The Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense is pure joy in a controller- and the best way to celebrate the game and character
Nice console games
In
a
growing
field
of
special
edition
DualSense
wireless
controllers,
the
latest
is
easily
the
most
joyous
so
far.
That’s
not
necessarily
the
way
most
would
describe
a
gaming
controller
but
the
Astro
Bot
Limited
Edition
DualSense
controller
is
cheerful
in
a
way
that
many
other
designs
aren’t.
Yup,
strap
in
and
get
ready
for
some
quasi-anthropomorphization
of
a
controller,
folks.
Launched
at
the
same
time
as
the
Astro
Bot
game,
the
controller
is
a
perfect
microcosm
of
the
titular
robot.
From
the
conspicuous
Astro
eyes
on
the
touchpad
to
the
much
more
subtle
robot-like
details
on
the
front
of
the
controller,
along
with
the
splendid
reproduction
of
Astro’s
white
and
blue
colors,
it’s
a
controller
that
nails
its
brief
of
encapsulating
a
theme,
game,
or
character
into
a
physical
bit
of
hardware.
Where
limited
edition
game
controllers
can
be
somewhat
crude
or
tacky
(some
have
artwork
carelessly
thrown
over
them
like
the
Space
Marine
2
DualSense
that
appeared
recently),
or
are
almost
only
a
transparent
version
of
a
generic
color
(like
the
Death
Stranding
DualShock
4),
the
Astro
Bot
DualSense
(like
the
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
DualSense)
in
comparison
has
a
bespoke
aesthetic
and
design.
As
a
result,
it’s
one
of
the
most
perfectly
executed
designs
in
Sony’s
stable,
blending
a
game
and
character
with
an
accessory
to
create
something
not
only
attractive
in
its
aesthetic
but
also
something
that
channels
the
very
essence
of
Astro
Bot.
(Image
credit:
Team
Asobi)
Robo-visuals
to
behold
The
most
striking
element
of
the
pad
is
the
blue
and
white
colorway;
the
vibrant
blue
sections
of
the
controller’s
grips
are
brilliant,
and
the
brighter
shade
of
white
compared
to
a
regular
white
DualSense
ensures
the
contrast
is
enhanced.
These
blue
parts
almost
have
a
kind
of
depth
to
them,
making
it
look
like
they
are
set
deep
into
the
grips
which
is
extra
cool.
Plus
they
help
to
create
a
look
as
if
they
are
panels
on
a
robot
or
electrical
system.
Complementing
that,
those
googly
blue
Astro
eyes
stare
back
at
you
with
an
adoring
look,
bursting
from
the
black
touchpad.
The
pale
blue
accents
on
the
face
buttons
and
D-pad
–
the
same
blue
as
the
eyes
–
provide
the
perfect
amount
of
pops
out
of
the
sea
of
robot
white.
However,
perhaps
my
favorite
detail
on
the
entire
controller
–
and
one
that
really
shows
that
it’s
paying
close
attention
to
its
source
character
–
are
the
clean,
geometric
lines
engraved
onto
the
front
panel
of
the
pad,
running
under
the
sticks
and
down
the
insides
of
the
grips.
Yes,
other
parts
are
more
obvious
and
bombastic,
but
these
are
the
perfect
subtle
flourishes
that
finish
the
panel
off
beautifully
but
also
remind
you
of
what,
and
who,
it’s
based
on.
For
example,
at
one
part
on
the
front,
they
‘connect’
the
sticks
and
the
mic
mute
button
with
simple,
pleasing
lines,
that
wouldn’t
look
out
of
place
on
Astro
himself.
Finishing
it
off,
a
more
obvious
reminder
of
that
is
the
cute
Astro
Bot
head
on
the
rear
of
the
controller
–
no
part
of
this
DualSense
is
left
un-Astroed.
@techradar
♬
Funk
Hip
Hop
Music(814197)
–
Pavel
It’s
one
of
the
best
versions
of
the
best
PS5
controller,
and
is
just
such
a
cheerful
addition
to
the
suite
of
pads
from
Sony.
It’s
already
an
early
contender
for
the
first
controller
I
team
with
a
PS5
Pro
too,
with
the
combination
of
white,
blue,
and
black
of
both
controller
and
console
painting
quite
the
picture.
It
just
feels
right
Performance
isn’t
any
different
to
other
DualSense
pads,
but
there’s
going
to
be
something
extra
satisfying
and
enjoyable
in
using
the
controller
to
play
the
game
when
I
get
to
it
myself
soon.
Cold
details
and
descriptions
of
the
aesthetic
aside,
there’s
something
else
about
using
such
a
well-designed
controller
with
its
partnering
game.
I
had
this
same
reaction
and
feeling
when
using
the
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
controller
with
Peter
Parker’s
second
outing.
The
Venom-inspired
design
of
that
controller
brilliantly
depicts
the
conflict
between
the
two
sides
of
Peter
Parker
in
the
game;
black
Venom-esque
tendrils
creep
over
the
Spider-Man
red
of
the
pad
from
one
side
to
the
other,
with
bright
pops
of
white
representing
the
contrasting
eyes
of
both
characters’
when
suited
up.
(Image
credit:
Sony/PlayStation/Marvel)
The
result,
for
me
at
least,
was
a
feeling
of
having
a
tremendous
connection
between
hardware
and
software;
something
that
accentuated
the
memory
I
have
of
playing
that
game
for
the
first
time.
However,
while
I
enjoyed
playing
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
with
its
accompanying
DualSense
in
all
its
edginess,
I
know
I’m
going
to
love
playing
Astro
Bot
with
this
new
pad.
Even
though
I
won’t
be
looking
down
at
it
all
the
time
–
though
it
is
so
good
it
would
warrant
that
distraction
–
glimpses
of
those
eyes,
and
the
blue
of
the
controller’s
grips
will
remind
me
of
the
perfect
combination
I’m
enjoying.
It’s
another
means
through
which
the
Astro
series
can
remind
folks
why
the
DualSense
controller
is
so
excellent
–
and
now
it
has
a
design
to
match
that
technical
brilliance.
While
the
Astro
Bot
Limited
Edition
DualSense
did
sell
out
rapidly,
we’re
hoping
that
Sony
will
release
more,
especially
in
time
for
the
holidays.
In
the
meantime,
and
so
as
to
ensure
you
have
the
right
tools
to
enjoy
Astro
Bot
to
its
fullest
potential,
check
out
the
latest,
lowest
prices
on
DualSense
where
you
are
in
the
world
below.
