In the sprawling, reality-bending landscape of Control Resonant, survival is rarely a matter of simple brute force. As players navigate the increasingly dangerous zones of this action-RPG, the necessity of maintaining a robust health pool becomes the defining factor between success and a swift return to the last checkpoint. While the game provides various tools for combat, the most fundamental way to ensure longevity is by collecting Health Upgrade Points—scarce but vital resources that allow players to push their maximum health capacity beyond its starting limitations.
For those venturing into the world of Control Resonant, these points are not merely scattered drops; they are tucked away in specific, often well-hidden containers. Players will quickly learn that these items are predominantly housed within large resource crates that bear a striking resemblance to vintage ice cream stands. Tracking these down requires a keen eye and, often, a willingness to engage with the environment through exploration and puzzle-solving. Collecting three of these upgrade points is the threshold required to trigger a permanent increase in maximum health, making them the most sought-after discovery for players looking to tackle the game’s more punishing encounters.
The Search for Health Across Downtown
The Downtown zone serves as an early testing ground for players, housing five distinct Health Upgrade Points. While most of these are accessible during the initial exploration phase, the final point in the area remains gated behind specific traversal requirements, specifically the "Reach" ability obtained later in the Evacuation Zone.
The first of these upgrades is notably accessible almost immediately. During the game’s prologue, players can turn right upon exiting the Oldest House to discover the Urban Fresh Mart. Stepping inside reveals an ice cream stand containing the first of these crucial upgrades. As players move deeper into the Downtown district, they will find another point northwest of the Oldest House at the Atlantis Cafe. Obtaining this requires a bit of environmental interaction; players must solve a puzzle involving the cafe’s appliances, activating them in the correct sequence to unveil a hidden area where an ice cream stand awaits.
Verticality also plays a role in the Downtown search. By heading east from the Oldest House, players can utilize the Elevate ability to scale a prominent brick building. The southern rooftop serves as a perch for another ice cream stand. Similarly, those who venture southwest from the "Outside the Oldest House" fast-travel point will find a vendor in a nearby alleyway, with a corresponding ice cream stand situated to the left of the truck. The final point in the sector is located on an island south of the "Chasm" fast-travel door. This requires the use of Reach from the balcony at Lookout Point, followed by a precise glide to the island’s southern corner, where the last upgrade crate is hidden.
Scaling Health in the Central Zone
The Central zone presents a more complex challenge, featuring six Health Upgrade Points. Because these points allow for two separate maximum health increases, they are essential for mid-game progression. The first point is found within the Central Supply Route Station; as players exit the Underground Supply Route, they will spot it inside a small storefront. Another is located within the Central branch of the Urban Fresh Mart, situated northwest of the Field Office.
The "Wear’Em & Wash’Em" laundromat, located northwest of the East Park Station, holds another secret. Inside, players must decipher a note to identify the correct laundry machines to activate while ensuring that incorrect ones remain off. Successfully navigating this puzzle opens the path to a secret hideout containing the health upgrade.
Further exploration reveals a vendor southeast of the Patterned Factory that holds an upgrade point. Meanwhile, inside the factory itself, players must contend with the encroaching red masses on the pipes. A health upgrade is visible behind a barred door, requiring players to clear out local enemies and navigate a specific path through the facility’s sewer tunnels—specifically taking a left at the fork—to reach it. Finally, during the "Power Lines" main quest, players will encounter a point in the Field Office Station. This requires the use of a tuning device on Platform A to teleport to Platform B, where the electricity must be transferred between power cores to grant access to the final room containing the upgrade.
Navigating the West Incursion and Evacuation Zones
The West Incursion Zone offers four Health Upgrade Points, most of which require the Shift traversal ability acquired during the Parking Garage fault. While the Parking Garage upgrade can technically be reached without it, the challenge is significantly mitigated by waiting until the ability is unlocked. An alleyway northwest of the map pylon hides a vendor with a point directly to the left of the ice cream truck. Within the Parking Garage itself, the upgrade is found along the road immediately after exiting the fault. Another Urban Fresh Mart in this zone, located on the southeast road, hides an upgrade behind a puzzle involving a cash register and a specific code derived from a soda dispenser. The final point in this area is tucked away inside the "Jumpin’ Joe’s Books & Comics Galore" store within the Empire Avenue Station.
The Evacuation Zone continues the trend of blending environmental storytelling with progression. Four points are hidden here, starting with the Könstig Art Gallery, southeast of the "Main Street" fast-travel door, where a puzzle reveals a secret hideout. A vendor east of the same fast-travel door also features an upgrade. During the "Evacuation Procedures" quest, players will find a point naturally while navigating the scaffolding on the 12th floor of the Evac Building. The last point in this sector is located in the Subway fault; after completing the fault, players should look for a blue door next to the "Patterned Metro Tunnels" fast-travel point, which leads to a hidden area.
Expanding the Search: The Park and the Underpass
The Park contains three known Health Upgrade Points. The first is found while navigating the path toward the resonant; after consuming the three required molds, players can pass through a gate at the bottom of the pit to claim the upgrade. A second point is found by climbing the giant mold wall on the road heading southwest after passing through the parking garage on the northeast side of the park. The final upgrade in this area is in an Atlantis Cafe located in the park’s southeast corner. Solving the puzzle—which involves recording the orders of tables 1, 5, 4, and 2 and inputting the corresponding letters into the cash register—reveals the hidden stash.
The Underpass zone features two points. The first is discovered by following the string of glow sticks until reaching a wall covered in desks. By shifting and gliding over red hiss spikes instead of following the rope, players will find a vendor with an upgrade. The second point is found after climbing the Spire and entering the white, pillar-filled area. A path to a floating island in the distance leads to a collection of debris where the upgrade point is waiting.
Final Discoveries in the Unknown
The Unknown zone rounds out the collection with two final Health Upgrade Points. The first is located at the Pulse Fitness Gym, which, due to the reality-shifting nature of the area, is situated on the ceiling when approached from the Oldest House. Players must interact with the gym equipment in a specific sequence, using the vending machine between sets, to reveal the hidden stash. The final upgrade point is a testament to the player’s journey, found only after defeating the final boss. Upon returning to the player’s own apartment, an arcade machine becomes active. Achieving the high score on this machine unlocks the last piece of the health-upgrading puzzle, marking the completion of the hunt for increased survivability in Control Resonant.
