Control Resonant centers on Dylan Faden, brother of the first game's protagonist Jesse, offering a unique perspective on the aftermath of a world and life fractured by paranatural events. While the original Control delved into SCP-adjacent mysteries with a metroidvania-style shooter, Control Resonant pivots to a stylish-action open world with a more character-driven narrative. This shift makes it conceptually consistent with its predecessor while offering a radically different experience.
Dylan, initially portrayed as a victim of abusive FBC experiments, is now a fully realized character confronting his past. The game establishes the paranatural threat of the Hiss as a pervasive element, with the Oldest House's containment failing and the world folding in on itself. This setup serves as a backdrop for Dylan's search for Jesse, who has been missing for seven years, and explores the human cost of such phenomena.
The combat system is designed for fast and nimble play, emphasizing melee combos and abilities. Dylan's primary weapon, the Aberrant, dynamically transforms between forms like a sword, scythe, hammer, or drill based on combo inputs. This system, coupled with upgradeable skills and weapon paths, allows for a degree of build crafting and playstyle customization. The action encourages aggression, rewarding players with health and power regeneration for successful attacks. Enemy encounters are often designed around prioritizing heavy enemies, who continuously spawn minions, turning lesser foes into opportunities for resource replenishment.
While the combat is slick and responsive, reminiscent of games like Devil May Cry, it can become challenging early on due to a limited initial moveset and relentless enemy pressure. The RPG elements provide a means to equalize this difficulty, with powers like summoning minions or igniting weapons offering satisfying offensive capabilities. However, the depth of the RPG system may not be as extensive as it initially appears, with certain builds becoming particularly effective, potentially reducing the need for constant tactical adaptation.
Boss encounters are visually striking and thematically appropriate, playing into the otherworldly nature of Control's reality. However, the design of some bosses devolves into repetitive attrition, testing endurance rather than mastery. Later-game encounters that lean heavily into aerial combat also present challenges, with the targeting system and camera sometimes struggling to keep up with dynamic platforming and fast-moving targets.
Control Resonant's world design is a standout feature. The game incorporates Remedy's signature mind-bending, gravity-defying environments, blending The Oldest House's aesthetic into a reimagined Manhattan. Environmental cues effectively guide players, reducing reliance on explicit waypoints. Certain areas introduce mechanics that shift Dylan's gravitational center, adding a unique dimension to exploration and combat that mirrors the disorienting yet intriguing nature of the Control universe.
Beyond the main quests, the game offers side content that delves into the psychological toll of paranormal events. These activities range from mini-games in alternate realms to environmental cleanup tasks, showcasing Dylan's artistic side and the lingering impact of AWEs. The implementation of fast travel points that require physical interaction encourages organic discovery of these optional moments, which often carry Remedy's characteristic blend of dark humor and unsettling themes.
Narratively, Control Resonant adopts a more conventional storytelling approach than its predecessor. It explores Dylan's tragic past as an FBC experiment and his relationship with Jesse, humanizing him and providing a clear lens through which to understand Control's esoteric concepts. The story features surprising twists, some of which resonate personally, particularly those referencing shared childhood experiences with video games. One quest arc involving alternate realities and timelines effectively balances lore explanation with emotional impact, using audio logs and environmental storytelling to flesh out character-driven narratives.
While the main story offers compelling individual moments and a humanizing core, its overarching narrative relies on some logical leaps and may not possess the same thematic resonance as Remedy's previous works. The dynamic between Dylan and his handler, Zoe, occasionally feels rushed to match the campaign's pacing. Despite these narrative limitations, Control Resonant's strengths lie in its impactful character moments, inventive world design, and satisfying combat, solidifying its place within the Remedy universe.