Astro Botis filled to the brim with different fun challenges, andwhile the levels are engaging by themselves, any game designer worth their salt knows that a good platformer needs power-ups to keep the gameplay fresh.
These power-ups significantly change the way you solve puzzles and navigate the level, and each level gives you plenty of room to experiment with them and figure out what makes them tick.
Not only that, each power-up utilizes thefull capabilities of the DualSense controller, immersing you in a tactile experience of using these powers.
I’ll be ranking these power-ups based on how fun they are to play, and how the level design pushes the boundaries of how you use them.
Honestly, none of these power-ups are bad, because it’s clear Team Asobi put so much love and care into making every one of them satisfying to use. Nonetheless, I’ll be ranking them anyway.
This list does not include items like the light bulb, magnet, flower, and dynamite, as they are only pick-ups. VIP cameo powers (like the Leviathan Axe or Nathan Drake’s pistol) aren’t included because you’re essentially playing a mini version of their respective games.
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If you easily recognize the top 5, then you might be eligible for a veteran’s discount.
14Teddy Cymbals
Round Of Applause For Astro!
You’d be surprised to know that themusically themed power-up doesn’t have a rhythm-based mechanic.Instead, the teddy cymbals only emit a soundwave that stuns enemies or opens up platforms for you.
It’s not a power-up that helps you bulldoze every enemy you see, nor does it help you travel outside the game’s intended bounds. While it isn’t impressive, this humble teddy bear is still an adorable power-up.
You only get to use the teddy cymbals once in the game, in thecarnival-inspired level Final Encore, in the secret Lost Galaxy.
13Monkey Climber
Need A Helping Hand?
With thesuccess ofAstro’s Playroom, it wasn’t all that surprising to see Team Asobirecycle some of their ideas forAstro Bot.Themonkey power-up is a direct descendant (and perhaps even upgrade) of the monkey suit.
First encountered in theGo-Go Archipelago! level, the Monkey Hands power-up is a versatile backpack that lets you lob projectiles and climb steep cliffs.
But the climbing mechanic does feel a little too much like the original monkey suit inAstro’s Playroom, as it relies on the DualSense’s motion control capabilities. It also looks sillier than the monkey suit, as Astro just chills there while the monkey on his back does all the work.
12Octo-Balloon
Inflation’s Crazy These Days
With the Octo Balloon power-up, you suck up the air around you and turn into a hot air balloon, floating high up in the sky with a cozy leisure that is tonally perfect forAstro Bot.
As the first power-up, you get inAstro Bot, the Octo Balloon power-up debuts in theSky Gardens Level, which, in my opinion, is on par withSuper Mario 64’sBo-Bomb Battlefield in terms of the quality opening levels.
The Octo Balloon is fun, simple, and opens up new avenues for you to explore, rewarding outside-of-the-box thinking when you make it to a faraway platform.
But it’s not the most powerful or exciting power-up. That pleasure is reserved for the later power-ups, when the game picks up its pace.
11Swimming Penguin
Wait, Are Underwater Levels Fun Now?
Remember those windup swimming toys kids that would make obnoxiously loud clacking sounds? That nostalgia swelled up inside me when I first saw the penguin power-up in the levelBubbling Under. And yes–itisan underwater level.
It’s not too flashy, yet swimming, while the penguin’s flappy plastic feet make the triggers click underneath your fingers is so satisfying.
Not only that, majestically jumping out of the water like a dolphin triggers a whimsical synthesized harp jingle. Everything about this power-up just works.
It just fits the tone and aesthetic of this level so well, and I would even argue thatAstro Botis agame that executes an underwater levelperfectly.
9Steel Ball
Keep Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
With a power-up such as this, you essentially become a heavy, indestructible ball. As long as you’re curled up like a roly-poly, nothing can hurt you, not even harsh words.
There is a surprising number of unique interactions when you’re balled up. You can drop into a volcano and turn into a cannonball, crush enemies with your sheer metallic weight, or even break enemies for even daring to crush or suck you up.
Even though there’s not much else to do besides turning into a ball, it’s incredibly gratifying to know that enemies can’t even make a dent in you.
8Chicken Booster
And We Have Lift-off!
Blast off into the air with the Chicken Booster power-up! With its powerful boost, it becomes a triple jump that destroys any obstacle in its path. You first encounter this power-up in thelevel Trapped in Time.
Much like the Octo Balloon power-up, the Chicken Jump gives you much more verticality, though the latter is more reliant on brute force.
The rocket boost feels intense when you take off, and using it againstcertain foes feels like delivering a devastating uppercut.
Every Outfit in Astro Bot, Ranked
We’re holding a fashion show inside your PS5. Strike a pose!
7Froggy Gloves
Extendo Punch!
With the Froggy Gloves power-up, nothing is ever out of reach of your fists, and they sure do pack a wallop. This ability debuts in theAz-Tech Trail level.
You can send a barrage of punches in front of you and create a whirlwind of punches with your charged attack.
You also attach your frog tongues to sticky surfaces, swinging around poles like Indiana Jones and pulling apart walls like Jenga towers.
Froggy Gloves are powerful for any combat encounter, especially when you can just spam the trigger buttons before any enemy can get to you.
6Micro Mouse Shrinker
Little and Large
Appearing in the levelDownsize Surprise, the Micro Mouse Shrinker ability is probably the most creative ability inAstro Bot. Team Asobi knocked it out of the park with this one. It’s a shame that it’s only used once in the game.
With this ability, you can shrink and grow whenever you want, opening up new ways to explore the environment, and creating new challenges that would have been previously negligible with a regular size.
5Elephant Hose-Nose
Astro Bot: Creative Mode
Suck up gooey liquids and create your platforms to access hidden areas with the Elephant Hose-Nose ability, which is first encountered in theTrunk of Funk level. This power-up might seem simple, but it can create different platforms depending on the liquid sucked up.
You can create floating concrete or leafy blocks, honey-jumping pads, and icy ramps. This ability shines when you can choose between these different liquids, encouraging creative thinking.
The best part about the Hose-Nose ability is that, with good movement tech and a fully loaded canister, you’re able to bypass many seemingly tough platforming challenges, and go places that normally would be unreachable.
