Control Resonant, the latest offering from Remedy Entertainment, carves a distinct path from its predecessor, Control. While still featuring intense combat, the game emphasizes quieter, more introspective moments, a deliberate choice shaped by its protagonist, Dylan.
"We agreed on his direction early," Control Resonant director Mikael Kasurinen told Rock Paper Shotgun. "We didn’t want the brooding hero out for revenge. We wanted someone who doesn’t reach for violence as the first solution, someone who can see beauty where others see horror. He feels empathy for the monsters because he sees himself in them."
This contrasts with Control's protagonist, Jesse Faden, who was driven by action and urgency. Dylan, in contrast, is characterized by his interiority, grappling with guilt and his identity outside of external forces. This internal focus is reflected in the game's pacing, which ebbs and flows between intense combat encounters and moments of quiet contemplation. Kasurinen noted that Dylan's doubt lies not in his ability to face paranormal threats, but in whether he deserves to exist as a person, coupled with a desire to help and express his feelings.
A notable example of this design philosophy occurs in the Sinkhole area. After navigating challenging combat sequences and reaching the bottom, the player is left to find their own way out of a paranatural abyss. This sequence emphasizes Dylan's isolation and internal struggle, allowing players to focus on his feelings as he confronts his helplessness and chooses to save himself, a significant moment for a character long defined by a lack of agency.
The game provides Dylan with opportunities for healing and reflection. These include moments of simple joy, such as befriending a dog or experiencing new music for the first time since childhood, often facilitated by the character Zoe. Dylan also engages in sketching, finding solace in observing and drawing idyllic scenes he imagines for a future beyond the Altered World Event. One such sketch, a self-portrait of an older Dylan peacefully surrounded by birds, profoundly illustrates the theme of imagining a hopeful future against all odds.
Kasurinen also commented on the thematic connection between Control and Control Resonant. "Thematically I wanted the two games to complement each other and show two different sides of the same world. The world stays the same, but we see it through a new protagonist." While Jesse Faden's narrative arc in Resonant has prompted discussion, particularly concerning her role in the ending, the game's overarching goal was to present a different perspective on the established world through Dylan's introspective journey.