Control Resonant | Critical Consensus
Seven years after launching Control, Remedy returns to a paranatural Manhattan with Control Resonant. Read more
Remedy has returned to a paranormal Manhattan with Control Resonant, seven years after the launch of their previous title. The game puts players in the shoes of Dylan Faden, the younger brother of the protagonist from Control, Jesse Faden. In Control Resonant, the creative director of Remedy, Mikael Kasurinen, sought to create a departure from the established third-person shooter formula by introducing an open-ended melee-focused world. Early reviews indicate that the game has been well-received, scoring 84 on Metacritic.
James Archer, a writer for Rock Paper Shotgun, praised the game for its character-centric storytelling and best action in ages. He highlighted the game's rich, vivid Manhattan setting, eerie atmosphere, and creative quests. Similarly, Cole Kronman from Kotaku found the game as demanding and video-game-per-square-inch as Remedy's previous work, Control. He described the game as "relentlessly, characteristically interesting," with strong narrative design focused on playability.
IGN's Michael Higham noted that while the combat was undercooked in some aspects, the foundation was still sound and had fantastic moments of satisfaction. IGN's Alexis Ong criticized Dylan's traversal abilities but acknowledged the inventive open world. Eurogamer's Alexis Ong found the game's open world structure to be a unique experience, though she missed the weirdness of the Oldest House from the first game.
Kotaku's Kronman appreciated Remedy's approach to earning experience points and rewards in different zones, which motivated exploration. Higham found the design language of The Oldest House to be distinctly Control, with the city's altered geometry creating a personality that guided players through the world. Kronman described The Pattern, the force affecting Manhattan's geometry, as a visual and technical marvel.
In summary, Control Resonant is a unique, character-driven action game that marks a significant departure from Remedy's established formula. The game's rich, immersive Manhattan setting, combined with innovative gameplay mechanics and storytelling, has received positive reviews from critics.
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