When I first watched the PlayStation 5 reveal, I wasn't impressed. In fact, I even swore that I'd be waiting until the middle of 2021 before I even cared to get one, and tried to get a new GPU for my PC instead. Then I saw some gameplay for Astro's Playroom with a live demo of the new DualSense controller, and it changed my tune entirely. Seeing that I wasn't just getting a new console with better specs and prettier games, but also a brand new way to play them, was apparently all it took. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁. [𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆] ✪ Each of the DualSense controller's stunning features are utilized from the moment you start playing the game, and persist throughout. The immense amounts of joy I felt the first time my controller fought against me is going to be a fond memory for quite some time, with the other features, like haptic feedback and the controller's microphone, still being fun despite not serving as selling points. ✪ Feeling as if my time and money are appreciated will always be among my absolute favorite gaming moments. Astro's Playroom takes that feeling and cranks it to 100 with its constant nods to gaming's past. Character cameos, references and even hardware dating back to the very first PlayStation are all over the place, making every other step feel like a warm, and very much welcome "Thank You!" from Sony. ✪ Those who are new to PlayStation and don't get the feeling of walking down memory lane still get to enjoy every bit of this game, but as more of a fun, interactive history lesson. There are also several cameos from games that aren't PlayStation exclusive to keep an eye out for. ✪ The game's sound design is top notch, with an original soundtrack that takes each level's theme and turns it into a catchy tune that will likely get stuck in your head for a bit. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at a GPU the same way again. ✪ It's free, only takes about 3 hours to get through, 5 hours to 100% and comes pre-installed on every single PS5 that released at launch. This means that everyone has the opportunity to experience it when they want, without having to worry about any expenses besides the console itself. [𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗲] ✘ I get that this is meant to be a game that showcases the PS5's hardware, but with Photo Mode becoming such a popular feature in a plethora of games, its absence here is weird to me. With so many interesting photo opportunities and easter eggs that the community has already had a blast with, an easier way to capture them would be great. Perhaps it'll be added in an update down the line. [𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹] Astro's Playroom is a glorified tech demo that the public was lucky enough to get an official release for. Between its constant waves of appreciation for PlayStation fans, being the best nostalgia trip I've taken in years and so much fun that I felt like an actual child again, this one's a hit. Highly recommended, and if you haven't acquired a PS5 yet, make it your top priority for when you do.