
Comprehensive Guide to Power Upgrade Points in Control Resonant

By Mark Rosewater


By Mark Rosewater
In the expansive and enigmatic world of Control Resonant, players are constantly seeking ways to bolster their character's capabilities. A cornerstone of this progression lies in the acquisition of Power Upgrade Points, vital resources that, once accumulated, enhance the player's maximum power – the very essence of their combat prowess. These elusive points are typically concealed within robust resource containers, often constructed from concrete blocks, or bestowed upon players as a testament to their skill in arcade challenges. While these upgrades don't directly amplify damage output, they significantly extend the duration and frequency with which combat abilities can be deployed, marked by the white power bar on the player's interface. This comprehensive guide aims to illuminate the locations and methods for securing these invaluable Power Upgrade Points across the diverse and often treacherous zones of Control Resonant.
Power Upgrade Points are primarily discovered within substantial resource crates, particularly those fashioned from concrete blocks, or awarded as high-score triumphs at arcade machines. Many of these resource containers are sequestered within intricate testing and research facilities, necessitating the resolution of environmental puzzles and the triumph over specific challenges. A strategic approach involves enhancing zone levels to unveil the positions of all major resource crates on the map. However, even with location knowledge, the contents of these crates remain a mystery until opened. For arcade machines, achieving the second-highest score is paramount, a feat that can be particularly arduous in the game's early stages. Fortunately, the Assist Mode offers a valuable aid for securing higher scores.
So far, four Power Upgrade Points have been identified in the Downtown area. Two are accessible without special traversal abilities, while the remaining pair mandates the 'Reach' ability, obtainable from the Evacuation Zone. One point resides within the Resonant Ruins, near the central arena where the Artist resonant was confronted in the prologue. Another is found in the southeast construction site, within a room on the ground floor after overcoming enemy resistance. The Testing Facility Reade offers a point after solving a puzzle involving soda dispensers and yellow squares, accessed via a sewer entrance in the southeastern Downtown area, requiring the 'Reach' ability. Finally, an arcade machine point is available in a laundromat in southeastern Downtown, accessible by utilizing 'Reach' to navigate rooftops and floating platforms, provided the Downtown zone reaches level 8.
The Central zone houses six Power Upgrade Points. Full access to these requires progression through the main narrative and achieving Central zone level four. An early point is in the Underground Supply Route: after riding the Watchtower elevator down, transfer power to the western unpowered block in the large room to unlock its entrance. The R&C Storage point necessitates a level 2 security keycard, acquired during the "Evacuation Procedures" quest, and is located on the bottom level from the "Field Office" fast travel door. The Patterned Factory holds a point on its second floor, obtained by strategically charging and quickly transferring a power block to an otherwise locked room. The FBC Testing Facility, found by following a sewer from the northeast construction site, yields a point after maintaining power to blinking power cores for 60 seconds. An arcade machine point in the Urban Fresh Mart, east of the Patterned Factory, requires Central zone level 4 and achieving the second-highest score. Lastly, a point is found in the Watchtower itself, in Zoe's room, after initiating the "Zoe's Briefing" side quest.
The West Incursion Zone contains four Power Upgrade Points, with three demanding the 'Shift' traversal ability from the Parking Garage fault. One point is straightforwardly located in the southern corner of the House of Mirrors. Another is in Test Facility Broadway, accessible via a sewer entrance on the second southeasternmost road using 'Shift,' and requires solving a soda dispenser puzzle. The West Supply Route Station offers a point by following the left tracks within the subway station leading to Downtown, then using 'Shift' to climb a wall. An arcade machine in the Atlantis Cafe, east of the Empire Avenue fast travel door, provides the final point, requiring West Incursion Zone level 3.
The Evacuation Zone conceals four Power Upgrade Points, with the final two requiring further main story progression. The Testing Facility Pearl point is found by navigating a sewer from the southern point of the Evacuation Zone and solving a soda dispenser puzzle. An arcade machine point in the Evac Building, requiring Evacuation Zone level 6 and a level 2 security keycard from the "Evacuation Procedures" quest, is in a locked room on the ground floor. Two additional points become available through the "Recursions and Iterations" main story quest: one in a laundromat path leading to a sinkhole, and another at the very bottom of that sinkhole.
The Park features three Power Upgrade Points, all accessible after completing the "New Growth" side quest. One is located within a security checkpoint, reached by an elevator in the southwest corner of The Park. An arcade machine point is in a building northeast of the power cores in the northern section of The Park, after burning a moldy door, requiring The Park zone level 4. The final point is in Underhill's lab within the sewers, accessible during the "New Growth" side quest, which itself is unlocked after "Zoe's Briefing."
While not a dedicated zone, The Oldest House, a key location during "The House in Distress" main story quest, holds one Power Upgrade Point. This point is situated in a room filled with mannequins in the southeast corner of the large room where power needs to be restored, as players journey through with Zoe.
The enigmatic Unknown zone contains three Power Upgrade Points, all of which become available upon the completion of the game's main story. One point is inside a building adjacent to the "Factory Island" fast travel door: reach the westernmost island via Pope's research balloon, then drop down into the nearby building to find it in a locker room after defeating enemies. An arcade machine on Factory Island, within the same building, offers another point, requiring Unknown zone level 5. The final point is found in Dylan's apartment's arcade machine after defeating the final boss of the game.
The meticulous pursuit of Power Upgrade Points in Control Resonant not only enriches the player's combat experience but also deepens their engagement with the game's intricate world design. Each found point, whether nestled in a cryptic facility or awarded by an arcade challenge, represents a small victory, contributing to a greater sense of mastery over the game's challenges. The journey to collect them all encourages exploration, problem-solving, and a keen understanding of the game's interwoven narrative and mechanics. It serves as a reminder that even in the most chaotic environments, diligent exploration and persistence are key to unlocking true potential.
About the author

Head designer for "Magic: The Gathering" and author of long-running insights on game design.

by Sid Meier
by Mark Rosewater