The core controls inAstro Botwill ensure that you’re able to take Astro just about wherever you’d like him to go with only a few limitations. But, every now and then, you’ll get bonus abilities in the form of power-ups that will make your adventure even more exciting.
A strength of Astro Bot is that the levels are built around the power ups, so how much fun you have with them is directly tied into the level design. This means that they can be a lot of fun to use, but some are used a lot more creatively than others. So, which power ups are the best in Astro Bot?
12Monkey Climb
Get A Grip
All the power ups in Astro Bot are used intuitively to a degree, but in some cases, the gimmick of the power up itself can hold back a level. For example, the monkey climbing ability is primarily used to grab onto grips to climb up walls.
This ability is so simple that its uses can only really go so far to switch up the variety in a level. When it’s used to pick up and throw items it’s more enjoyable, but the climbing gameplay feels more like an excuse to show off the motion control possibilities of the DualSense than something actually fun to do.
11Frog Punch
Extended Range Attacks
One of the earliest abilities you’ll be granted in Astro Bot are the frog gloves, which will give you a punch attack with much longer range than your normal attacks. This can be used in some fun ways during platforming, like grabbing onto objects and propelling yourself.
However, the main issue is that this ability seems to be more of a hindrance in combat than helpful. The punch attack, while reaching further, will halt all your movement, and means that you’ll more easily be hit by quicker projectile attacks.
10Squid Balloon
Float To Higher Heights
The first power up you’re likely to unlock in Astro Bot is the squid balloon ability, which will inflate Astro like a balloon, making him float higher than he could ever jump, and fall with a little more control.
This ability is used creatively in certain levels to help Astro reach specific areas, but the main drawback is that another power up later on in the game works similarly, but is a lot more fun to use.
9Penguin Swim
Underwater Exploration
Early on in Astro Bot, you’ll learn that water is not the obstacle it can be in other 3D platformers, and unless it’s freezing, you’ll be able to have a little swim without any worries.There is also one levelwhich takes this up a notch with the penguin swimming ability.
This power up lets you swim faster with a boost as well as attack and jump out of the water while swimming. While it is a lot of fun to use in this one specific level, outside that it is barely acknowledged.
8Teddy Cymbol
Clap Back
An ability that you may easily completely miss is the teddy cymbol. You’ll likely run into this ability during the brief credits level and assume that it is just a one-off for that gimmick level, just letting you clap the cymbols to interact with the environment.
But if you find every level in the secret world, you’ll get an extra level that uses the teddy cymbol again, and here it is used a lot more creatively, and ties into the mechanics of the level seamlessly.
7Samurai Roll
Ballin'
One of the more unique abilities you can use in Astro Bot is the samurai roll power up. This stands out from other power ups by giving you a more defensive approach, being able to hide in your samurai armor and roll around the stage.
This is used in interesting ways to traverse dangerous areas and even fight back against specific enemies. The main issue is that the ability doesn’t have too much variety, and it can feel a little clunky to use occasionally.
6Sponge
Soak It Up
Another power up that is unfortunately linked to just one level is the sponge ability. During the bathhouse level, you’ll get the ability to turn Astro into an adorable sponge that can soak up water to turn into a giant, and then shrink back down by letting the water out.
The combination of being a giant and blasting through the level, while also strategically letting out water in certain areas makes this one of the best abilities, with more depth than you’d realise at first glance.
5Bulldog Dash
Breaking Barriers
One of the more simple, yet multifunctional abilities is the bulldog dash. This simple jetpack will give Astro the power to burst forwards, destroying almost any enemy or obstacle in his way.
This power is fun to use in both combat and platforming, and the levels that are designed with it in mind can be a lot of fun thanks to its speediness, but it is also pretty basic and not that interesting to use.
4Chicken Jump
Poultry Projection
The chicken jump ability makes you wonder why the squid inflation was added, since it grants you almost the exact same ability, except faster and more fun. This simple power-up lets you quickly propel yourself upwards to reach lofty platforms and potentially destroy whatever is above you.
The speed of this ability makes it a lot snappier to use than the inflation power, and it’s also more multifunctional, thanks to being able to grab handles and lift them up afterward.
3Mouse Shrink
Tiny Trouble
While themouse shrink abilityis only used in one level, it is used so creatively that it deserves to be this high up. The power up has the ability to let Astro shrink and then grow back to size whenever you want.
In most other levels, this wouldn’t be particularly helpful, but it is used perfectly in the one level designed around it, thanks to unique interactions with the environment that take full advantage of being a different size.
