I just thought of them as being Spiritual
Like i've said before this is Munch's Oddysee and knowing what a good story teller Lanning-san is he'd probably not try to
copy to much of one Abe into Munch. I mean Munch has his own quirks and Abe has his. (note: as I write this I just realized I'm drinking a Sobe..heh
But I figure as long as there is a port for him to access why wouldn't Munch be able to control whatever they wanted him too?
As for a huge power up like Shrykull, one day I daydreamed Munch jacking into a giant mecha and crushing stuff but I doubt that would happen and doesn't seem like an Oddworld type of thing.