made his game appearance in 2003’s Bionicle: The Game, which served as a tie-in to the franchise’s first direct-to-DVD movie – Bionicle: Mask of Light.
Takanuva was once a red Ta-Matoran (secretly a Matoran of Light) named Takua, before he ultimately donned the movie’s titular Kanohi mask. Quick fun fact: the devs of the game actually left a typo of Takanuva’s name in-game as “Takua Nuva”. I can almost imagine what Takanuva would look like as a VIP Bot, and can see the Staff of Light as the Toa’s Gatcha item. Alternatively, if Takua was the VIP Bot, the Mask of Light itself could be his Gatcha item.
Bonus – Sparx the Dragonfly (Spyro the Dragon)
When Astro Bot was first released and Spyro the Dragon was eventually unlocked relatively early in the game, it was nothing short of a bit disappointing that Spyro got an area all for himself. He had no unlockable Gatcha item, not even a crystal dragon statue or some dragon treasure/gems. Granted, it doesn’t seem to bother him that he’s solo, while Okami still has Issun and Rachet and Rivet still have Clank (but no Kit). So, a no brainer move would be to have Sparx accompany Spyro, even as a Gatcha item this time.
Sure, both Crash and Spyro as IPs are now owned by Xbox, and if that is a concern about bringing Sparx and any other Spyro characters to Astro Bot, then I’d at least go with Sparx’s design from the classic PS1 trilogy if his Reignited Trilogy design wouldn’t do. After all, Sony surely still has rights to the PS1 Spyro trilogy (and Crash Bandicoot‘s classic PS1 games too).
What do you think? Do you have any other characters you’d like to see added as VIP Bots in Astro Bot? Let us know below!
