Remedy Entertainment's upcoming title, Control Resonant, is shaping up to be a significant expansion on the foundations laid by its predecessor. Despite initial concerns that an increased focus on action RPG mechanics might dilute the studio's signature style, a recent two-hour demo suggests that the game successfully integrates these new elements while preserving the unique narrative, level design, and peculiar atmosphere that made the original so memorable. The sequel retains Remedy's penchant for the uncanny, manifesting in mysterious fast travel points depicted as doors that reveal looping snapshots of their surroundings.
The game presents a version of New York City that is distinctly Remedy's own, where familiar art deco architecture is contorted into surreal forms. While echoes of other science fiction worlds are present, the Finnish developer's unique design ethos is paramount. This distinctive vision is particularly evident in the game's "dungeons," such as the Metro Vault, where players acquire new traversal abilities like the Reach, Resonant's equivalent of a grapple hook. These environments not only serve to advance the narrative, offering glimpses into the intertwined stories of protagonists Dylan and Jesse, but also integrate gameplay mechanics in compelling ways.
Within the Metro Vault, players navigate an environment where trains defy physics, and gravity can be manipulated to alter Dylan's orientation, allowing him to traverse ceilings. This mechanic transforms traversal into a puzzle, challenging players to question every movement and rewarding curiosity by making the void itself a critical path. The Metro Vault also introduces the Mold enemies, a more resilient faction compared to the common Hiss. These enemies boast armored casings that resist direct damage, necessitating a strategic approach to combat. While specific abilities like the fire-sparking Heat Wave can bypass their defenses, players also have the flexibility to use the shape-shifting weapon, The Aberrant, to smash through armor and then switch to a blade form for follow-up attacks. This combat system emphasizes adaptability, minimizing time spent in menus and maximizing engagement with threats.
The demo also showcased encounters with larger foes, including a boss battle against the Central Resonant. Navigating to the boss's lair involved solving environmental puzzles, such as locating the factory it inhabited via a towering smokestack. Combat against Hiss enemies during this phase demonstrated the effectiveness of abilities like the rock shield, which builds up stun meters for powerful finishers with The Aberrant's dual-blade form. The combat loop consistently delivers a sense of power, further enhanced by Remedy's decision to remove minor enemies after larger threats within a horde are defeated, maintaining game momentum.
Puzzles in Control Resonant extend beyond combat. One challenge involved using Dylan's blade to temporarily power an electrical source, requiring players to quickly transport the charge to an unpowered cube. Previous iterations of this puzzle involved traversing roads and rooftops between multiple generators, testing the player's traversal skills. This suggests that the open world will offer mental challenges alongside combat encounters.
The game also features Altered Items, ordinary objects imbued with paranatural properties. One such item, a Polaroid camera that vanishes when approached, initiated a side questline that promises further encounters. These peculiar encounters helped allay fears that the sequel might be overly focused on action, reaffirming the presence of the weirdness and puzzle-solving that characterized the original. The narrative depth is further explored through visits to locations like the FBC Field Office, where players can interact with familiar characters, read classified documents, and engage in side missions, such as investigating a mysterious exploding corpse.
The boss fight against a volcanic-rock-covered behemoth highlighted the importance of constant movement. With large portions of the arena covered in damaging lava, players must utilize dashing and hovering abilities, along with defensive measures like the shield, to engage the boss. The fight design encourages an aggressive yet cautious approach, with Remedy seemingly pacing boss encounters effectively to avoid overstaying their welcome. Boss fights offer mid-battle healing bursts at specific health thresholds, a mechanic that encourages an offensive strategy and avoids reliance on farming health from lesser enemies. This approach appears to be a significant step forward in Remedy's boss design.
Control Resonant is poised to be an impressive expansion of the original game's strengths, offering a compelling mix of slick combat, engaging platforming, clever puzzles, and best-in-class world-building. While not a full open-world implementation, the sequel effectively broadens the scope without losing the memorable elements that define Remedy's games. Initial concerns about an overemphasis on action have been largely dispelled, leaving anticipation high for its September 24 release.