AstroBot-Vicious Void Part 2 Review
Astro-Bot was one of the best games of 2024. But it’s had a pretty active 2025 too, with the release of Vicious Void (Part 1) and now Vicious Void (Part 2). And these levels aren’t just afterthought add ons, they pack a punch and add some hours to this game. The first Vicious Void was really hard, to the extent that it took me over 100 tries in the level “Thrust or Bust.” They were great levels but they were very tough and very focused.
These levels are a lot like that, with an added surprise at the end that just adds to the challenge. A lot. That “surprise” adds a lot to the challenge. But, moving on- Vicious Void Part 2 follows in the footsteps of Vicious Void 1, with a similar level of challenge and a similar level of brilliance as Part 1. It’s yet another great entry in Astro-Bot’s run of additional content. It extends the game, but it doesn’t mess with any of the perfectly tuned systems, it hones in on them and makes you appreciate just how good of a platformer this really is.
TWIN FROG TROUBLE
A perfectly fine, if relatively easy challenge. The level itself is cool and has some neat details. The desert, purple water combination is a eccentric but in Astro Bot, it’s usually a winner. I think it throws some new things at you that can be problematic if you’re coming in cold like I was. But overall the frog hands are just not a tough powerup to use and you should be able to do this challenge pretty easily. It’s a good warmup, but it’s not the most fun I’ve had playing Astro Bot. But it does throw some stuff at you that’s a little new, in terms of presentation and you should expect that as these levels continue.
SUCK IT UP
This one is hard. Just like Vicious Void Part 1, they decided to make the second level pretty hard. This time you’re using the the Elephant Hose-Nose, which shoots little platforms of goo. It’s a good use of the powerup and well balanced, but it’s kind of intensive. Some parts are pretty tough, especially near the end, but the main thing is that the density of the obstacles and the mechanisms of the powerup make routine deaths in easier portions more common. There’s a lot of places you can slip up and the tempo of the map shifts as it goes on. The design itself is pretty cool though and I did think it was very well designed. But this was a hard one.
HANDHOLD HAVOC
This one wasn’t bad, it was just a classic Monkey Climb challenge and I don’t like the Monkey Climb. I’ve made my complaints known in the past. But this one was the best of the bunch. Not having a time limit is great here, as are the more forgiving obstacles. You no longer have to physically strain your hand to get ahead with the Monkey Climb. The design is really cool again. Love this environments, fits the theme. This one took me a little bit but it wasn’t as demanding as the previous level. There’s a part at the end that was annoying because it quickly incorporates a rarely used concept (throwing sand timer to slow time), but other than that I liked the setup. This time I think they did the Monkey Climb some justice.
HIGH INFLATION
High Inflation? Timely name. This is a fun map that uses the Octo Balloon, one of my favorite powerups. It basically inflates into a balloon and lets you float around for a while before deflating. The trick is in deflating at the right time. They absolutely nail that balance of difficulty and fun with this level. It’s a sturdy challenge but it doesn’t feels frustrating and the gameplay is very consistent, so you can reliably learn and overcome the obstacles. I like the level design and aesthetic too. It’s unique and fitting with the Octo Balloon’s whimsy style.
MEGAMIX-MASTERY
This level destroyed me. A secret bonus level that appears upon completion of the first four, this is Vicious Void’s answer to the main game’s Grandmaster Challenge. This has you using a variety of powerups- Bulldog Dash, the Cymbals and the Chicken Booster. The sections are long and sometimes very frustratings, especially the ones with the cymbals. It can be tough to learn the level due to it’s length and difficulty and it took me nearly a week to complete. Usually whenever you think you’ve made progress, you find that yet another obstacle is waiting ahead of you, sometimes thrown at you before you can even process it. But, like any level with this game, you can practice it enough to really, and I mean really, learn it and it’s timings. And once you do beat this level, you’ll have a big smile on your face. Because it’s really hard, but it is rewarding. s
Vicious Void 2 is a continuation of everything Astro-Bot has done so well since release. Addictive, smooth platforming with whimsical design and lovingly crafted challenges. It’s a simply but versatile loop that keeps you coming back for more and this add-on is no exception. 5 new levels, which means 5 new bots to collect and the sweet sweet flow of more Astro-Bot gameplay. This is a winner.
