The second major set of levels in Astro Bot is the Tentacle System, which unlocks after completing all of the Gorilla Nebula content. It provides at least 10 different levels for exploration and discovery of all of its collectibles, including various secrets.
One of the most fun and dynamic levels in this group is Downsize Surprise. This level is unique because it features an ability that allows the player to change size at will to explore previously inaccessible areas. This is a guide on how to collect all 10 collectibles in Downsize Surprise.
Downsize Surprise Collectible Locations: Bot 1
Once you’ve acquired this level’s main ability, which allows you to change size at will, you can proceed forward and climb a plant by leaping into your smaller form.
Once you reach the platform above, turn right to find a cage housing the first bot you need to rescue. In your small form, jump on some mushrooms to reach the cage. Once inside, change your size to break the cage and free this little bot. This mechanic will play a crucial role in gathering all the collectibles in Downsize Surprise.
Puzzle Piece 1
In the same place but to the left, pull a cable in your normal size to open a hole in a tree trunk. After this, shrink and enter the trunk hole you opened. Inside the trunk, you’ll find several coins to collect, as well as the first of the three puzzle pieces in Downsize Surprise.
Once again, the size-changing ability proves essential at this level. To discover all the possible secrets and coins, you must pay attention to everything in this level.
Bot 2
Once you exit the trunk, head upwards in the same direction. By shrinking, you can pass through a crevice filled with wandering spiders. These spiders are harmless and won’t cause any problems.
Enlarge yourself in this area, use your fists to smash through a wall, and find the second of the seven bots trapped in a massive spider web. This is the second of the seven bots available in the Downsize Surprise collectibles.
Puzzle Piece 2
After entering a room, shrink down and head right, climbing a few obstacles until you reach a clock. Once there, jump onto a working ventilation system, and you’ll find the second of the three pieces available in this level.
In the same room, you can also obtain the third Bot from the Downsize Surprise collectibles in Astro Bot’s Tentacle System. The level is full of hidden places where you can find any kind of secret.
Bot 3
In this same room, beneath the ventilation system and using the ability to shrink, you’ll find several coins under the bed. Once on top of the bed, you’ll notice a blanket clearly covering a lump.
Thanks to the size-changing ability, you can shrink and go under the blanket, and to uncover what’s inside, enlarge yourself. Doing so will reveal the third hidden bot in this area. The bed will also lead you to the next location, where you can exit this room.
Bot 4
Once you have gathered all the items in this room, such as coins, bots, and the puzzle piece, proceed through the duct on the right, keeping in mind your diminutive size to access the next area.
Before reaching the end of the duct, you’ll see a bot peeking out. Once you exit the duct, return to your normal size to rescue this bot, the fourth of the seven available in the Downsize Surprise collectibles.
Bot 5 (Katamari Bot)
After rescuing the fourth bot, you’ll see a tree in the same area. Shrink down and climb around the tree trunk until you reach the top. Once there, you’ll have two paths: one that continues the level, and another to the right, along a branch.
At the end of this branch, you’ll find another bot to rescue. This bot is a direct reference to the Katamari series, a well-known game from the PlayStation 2 era, and one of many collectibles in Astro Bot.
Bot 6
Returning to the main branch and continuing the normal path, you’ll come across two paths: one to the right and one to the left. Heading left, you’ll find a platform with a frog. By blowing into the DualSense microphone, you can make the frog start blowing bubbles.
Shrink down so that you can jump onto the bubbles and float upwards. Near the top, you’ll find a cage with another bot inside. Enter the cage in your small form, then enlarge yourself to break it and free the bot.
Bot 7 (Quill)
After backtracking and taking the path to the right, you’ll come across a lock that you’ll need to shrink to enter, then enlarge to break. Once inside, shrink again to climb a series of small platforms until you reach the top of this area.
On the left, you’ll find the last bot to rescue. This bot is a reference to the main character Quill from the game Moss. Astro Bot has a lot of cameo references to other titles. This is nearly the last collectible in Downsize Surprise.
Puzzle Piece 3
In the same area, but slightly back, jump to a pseudo-platform on the other side of the gears you climbed earlier to rescue the last bot. These gears are part of a clock, and on the other side, you can see the second hand moving.
To reach the final puzzle piece, located at the 12 o’clock position on the clock, you’ll need to carefully time your movement and ride the second hand in your small form.
Lost Galaxy
On a second playthrough of this level, you can find the Lost Galaxy in the same place where you rescued the sixth bot. To reactivate the frog, blow into the microphone so it starts blowing bubbles. Once the frog has shrunk, hop onto a bubble.
Now that the cage is out of the way, you can ascend further until you reach a tree branch. On this branch, you’ll see another branch leading to the Lost Galaxy, which gives you access to one of the secret levels in Astro Bot.
What are your thoughts on this level? What’s your favorite level in the Tentacle System of Astro Bot? Let us know in the comments!
